Azahari Mohd Nor beat GM Eduard Gufeld!

One interesting fact i found on my study of the past local chess articles in Berita Harian newspaper is our "retired" former national player Azahari Mohd Nor from Kelantan beat the late GM Eduard Gufeld in a simul held at Perpustakaan Tun Abd Razak, Ipoh Perak on 8 August 1991.

Azhari Mohd Noor was quite an active player in local chess during the 90's. He even represent Malaysia in the 34th World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey in 2000.Unfortunately after that he never seen in any local chess tournament anymore.

Below is his victory against the famous GM Eduard Gufeld (left).

GM Eduard Gufeld - Azahari Mohd Nor [A06]
GM Gufeld Simul at Perpustakaan Tun Abd Razak,Ipoh, Perak. 08.08.1991

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 unusual reply but still theory 3.e3 dxe3 usually 3...Nc6!? is played and the game could continue with 4.exd4 Nxd4= where black equalize easily 4.fxe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 Gufeld played a little bit passive. May be he believe that he superior and vast experience in chess would in the end would prevail 7.0–0.Bc5 8.b3 0–0 9.Bb2 Re8 It seems like Gufeld who are playing black! 10.Qc2 Black has an active position 10...Nb4 11.Qb1?

Gufeld somehow forgot about his d2 pawn! 11.Qc1 should be played and White could well hope to play on 11...e4 12.Ng5= 11...e4–+ 12.Nd4 Bxd4 13.exd4 Qxd4+ black simply winning a pawn 14.Kh1 Qxd2 15.a3 Nd3 16.Bxd3 exd3 16...Qxd3?! 17.Qxd3 exd3 18.Nb5 would give white counter play 17.Nb5? a mistake by Gufeld that let Azahari produced the stunning

17...Bh3!! 18.Rg1 18.gxh3 Re2 and black have many deadly attack 18...Ng4! now Azahari threatening mate on f2! 19.Bd4 19.Qf1 doesn't get the bull off the ice 19...Qxb2 19...Qf4 0–1 Gufeld resign because after 20.g3 Qf3+ 21.Rg2 Qxg2# mate is unstoppable