Haridas captures Selangor Open chess crown

MANILA, Philippines – International Master Haridas Pascua held compatriot IM Oliver Dimakiling to a draw in the final round to rule the 46th Selangor Open Chess 2019 at the Cititel Midvalley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Thursday.

The 25-year-old Pascua thus finished the nine-round tournament with 7.5 points on six victories and three draws to edge another Filipino, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo and Indonesian FIDE Master Pitra Andyka, who wound up with seven points apiece.

The victory likewise netted Pascua 4.8 FIDE rating points that further bolstered his bid to gain an outright GM title once he reaches the 2500-rating plateau. He currently totes a 2426 rating.

Laylo, who beat untitled Malaysian Kaushal Khandhar, took second place from Andyka, who trounced Indonesian FM Daniel Hermawan Lumban Tobing, via the win-over-the-other tiebreak rule. The Filipino bet crushed Andyka in the fifth round.

The 39-year-old Laylo later rued the half-point denied him after his draw against Muhd Syukur Razali, who was caught cheating. The Malaysian was subsequently disqualified and Laylo insisted that he should’ve earned a full point instead of a half-a-point.

“I would have tied for first or maybe won the tournament had my draw against him been turned into a win,” Laylo yesterday told The STAR.

Dimakiling ended up fourth with 6.5 points while two more Philippine bets Ian Udani and Alvin Roma, who split the point in the final round, finished in the top 10 with six points apiece.