National Closed 2003 Revisited!

As we all know, 2008 National Closed will be held from 31st May - 4th June 2008 at the Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur. To build up the mood for the tournament, i went trough the past games collections of the past edition. One of the game that attract my attention is the final round game (round 9) of the 2003 National Closed edition between the top board Nicholas Chan and Lim Yee Weng.

The game is won by Nicholas Chan and as a result, he tied with Wong Zi Jing who collected the same points. (7.5) Both play 2 play 0ff game and Nicholas won both of it to emerged as the new National Master.




Nicholas Chan - Lim Yee Weng [D44]
National Closed 2003 (9), 08.06.2003

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 c6 5.Nf3 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.a4 Qb6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0 Bb4 11.Qd2 Nd7 12.Qh6 a6 13.Qg7 Ke7 14.Rfd1 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.axb5 Qf4 17.g3 Rag8??


17...Qxe4 is probably the correct move and black should have the better game 18.Qxh8 black resign 1-0 Probably exhausted at the end of the tournament, Yee Weng maybe only consider 18.gxf4 Rxg7+ 19.Kf1

MASUM 2008 Final day Update : UM Gerald Soh and Nurshazwani Champion!

Universiti Malaya (UM) dominated the men and women individual category in the 2008 Sukan MASUM 2 that just conclude at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

Info from Rizal Ahmad Kamal (photo left) is Gerald Soh(photo right) from University Malaya (UM) won the gold medal for the 2008 Sukan MASUM 2 Chess tournament , silver goes to Bakri Abdul Karim (UIA) and Rizal Ahmad Kamal (UKM) won the bronze medal .


In the women section, Nurshazwani (UM) (photo below left) won the gold, silver goes to Loi Choi Suien (UM) and bronze to Siti Nurfaizah Said.

Nurshazwani photo from setiachess

Chess is cruel for he… or……..she!

The drama happen at 1 minutes and 9 seconds

Watch IM Irina Krush reaction after losing the 2008 US Women Championship penultimate play-off game against Anna Zatonskih. Both tie with the same points in the woman category so they have to play blitz play-off games to decided the ultimate Champion. At the end, Anna won the play-off after winning the final game on time. Irina Krush was so upset with the result and she react horribly!

This is the first time ever I watch a women was so upset after losing a game. Irina even throw her king off the table (photo above) after he found that he just lost on time and her opponent has only 1 second left!!! - Watch the video at 1 minutes 9 second for the incident.

Irina instantly storm out from the playing hall without shaking her opponent hand.

Mustapa Kamal Wedding and “Grandmaster Live”

From left: Zambri, Sam, Mus & Wife, Aziz Shukor, Kamaluddin and Saprin (answering chess call !?)

Photo from Sam

As my previous article a few days ago, Mustapaha Kamal wedding ceremonies was successfully held at his house in on Sunday, 18 May 2008, at Taman Seri Setia, Teluk Intan.

Several chess players and his good friends attend the wedding, among them is Sam , Mohd Saprin Sabri, Zambri Yusof, Abdul Aziz Shukor and Kamaluddin Yusof. They came all they way from KL and stop a few time for food, drinks and ….blitz!!! We call this “ Grandmaster live”

This term were used by us during our students time when we have all time in the world to play chess- no wife, childrens, works, responsibility to think accept play, play and play chess where ever you are.

I recall one of my memorable experience in late 90’s when I with my chess buddies ( Irwan, Rizal, Abu Zarim..) went to play in Terengganu
Open held at the 4 star Hotel Primula Park Royal Kuala Terengganu. At that time we are all university students and don’t have much money ( now also :)) to pay the expensive room fee . So we plan a strategy. Although at that time my strength is good enough to play in the Open, I choose to played in the novis where as all my friends play in the open category. My job is to win a good price money in the novice and others tried their luck on the Open which of course- offer more cash price!

At the end, our mission is accomplish, I managed to get 3rd places where as my other friend failed to get any cash price in the strong Open category which won by Julian Navaratnam! So, the money I won were used to pay our room fees and we happily enjoy our stay at the beautiful hotel near the beach.


Another interesting story at the Terengganu Open is our room is adjacent to WFM Angela Khegai (photo right) and another strong and cute Uzbekistan women players- WFM Irina Gorshkova (photo left) . At the middle of the night ( around 2 a.m) , we knocked their door to invite them for blitz game which was reject immedietly !!! – how crazy we are back then.

Sukan MASUM 2 Update : Day 1

My friend Rizal Ahmad Kamal (photo right) - playing for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), kindly e-mail me his round 2 game of the Sukan MASUM 2 held today. As my previous report, the chess events is being play from 23-26 May 2006 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

Below is Rizal email with his annotated game.

