Dimakiling rules Pahang Open chess

MANILA, Philippines — International Master Oliver Dimakiling downed countryman Grandmaster Darwin Laylo and watched top seed and erstwhile co-leader Alexei Barsov of Uzbekistan fall against another Filipino IM Haridas Pascua in the eighth and final round to claim the Pahang Open title on Easter Sunday in Malaysia.

Dimakiling, 38, finished with seven points, half point ahead of Pascua, who took second place with 6.5 points, and Barsov, who had six points alongside Malaysian IMs Hafizulhelmi and Jimmy Liew but emerged with the highest tiebreak to snare third spot.

Barsov would have beaten Dimakiling via tiebreak if they ended up in a tie with Pascua.

“I’m thankful for the blessings,” said Dimakiling, who is also scheduled to see action in the Selangor Open on Friday also in Malaysia.

The other Filipino entries, Laylo and FIDE Masters Christopher Castellano and Nelson Villanueva, all wound up in the top 10 at sixth, eighth and ninth place, respectively, with 5.5 points apiece.