Streaking Dimakiling ties Laylo, Antonio on top in Battle of GMs

Resurgent International Master Oliver Dimakiling stunned Grandmaster John Paul Gomez yesterday to forge a three-way tie for the lead with Grandmasters Darwin Laylo and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio in the fifth Battle of Grandmasters at Paraw Club in Boracay.

Dimakiling notched his fourth straight win and climbed to 10 points, the same total posted by Laylo, who toppled erstwhile leader Antonio in the seventh round yesterday morning.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and GM Mark Paragua stayed right behind at 9.0 points following victories over separate opponents.

Torre downed Fide Master Randy Segarra while Paragua subdued GM Rogelio Barcenilla in the event serving as qualifier for the Philippine men’s and women’s team to next month’s Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

GM Julio Catalino Sadorra bested Italy-based GM Roland Salvador to be at 8.5 points.

Top seed GM Oliver Barbosa was held to a draw by FM Haridas Pascua and settled for 8.0 points under a scoring system where a win is worth two points, a draw one and a loss zero.

Woman IM Catherine Perena trounced defending champion WFM Rulp Ylem Jose to seize the distaff lead with 11.0 points.

Lodged at 10.0 were Woman National Master Janelle Mae Frayna, Jean Karen Enriquez and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia. Roy Luarca