A Disappointing Finish For Mashafizul in Dubai Open 2008.

IM Mashafizul will try his best next time

photo from setiachess.blogspot.com

IM Mashafizul (2396) ended his campaign in the Dubai Open 2008 with 41/2 points from 9 rounds after losing unexpectedly to untitle Indian Shiven Khosla (2086) . After an excellent start holding GMs and higher rated player from the first 7 rounds, Mas lost to Azerbaijan - GM Safarli proved to be the turning point of his disappointing overall result.

I think it will be a great idea if Mas could have assistance from second or trainer for his tournament preparation. As we all know, Mas is traveling and competing on his own without any help of second, trainer or even he doesn’t have at least a countrymen who compete together in the same tournament to help each others like players from the Philippines, India and others are doing. Well guys, we should continue patiently for Mas to continue his quest for the GM title. Let’s continue to give him the him full support and encouragement for his next tournaments.

Below is his final game:-

IM Mas,Hafizulhelmi (2396) - Shiven,Khosla (2086) [B70]
10th Dubai Open 2008 Dubai Chess & Culture Club (9.9), 14.04.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bc4 6.Be3 and later Qd2-Bc4 and castle long 0–0–0 is the Yugoslav Attack which is the main line of the Sicilian Dragon. However Mas could still transpose to the main line later 6...Bg7 7.0–0

This show that Mas is not planning to play the main line 7.Be3. As i mentioned before, 7.Be3 would transpose to the main line but Mas probably want to avoid a prepared variation because the Yugoslav variation is very dangerous and losing one tempo could prove fatal. 7...0–0 8.Re1 Nc6 9.Bb3 Bd7 9...Bg4; 9...a6 is the theoreticaly line. 10.Bg5 Rc8 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qd2 Qc7 13.Rad1 Threatening 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.e5!? Bxe5 16.Rxe5!?dxe5 17 Qxd7 and black will have many weak pawns 13...Rfd8 Black safeguard his bishop on d7. 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Be6!? Black took a gamble by weakening his kingside pawns in compensation for his strong pawn centre. 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.e5!? A positional sacrifice by Mas. He try to gain the initiative in an equal position. Further more black triple pawns on e file will probably drop later. 17...dxe5 18.Qh3 Kf7 19.Rd3 White threaten to double rook on e file and gain back the sacrifice pawn. 19...Rxd3 20.cxd3 Qa5?! 20...h5! with the idea of ...Ng4 eying the h2 square is probably better. 21.d4 e4 22.f3?! A risky move by Mas. 22.Qe3!?= regaining the pawn later is safer. 22...Qb4 White have serious weakness in d4 and b2. 23.Kh1 Rd8 23...h5 24.fxe4 Qxd4; 23...Qxd4?! 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Qxh7+! 24.fxe4 24.a3 Qxd4 (24...Qxb2 25.Nxe4 black has weakness on e6 and h7.) 25.Nxe4 Nxe4 26.Qxh7+ Qg7 27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.fxe4 Rd2= 24...Rxd4 25.e5 Rh4 26.Qf3?? strolling merrily down the path to disaster- this is the word use by my best friend-Mr Fritz! 26.Qg3 Nd5 27.a3 Qf4

26...Rxh2+!!–+ Double attack: e1/h2 27.Kg1 27.Kxh2 Qh4+ Double attack 27...Rh1+! Double attack: e1/h1 28.Kxh1 Qh4+ 29.Kg1 Qxe1+ 29...Qxe1+ 30.Qf1 Qxe5–+ 30.Kh2 30.Qf1 doesn't do any good 30...Qxe5 31.Qf2–+ 30...Qxe5+ Mas is three pawns down! 31.Kg1 g5 32.Qf2 Kg7 33.Qf3 g4 33...Qd4+ seems even better 34.Kh1–+ 34.Qxc6?! Practically Mas should sit tide and hope for the best with 34.Qe2 Qxe2 35.Nxe2 e5–+ 34...g3! Black is creating a mating net. 35.Kf1 Nd5 36.Ne2 Qe3 36...Qe4 makes it even easier for Black 37.Qc1 Ne3+ 38.Ke1 Nxg2+ 39.Kd2 Qd5+ 40.Kc2–+ 37.Ke1 Qf2+ 38.Kd2 Qe3+ 38...Qxg2?! 39.Qxe6 h5 40.b4 39.Kd1?? White loses the upper hand 39.Ke1 h5 40.Qa4 Qf2+ 41.Kd2 Qxg2 42.Qh4–+ 39...Qe4–+ 40.Kd2 Qe3+ 41.Kd1 Qd3+ 42.Ke1 Kf7 43.Qc1 e5 44.a3 44.Qd1 Qe4 45.Qb3–+ 44...Qe4 45.Qc6 Qxg2 45...h5–+ might be the shorter path 46.Qb7 46.Qc4–+ there is nothing else anyway 46...Qf2+ 47.Kd2 Nf4 48.Qb3+ Kf6

possible continuation could be 49.Qe3 (49.Qxg3 Qxe2+ 50.Kc3 Nd5+ 51.Kb3 Qe3+ 52.Qxe3 Nxe3–+) 49...Qxe2+ 50.Qxe2 Nxe2 51.Kxe2 e4 52.b4 Kf5 0–1