by Marlon Bernardino
SINGAPORE---International Master Oliver Dimakiling recently won the Melaka International Chess Festival 2018 Category Open Tournament, which took place at the Grand Ballroom,Freeport A' Famosa Outlet in Alor Gajah, Malacca, Malaysia last Saturday, July 7, 2018.

Dimakiling, the pride of Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, won with 6.5 points, earning a 2,000 Malaysian ringgit cash prize in the 20 minutes Rapid time control format.

Dimakiling's big wins were against this year's National Chess Championships ruler International Master Haridas Pascua in the sixth and penultimate round and Michael Angelo Palma of the Philippines in the seventh and final round.

Claiming the second to fourth places, respectively was National Master Stewart Manaog of Philippines, Grandmaster Alexander Forminyh of Russia and International Master Emmanuel Senador of Philippines, who all finished with 6 points.

The Baguio City based Pascua who hails from Mangatarem, Pangasinan tallied 5.5 points, the same output of Sabri Mohd Saprin of Malaysia.

The Malaysia based Palma, meantime led the huge group of five pointers that includes Fide Master Nelson Villanueva of Philippines, Yusof Kamaluddin, Che Hassan Abdullah, Abdullah Muhd Rafiquzzaman, Bakal Mohd Bakri and Chek Kin Keuw of Malaysia.

In another related chess news, Senador took Penang Chinese Girls' High School Hall (PCGHS) Open 2018 title last Sunday, July 8, 2018. Senador tallied 7.5 points in eight outings to enroute the title in the 15 minutes plus ten seconds increment time control format. (Marlon Bernardino)