Malay Open 2008 (First Day)

Today I drop by to The Chess Network (TCN) Wilayah Kompleks, Kuala Lumpur to watch top Malay players battle in the annual Malay Open tournaments. The tournaments start from 9 to 10hb February 2008 and it is a 7 round Swiss with 45 minutes time control. 4 rounds were schedule for the first day and tomorrow the remaining 3 round will be play.

After 4 round, the are few players with perfect score. Among them is NM Zarul Shazwan, Kamaluddin Yusof, Mohd Fairin Zakaria, Fariz Shafruddin and Abdullah Che Hassan. Top seed FM Anaz Nasreen suffered a shocking defeat to Rizal Ahmad Kamal in the 3rd round. Below are the photo and annotated game.

Round 3: Kamaluddin Yusof "smell" something in Rizal vs FM Anas 1-0

Analysis by Hairulov and Fritz

Rizal Ahmad Kamal (2022) vs FM Anas Nazreen Bakri (2253)
Malay Open 2008, Round 3, 09.02.2008

1.e4 c5 2.d4 A surprise by Rizal. He usually play the main line. Never before i see he play the Smith Morra Gambit . 2...cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3

White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has a piece developed and a pawn in the center, while Black has nothing but an empty space on c7. The plan for white is straightforward and consists in putting his bishop on c4 with attack on f7, and control of both lines c and d with rooks taking advantage of the fact that the black queen can hardly find a suitable place. 4...e6 Anas choose the Chicago Defense. 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bc4 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 8.a3 d6 9.0–0 Nf6 10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Nd4 Fritz opening book suggest 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Bf4 Qb8 13.Rd2 0–0 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.Bc2 e5 16.Bg5 Ne6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 11...Qb8 12.f4 Nc5 After the game Rizal said that now the game transpose to a similar position in Sicilian Sozin that he is used to play as black and white! 13.Bd5?

Sorry Rizal. Actually Fritz gave two question mark for this move. However your bait did made Anas spent alot of time. For me, this move is what i called "pergerakan yang mengelirukan kawan dan lawan!" - a move that confuse your opponent and your friend! " 13.Bc2!?= is suggest by the computer. 13...Be7?? Fritz tell me that Anas should take the bishop in d5 with a poker face! 13...exd5! 14.exd5+ Kd7! 14.b4 14.Nc6!? Qc7 15.Nxe7 Qxe7 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.e5 14...0–0?? against the bishop in d5 can be taken. But in 45 minutes game, it is difficult to calculate complicated variations too long. I heard many players complain about the shorter time control. In the past, the time control used to be 1 and a half hour. 14...exd5!? 15.exd5 Qa7 µ 16.Re1 Ne6! 17.Be3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19.Kh1 Ng8 So what? 15.bxc5 15.Bxb7!? is an interesting alternative 15...Nxb7 16.e5= 15...exd5 16.c6 16.Nf5!? Re8 17.cxd6 Bxd6 18.e5 16...Bxc6!–+ Decoy: c6 17.exd5 17.Nxc6 Qb6+ Double attack 18.Kh1 Qxc6 17...Qb6 17...Bd7!? May be a little bit safer. 18.Be3 Bb7 Black has a cramped position 19.Nf5 A dream square for the knight. 19...Qd8

Rizal before playing 20.Qd3

20.Qd3 Re8 21.Bd4 White is eyeing the g7.

21...Bc8? This gave white chance to crack black kingside. 21...Bf8!?= might be a viable alternative 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Rae1 Qd8 23...Qxe1? didn't gave black any chance because after 24.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25.Kf2 Ra1 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Ne4 Black pawn on f6 and d6 is weak. 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Ne4?! 25.Rxe8+!? and White could well hope to play on 25...Qxe8 26.Ne4 Qe7 27.Ng3! With the idea of Nh5-Qc3 and Re1 25...Bf5 Now black have the initiative. 26.Qg3+ Kh8 27.Nf2 Qb6 28.Qh4 Qd4 29.Rd1 Qb2 30.Nd3 Bxd3 31.Rxd3 Rg8?! 31...Re2! is better 32.Rg3 Rg8 33.Rxg8+ Kxg8 34.Qg4+ Kf8 35.Qc8+ Re8 36.Qf5 Qc3 Black have a potential to create a passed pawn on the queen side. 32.Rg3 Rxg3 33.hxg3 Re8 34.Qh6 Kg8 35.Qh5 35.Kh2!? 35...Qe2? letting the wind out of his own sails 35...Qxa3 36.Kh2 (36.Qg4+ Kf8!) 36...Qd3–+ 36.Rf3? White should play for a draw with 36.Qxe2!? Rxe2 37.Rc1³ Ra2 38.Rc6 Rxa3 39.Rxd6 Kf8 40.Rb6 36...Qd1+ 36...Qc2 is better 37.Rf1 Re3 38.Qg4+ Kf8–+ 37.Kh2

37...Kh8?? A blunder by Anas. Actually he is in severe time pressure. 37...Qc2 38.Qg4+ Kh8 and he still have the advantage 38.Qxf7+- Rg8? 38...Qe2 is one last hope 39.Qxf6+ Kg8 40.Qxd6 Qc2 41.Qxa6 Re2+- 42.Qc6 Rxg2+ 43.Kh3 Rh2+ 44.Kg4 39.Qxf6+ Rg7 40.Re3 40.Qxd6! is better because 40...Qd4 (40...Qe2 41.Qf8+ Rg8 42.Qf6+ Rg7 43.d6) 41.Qe5 Qxe5 42.fxe5+- 40...Qh5+ 41.Kg1 Qd1+ 41...a5 42.Kf2 (42.Qxd6?! Qd1+ 43.Kf2 Qd2+ 44.Re2 Qd4+ 45.Kf1 Rxg3+-) 42...Qg6 43.Qc3+- 42.Kf2 Qd2+ 43.Re2 1–0 Black resign because after 43.Re2 Qxd5 44.Re8+±

You can also look at Kamaludin Yusof vs Abdul Haq (1-0) 4th round annotated game at whitenaval site here

Day one photos.

Round 3: Abdullah Che Hassan analyzing his win against NM Nurul Huda Wahidduddin

Haslindah Ruslan - *"orang Kuat" PCMM, MCF, WSFFM...

Abdul Aziz Shukor returning back to local chess scene
after spending a year off for a job commitment in Labuan

* orang kuat = important person
PCMM = Persatuan Catur Melayu Malaysia (Malaysian Malay Chess Association)
MCF = Malaysian Chess Federation
WSFFM = Women's Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia