Torre falls in marathon duel

If ever there was a changing of the guard in Philippine chess, it was graphically demonstrated last night when teener Oliver Dimakiling pushed GM Eugene Torre to the limit and ousted the top seeded player right in the first round of the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay.

The 18-year-old Dimakiling, needing to win in six minutes with the white pieces, relentlessly attacked Torre's queenside with his Two Knights Opening and clinched the 49-move win when the 48-year-old Torre squirmed in time trouble and lost via time forfeit. Torre needed only a draw in five minutes to advance.

Dimakiling's stirring victory came after he engaged Torre to three thrilling best-of-two playoff matches, the first a 30-minute game, the second a 15-minute clash and the third a 5-minute duel.

Torre actually had the game in hand in the third playoff when he won the first match and went two pawns up in the second. But he blundered away his edge, enabling a resilient Dimakiling, a noted active chess player who won the Shell under-20 active chess crown last year, to force the do-or-die match.

"Ang ginawa ko na lang tira lang ng tira at medyo tatag ng loob," said Dimakiling, who faces former national junior Rolando Andador in the second round today. "Buti na lang nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makaatake sa huling laro namin."

"I've had my chance to beat him. There were two opportunities actually but I just couldn't deliver," said Torre, whose form has been suspect because of his long layoff.

Others who advanced were Sander Severino, NM Efren Bagamasbad, IM Luis Chiong IV, NM Yves Rañola, NM Jayson Gonzalez, NM Eduardo Ortiz, and NMs Ernesto Absin, Ernesto Llavanes and Francis Jocson.

Also advancing with victories late Saturday are NM Mark Paragua, NM Darwin Laylo, Oliver Barbosa, and Ruel Abelgas. -