MANILA, (PNA) — International Master Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City and National Master Nelson Villanueva of Bacolod City made the country proud anew via a 1-2 finish in the just ended Sabah Grande Chess Open 2013 held in Sabah, Malaysia.
The former De La Salle University Taft mainstay Dimakiling drew with Villanueva and Malaysia’s Che Hassan Abdullah in the last two rounds to finish 7.5 points in the nine-round Swiss System format competition.
Dimakiling received the top prize of US$ 1,000 for his feat in the event that attracted 88 woodpushers.
The Kidapawan (Feb.)Open and Cebu July Open champion Dimakiling is schedule to marry his longtime girlriend on Dec.7, said his long-time benefactor sportsman/businessman Daniel “Boy” Francisco of Bangkal, Makati.
Among the victims of undefeated Dimakiling are Mohd Kifflee Awang Mohd Syafie (first round), Kamin Al Kamil (second), Sahim Wising Abdul (fourth), Nik Abd Aziz Nik Ahmad Farouqi (fifth), Li Tian Yeoh (sixth) and IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (seventh).
Malaysian Yit San Fong held a draw with Dimakiling in the third round.
Villanueva, for his part, edged three other seven-pointers via superior tiebreaks to grab the runner-up honors in the event organized by the Sabah Chess Association. Hafizulhelmi, Che, and FIDE Master Nicholas Chan took the next three spots followed by 6.5 scorers Li, Zaidan Zulkipli, Sumant Subramaniam and Ahmad Fadzil Nayan for the sixth to ninth places.