Aziz Shukor beat WIM Lisa Karlina Lumungdong !

My good friend Abdul Aziz Shukor achieved a good result in the recently concluded Royal Selangor Open 2008. He finished shared 7th-9th place with 6 points from 9 rounds. In the final round Aziz create an impressive performance by beating Indonesian WIM Lisa Karlina Lumongdong. Lisa is former bronze medalist winner in 23rd Southeast Asian Games 2005.

Abdul Aziz Shukor –WIM Lisa Karlina Lumungdong (2147) [E92]
Royal Selangor Open, Round 9, 05.05.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5

The exchange variation. Aziz said that he choose this variation to avoid any heavy preparation by his opponent. 7...dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5 Re8 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.cxd5 c6 12.Bc4 cxd5 13.Bxd5 Na6 13...Nd7 with the idea of 14...Nf6 is maybe better. Black threaten to exchange his knight for one of white bishop and pressure the e4. 14.a3 Nc7 15.Ba2 Theory gave 15.Bc4 Be6 as the normal continuation. 15...Ne6 probably 15...Be6 is better. Neutralize the a2 bishop and if 16.Bxe6 Nxe6 black knight will have good outpost at f4 and d4; 15...Be6 16.0–0 16.0–0!? Aziz said that he need to give a concession for this move because surrending the bishop pairs in simplified position is quite unadvisable. However he believe that his active rooks and other pieces would give him enough compensation. 16...Nxg5 16...Nd4 17.Rfd1= Bg4 18.Nxd4 Bxd1 19.Nb5÷ is unclear 17.Nxg5 Rf8 17...Re7!? Guarding the 7th rank is better. 18.Rad1 Bg4 18.Rac1! Aziz quickly head for black 7th rank. 18...Bh6

19.Nxf7!? An interesting exchange sacrifice although 19.f4 Is probably stronger because if 19...Bxg5 (19...exf4? would be a mistake due to 20.Nxf7! Rxf7 21.Rc7) 20.fxg5 The f file is open to white rook and increase pressure to black king. 20...Be6 21.Bxe6 fxe6± 22.Rc7 and white has huge advantage because he is controlling black 7th rank. 19...Bxc1 19...Rxf7?? would be a first-class blunder 20.Rc7+- 20.Rxc1 Kg7 20...Rxf7? looks very interesting, but 21.Rc7+- 21.Rc7 According to Aziz, he prefer not to take the e5 pawn and restrict black king from gaining space. 21.Nxe5 Is the choice of Fritz. Typical greedy monster which can convert winning advantage easily! 21...Kf6 22.h4! This move gave the white knight a square to retreat and threaten to weaken black kingside pawn. 22...Be6 23.Bxe6 Kxe6 24.Ng5+ Kd6 25.Rxh7 Kc6 26.Rh6 Rf6 27.h5 Rg8 27...Kc5 28.Nf3 Rc8± 28.Kf1 28.Nf3!? Re6 29.Nh4+- 28...Kd6 29.Ke2 Rg7 30.Nf3 Re6? ¹30...Ke7² and Black can hope to live 31.Nh4+- Rc7?? Black crumbles in face of a dire situation 31...Kd7 32.Nxg6 Kc7+-; 31...gxh5?? 32.Nf5+ Kd7 33.Rxe6 Kxe6 34.Nxg7+ 32.hxg6 Rc8 32...Re8 is no salvation 33.g7+ Kc5 34.Nf5+- 33.g7 33.Nf5+ and White has reached his goal 33...Kd7 34.Rh7+ Kc6 35.Ne7+ Rxe7 36.Rxe7 Rg8 37.g7+- 33...Rg8 34.Nf5+ Kd7 35.Rh8 Ree8 36.Rh7 Re6 37.Ke3 Rg6 38.g3 a5 39.Rh8 39.f4+- is probably better and makes sure everything is clear] 39...Rd8 Not me, but my friend Fritz said that "Black has lost his nerve... understandable when you consider his position. terrible, but the game is lost in any case" :) 39...R6xg7 40.Rh1 Rg5 41.Rh7+ Ke6 42.Rxb7 a4+- 40.Rf8 1–0