INTERNATIONAL MASTER Oliver Dimakiling had a golden vision: a return stint to the Olympic Games. This after the Davao City native buldozer top seed GM Olver Barbosa in the ninth round late Saturday of the 2012 National Open Chess Championships at the Old Buswang Cabagnot Training Center in Kalibo, Aklan.
"Target ko po na muling i represent ang bansa sa World Chess Olympiad. Masaya po ako kasi nakuha ko na ang 2nd GM norm ko. Maraming salamat kay Sir Boy Francisco ng Bangkal, Makati kasi isa sa siya sa nagtitiwala sa aking kakayahan na matupad ang ambisyon po nating maging pinakabagong grandmaster ng bansa," he added.
Dimakiling prevailed using the disadvantageous black pieces after 36 moves of Dutch defense enroute his second GM norm.
With six rounds to go in this National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) tournament backed up by chairman/president Prospero "Butch"Pichay Jr. and Tagaytay City mayor and Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., the former De La Salle standout is set to face Asia's First GM Eugene Torre on Sunday.
Dimakiling earned his first GM norm after finishing as co-champion in the 2006 Malaysian Open.
A player needs to complete the required three norms and at least reach 2500 Elo rating once. Dimakiling has already accomplished the latter.
His main focus is still to qualify outright for the team that will compete in this year?s World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey on August 27 to September 10.
He?s currently leading the tournament dubbed as ?Battle of the Grandmasters" with 14 total points.
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