Today I played a classic Ruy Lopez Chigorin (transposed from anti-Marshall).

Rizal A Kamal (UKM) vs Kenneth Choong Wei Chin (UM)

ECO "C90"Round 2 , Board 5, ,2008.05.23"

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O With this, black thretens to play 7...d5 the fearsome Marshall attack 8. d3 The anti-Marshall was popular after Kasparov-Short 1993 World Championshipmatch 8...d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3 Qc7 12. Nbd2 The position now transposes to the main line Chigorin of the Ruy Lopez but in this case with the difference that the white's d-pawn on d3 instead of the normal on d4. I used to studyFischer's approach in his games in his famous Classic My 60 Memorable Games some 20 years ago 12...Bb7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 Bf8 15. Nh2 g6 16. Nhg4 Bg7 17. Qf3 Nh5 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Kh8 20. Bh6 f5 21. Bxg7+ Kxg7 21... Qxg7 is a worthy consideration 22. Ne3 Nf6 22... Nf4 was my expectation 23. g4 f4 24. g5 Ng8 24... fxe3 25. gxf6+ (25. Qxf6+ Kg8 26. fxe3 Rf8 27. Qe6+ Qf7 28. Rf1 Qxe6 29. dxe6 Rae8 30. b4 cxb4 31. cxb4 Nc6 32. a3 Nd8 33. Bb3 Nxe6 34.Rf6 Rxf6 35. gxf6 Kf7 36. Rf1 Rc8 ±) 25... Kg8 26. fxe3 Rf8 27. Rf1 Rf7 28.Qg4 Raf8 29. Qe6 Qd7 30. Rf2 Qxe6 31. dxe6 Rxf6 32. Rxf6 Rxf6 33. b4 cxb4 34.cxb4 Nc6 35. Bb3 Kf8 36. Rc1 $18 25. Ng4 Rac8 26. Kg2 Qd7 26... Ne7 27. h4 Nf5 28. Rh1 Threatens h5 next 27. h4 h5 28. gxh6+ Nxh6 29. Nxh6 Kxh6 30. Rg1 Rg8 31. Kh2 Before deciding on this move I had considered Kg2-f1-e2 followsby Rg4 (or g5) and Rag1 31...Nb7 32. Rg5 Nd8 At first I was so frustrated becauseI saw that the knight will be just in time arriving on f7 therefore negating my attack which made me regret putting the Rook on g5 instead of g4. But aftera long thinking, I saw a nice trick which wins the exchange or a whole piece 33. d4 !! Nf7

My opponent had looked on me curiously but went on with his defensive plan 34. Bf5 ! The outrageous move 34. Bxg6 ! Nxg5 [34... Rxg6 ?? 35. Qh5+ Kg7 36. Qxg6+ (36. Rxg6+ Kf8 Black escapes the mate) 36... Kf8 37. Qg7+ Ke8 38. Rh5 Ke7 39. Rh7 Rf8 Black holds] 35. Qh5+ Kg7 34... Qe7 34... gxf5 35. Qh5#; 34... Nxg5 35. hxg5+ Kg7 35.Bxc8 Rxc8 35... Nxg5 36. hxg5+ Qxg5 37. Be6 White keeps the Bishop and could easily defending himself, for example Rh8 38.Qg4 Kg7+ 39. Kg2 f3+ 40. Kxf3 Rf8+ 41. Kg2 Qxg4+ 42. Bxg4 36. Rg4 cxd4 37.Rag1 Rg8 38. Qe4 Qf6 39. cxd4 g5 I did not want to force the issue and tried to produce a zugzwang 40. f3 Kg7

Black had less than 5 minutes while I had about 10 minutes at this point. Therefore black did not have any choice but to make a move, any move.. 41. Rxg5+ ! The second outrageous move which finishes off black neatly 41...Nxg5 (41... Kh6 42. Rxg8 Qxh4+ 43. Kg2 Ng5 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45. Rxh4 Nxe4 46. fxe4 +-) 42. Rxg5+ Kh8 42... Kf8 43. Rf5 (wins black's Queen) 43. Rh5+ Kg7 44. Qh7+Kf8 45. Rf5 Finally my opponent resigned 1-0

According to Rizal, among the players who got 2 points from round 2 (I only managed to recall a few of them) Gerald Soh (UM) Chan Tze Wei (UTM) NM Zarul Shazwan Abdullah (UMP) Khairi Kz (UIAM) Ahmad Fadzil Nayan (UIAM) Haidil Hazha (UMP) and myself (UKM)

IM Mashafizul draw against IM Julio Catalino Sandorra in round 9!

