CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling scored 1.5 points in the last two rounds to emerge overall champion in the 2013 Candon Rapid Open Chess Championship dubbed as Hon. Allen G. Singson Cup at the Candon Civic Center here over the weekend.
The Davao City native Dimakiling defeated Fide Master Hamed Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental in the sixth and penultimate round then halved the point with Fide Master David Elorta of Manila in the seventh to finish with 6.0 points in the seven-round tournament organized by the Candon City Chess Club led by project coordinator Jerry Malamion and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by president/ chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. The event was also sponsored by Candon City Mayor Allen G. Singson.
Actually, Nouri beat IM Barlo Nadera of Malabon City in the final round to match Dimakiling’s outout of 6.0 points but had to settle for runner-up honors via the “winner-over-the-other” tiebreak rule.
GM John Paul Gomez of Binan, Laguna and Elorta shared third to fourth places with 5.5 points.
Sharing the limelight were local bet Jasper Laxamana, who bagged the title in the 16-and-under category and Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental, who copped the crown in the 12-and-under division. Laxamana and Nouri both tallied perfect 6.0 points. /Correspondent Marlon bernardino