by Marlon Bernardino
FILIPINO International Master Oliver Dimakiling suffered a stinging defeat in Tuesday’s seventh round to drop out of second place in the 2nd Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship at the Sharjah Chess Club in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The Davao City native Dimakiling (Elo 2412) yielded to Super GM Eltaj Safarli (Elo 2653) of Azerbaijan after 33 moves of Torre Attack Opening using the white pieces.

The win improved Safarli's total 6.0 points, the same output of Super GM Sethuraman S.P. (Elo 2631) of India, who downed Super GM Arkadij Naiditsch (Elo 2701) of Azerbajian after 33 moves of Giuco Piano Opening.

Meanwhile, Super GM Parham Maghsoodloo (Elo 2615) of Iran toppled Super GM Gawain Jones (Elo 2675) of England after 45 moves of Sicilian Defense, Rossolimo variation to remain on top with perfect 7.0 points in seven outings.

Dimakiling remains at 5.0 points and dropped into a tie for 9th to 19th places in the company of Naiditsch, his eight and penultimate round opponent.

The prize fund of the tournament is $60,000. First prize: $15,000. The tournament is under the patronage of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the head of government of the country.

According to Philippine Executive Chess Champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, the road to earning the third and final GM norm of Dimakiling will not be easy as the latter's needed to win his match against Naiditsch, who beat World Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway with the black pieces, playing first board for the German team during the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway in August 2014.

Naiditsch was the winner of the Dortmund Sparkassen 2005 Tournament, ahead of higher-rated and well-known players such as Loek van Wely, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Vladimir Kramnik, Michael Adams, and Peter Leko. In 2007, he won the German national championship based in Bad Königshofen. In July 2015, Naiditsch switched to the Azerbaijan Chess Federation.

Dimakiling, on the other hand had earned his first GM norm when he finished as co-champion in the Dato Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess Championship in 2006. He obtained his second GM norm during the 2012 National Open Chess Championships.

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Galas, Enriquez to lead Team Orbe campaign in NCFP chessfest

WOMAN International Master (WIM) Bernadette Galas, the reigning National Champion and UAAP, Most Valuable Player and Woman National Master (WNM) Jean Karen Enriquez will lead the Team Orbe's charge in the Philippine Chess Blitz Online Face Off Series dubbed as Rage of Angels Part II will be broadcasted live on Saturday, April 21, 2018, starting at 10am, over YouTube and Facebook channel of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Woman National Master Francois Marie Magpily and Highzzy Manaloto are the other Team Orbe campaigners in this event backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman and President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.

For Team Hermida will spearheaded by Woman Fide Master Alleney Jia Doroy, Woman National Master Christy Lamiel Bernales, Woman National Master Arvie Lozano and Mariel Batulan.

"It's going to be another exciting weekend as the National Chess Federation of the Philippines brings you Rage of Angels Part 2," said tournament director Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe.

"Expect another slam-bang match as these players fight in a team battle royale format where each loser gets eliminated and the winning team is the team that manages to eliminate all the players of the opposing team." added Atty. Orbe, founding president of the Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA).-Marlon Bernardino-