Refering from Kristianus Liem Blog , IM Mashafizul draw his last round game against Philipino GM elect- IM Julio Catalino Sandorra. Mas end his campaign at The 3rd Philippine Open International Chess Tournament with 5 ½ points. His final ranking is still unavailable at this particular time. My rough calculation is Mas will end somewhere between 6th - 20th placing. Not bad i think because he was 26th seeded .

Round 8 : Mas draw against IM Tirto !

IM Mashafizul play a short draw against Indonesian IM Tirto (2422) in round 8 of The 3rd Philippine Open International Chess Tournament held at the La Legenda Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Philipines today. With 5 points, he will meet host player IM
Julio Catalino Sadorra (2455) (photo right) tomorrow in round 9 - the last round of the tournament.

Julio Catalino Sadorra (born 1986- ) is a Filipino International Master based in Singapore. He earned his first Grandmaster norm in the just concluded 2007 Pichay Cup in the Philippines.

Photo and source from pinoychess

Mas draw against IM John Paul Gomez in Round 7

IM Mashafizul draw against Pinoy - IM John Paul Gomez (2464) in the 7th round of The 3rd Philippine Open International Chess Tournament held at the La Legenda Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Philipines today. He has now collected 4 1/2 points from 7 round and will meet Indonesian IM Tirto (2422) (photo right) in round 8.

Mas will surely faced a difficult task psychologically because Tirto has beat him early this year in the 1st ASEAN Chess Circut in Tarakan, Indonesia.

IM Tirto will meet IM Mas again!

Photo from Kristianus Liem, and Indochess.com

Mas draw against IM Irwanto Sadikin in round 6

IM Mas draw against Indonesian IM Irwanto Sadikin (2456) in the 6th round of The 3rd Philippine Open International Chess Tournament held at the La Legenda Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Philipines today. With 4 points, he will meet Philipines IM John Paul Gomez (2464) (photo right) in round 7 today.

IM John Paul Gomez slowly but surely is establishing himself as a perennial candidate for Philipines national teams. John Paul’s strongest point is his father. Mr. Jun Gomez is a former official of the National Power Corp. who has completely dedicated himself to the chess career of his son. He serves as executive driver, constant companion, silent supporter, loud reveler, quick financier, training companion and in many more capacities. John Paul on his part has rewarded the efforts of the dad with dedicated chess study and constant improvement.




Photo and sources from pinoychess

Rizal Ahmad Kamal in MASUM 2

My friend Rizal Ahmad Kamal (photo right) is now in Sabah where he will be playing for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in the Sukan MASUM 2 (Majlis Sukan Universiti) held from 21-28 May 2008. The chess tournament which use the Swiss System format will start on the 23rd – 26th May 2008 at the Dewan Canselor, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). It is a individual tournament with time control of 90 minutes for each player.

Putrajaya Evening Fever!

Zaidan (left) blitzing with Rizal (right)

A few days ago i received a phone called from an unknown chess player from Putrajaya. He introduced himself as Zaidan and invite me for a chess sparring at Putrajaya. Zaidan is a student in one of University in Ireland. He is having a semester break and will spend a month here before going back to Ireland.

Today, after i finish my job at about 6pm , we play at Putrajaya Food Court (Precint 9) together with another chess player, Putrajaya Chess Champion - Muhammad Rizal Jusah . Zaidan is quite strong player, beating me 1-3 and Rizal 0-2 in blitz.

I ask him how he got my number, he said that he got to know me from my friend- Sam and from reading my blog :) . We also talk about chess in Ireland. He said that GM Alexander Baburin was the strongest player there and charge quite an expensive fee for chess lesson. I mentioned another Irish chess player - IM Mark Quinn and he said that Mark is a pianist and chess is only his part time...eeemmm quite a an interesting fact :I

We plan to have a chess disscusion probably tommorow and within this month before he went back to Ireland for his studies.

Kasparov Attack By Flying *&%$#

As we all know, former World Champion- Garry Kasparov has quit chess and involve with his new career - Politics. His success in politics is far from being proud off compare to his chess glory.
Furthermore, his politics activities is often disturb by Pro Kremlin demonstrator. The recent one as reported, Garry Kasparov was attack by a flying @#$%& in one of his politics events. (see video above)

In the past, his political activities has always interrupted by this kind of protester. (see photo below)

Boys throwing darts at.....

Kasparov potrait!

Mas win round 5!

IM Mashafizul (standing left) was back on track after beating Pinoy – Johnathan Tan (2220) in the 5th round of The 3rd Philippine Open International Chess Tournament held at the La Legenda Hotel, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Philipines today. With 3 ½ points, he will meet Indonesian IM Irwanto Sadikin (2456) (photo right) tommorow in round 6.

Photos from Kristianus Liem