by Marlon Bernardino
FILIPINO International Masters (IMs) Oliver Dimakiling and Haridas Pascua  finished in a tie for first place at the 22nd Grand Asian Chess Challenge (GACC) Open Rapid Chess Championship 2018 held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Dewan Tunku Counselor, University of Malaya in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Davao City pride Dimakiling defeated Capel Evan Timothy in the final round, to finish with perfect six points, the same output of Pascua, who hails from Mangatarem, Pangasinan, winner over countryman fellow IM Emmanuel Senador of Iloilo.

Dimakiling, earlier beat, Hirwanizam Wan Adam Qaisar of Malaysia in the first round, WCM Ding Dao En of Malaysia in the second round,  Chen Yi Jing Alvin of Singapore in the third round, FM Ismail Ahmad of Malaysia in the fourth round,  compatriot National Master Stewart Manaog in the fifth round before crushing Timothy in the sixth round.
 Pascua, on his part, defeated Iffatu Masrura Al Hakimi of Malaysia in Round 1, Abdul Rashid Hasidin of Malaysia in Round 2, Mohd Rashid Muhd Darwisy Eirf of Malaysia in Round 3, Azhar Muhd Syakir Shazmeer of Malaysia in Round 4, M.Kahfi  Maulana of Indonesia in Round 5 before beating IM Senador in Round 6.
Manaog, meantime tallied 5.0 point and was landed at overall 6th place while Senador was remains at 4.5 points for overall 11th place.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) secretay-general Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Ng-Tolentino lauded Dimakiling and Pascua impressive showing in the 22nd Grand Asian Chess Challenge (GACC) Open Rapid Chess Championship in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia . " They make our country proud."-Marlon Bernardino-