GM Eduard Gufeld Famous Joke!

The late GM Eduard Gufeld was a frequent visitor to Malaysian chess scene during the 90’s. He was a frequent columnist of Majalah Catur - a Malaysian Chess Magazine in the 90's which doesn't publish any more- not Gufeld fault :) . His activities here consist event such as Simultaneous display, training national players and he sometimes play in tournaments such as the MERDEKA Open team event. I remember one of his game in MERDEKA open during the 80’s where he trashed Kazahstan GM Bulat Asanov!

In one of the Berita Harian past article I found in my study recently, Gufeld gave a famous joke which related to the definition of chess piece in Malay (and Indonesian) . In Malay, the bishop is call “Gajah” or elephant in English. So below are his famous joke:-

In Malay

“ Catur boleh mengurangkan berat badan, kerana anda perlu menolak gajah (bishop)!”

In English (translation)

“ chess can make you lost weight, because you have to push the elephant (bishop)!”

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

Berita Harian Chess Articles Archives !

NSTP Office at Jalan Riong, Bangsar

Today I take a leaf from my office to settle my private matter in Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. After arriving at Jalan Tun Razak, I submit my application and while waiting for the process which took about three hours, I went to New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Library at Jalan Riong, Bangsar. At the library I search for past Malaysian chess article in Berita Harian newspaper archive. The rate is RM 20.00 per hours and they gave me chess articles from early 70’s till early 90’s to study. This is interesting source for me to update Malaysian Chess History!

Mashafizul GM Quest Story at The Closet Grandmaster blog!

Today i found that the popular chess blog The Closet Grandmaster write about our GM hope IM Mashafizul quest for GM title. One interesting point mention by the blogger is....

..." Malaysia may not be a powerhouse in Asian chess but they do have a lively local chess community. They host, for instance, a well-attended annual chess festival and an online Yahoo Group devoted to Malaysian chess is also very active"....


It nice to have a well known chess blogger from foreign country to recognize Malaysian chess community contribution!

read the full article here

Jayati Saturday Night Fever!

Jayati Restaurant Section 17, Shah Alam main entrance

Last night as scheduled, a "Saturday Night Fever" gathering held at Jayati Restaurant, Section 17 Shah Alam. I myself turn up with several players like Shamsul Baharin (Sam), Syed ( from Klang), Max ( Shah Alam), Razali and several visiting kitbizers such as Faizul and Whitenaval and few others.

Whitenaval -Abdul Haq (right) the visiting player drop by directly from Kulim after attending the Kulim MSI Open which were held at the same day. It must have been a tiring journey for whitenaval from Kulim to Shah Alam which i think should take about 6-7 hours! A truly chess enthusiast!

Last night after the scheduled long time control game between Syed and Razali (1-0), we all decided to play a double round robin 10 minutes time control. The price money is RM 25 - every player pay RM 5 and winner will take all! After about 1 1/2 hours of play, Shamsul Bharin emerged as the winner!



Photo

The side entrance of Jayati Restaurant

We played at the back side of the Restaurant which is more privacy

Shamsul Bahrin (left) vs Hairulov (right) : Not like Short-Cheparinov in Corus 2008,
we don't have problem to shake hand before our game!


Syed (left) vs Razali (Right)


Faizul (left) vs Max (right)


Shamsul Bahrin doing the post morterm anlysis of Syed vs Razali game (1-o)



Shamsul Bahrin: Sorry , but i have to critics your move because...

Until next meet.......

Drama in Aeroflat Open 2008!

One funny incident happens in the last round game of Aeroflot 2008 between French - Maxime Vachier Lagrave (left) against Vietnamese - Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (right) . First, after playing for about 7 hours!, they were asked by the chief arbiter Geurt Gijssen to move from the main playing hall to a quite far room for unknown reason! ( probaly the organizer want to prepare the main playing hall for the closing ceremonies!?). So they dully walk for about 20 meters to play in another room.

After resuming the game, Nguyen achieved a mating attack in a King+Bishop+Rook vs King+Rook endgame. Unfortunately for him , Maxime claim a draw due to the 50 move rule.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2551) - Vachier Lagrave,M (2637) [B92]
Aeroflot Open Moscow RUS (9), 22.02.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be2 Be6 9.f4 exf4 10.Bxf4 0–0 11.Qd2 d5 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qe3 Nc6 15.c3 Na5 16.Nd2 Rc8 17.Rd1 Qc7 18.Nxe4 Nc4 19.Qg3 Kh8 20.b3 Qc6 21.Bf3 Bd5 22.Nd6 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Bh4+ 24.Ke2 Qxf3+ 25.gxf3 Nxd6 26.Rxd6 Rxc3 27.Rc1 Rxc1 28.Bxc1 Rd8 29.Kd3 h5 30.Ke4 Kh7 31.f4 Rc8 32.Be3 Rc7 33.f5 Be7 34.Rd1 Ba3 35.Bf4 Re7 36.Rd8 Bb2 37.Rd5 Kg8 38.Be3 Rc7 39.Bc5 Rc6 40.b4 Rc8 41.Rd7 a5 42.Rxb7 axb4 43.Bxb4 Rc2 44.Bd6 Rxh2 45.e6 Rh4+ 46.Kf3 fxe6 47.fxe6 Bf6 48.Rb8+ Kh7 49.e7 Bxe7 50.Bxe7 Ra4 51.a3 g5 52.Rb6 Rc4 53.Ra6 g4+ 54.Kg3 Rc3+ 55.Kh4 Rh3+ 56.Kg5 g3 57.Ra7 g2 58.Bf6+ Kg8 59.Rg7+ Kf8 60.Kh6 g1Q 61.Rxg1 Rxa3 62.Kg6 Re3 63.Rd1 Re2 64.Rd8+ Re8 65.Rd7 Re2 66.Rh7 Ke8 67.Kf5 Ra2 68.Re7+ Kf8 69.Rd7 Ke8 70.Rb7 h4 71.Bxh4

This is the starting point where moves would been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any capture. It is a Rook +bishop versus a rook endings and according to theory this pawn less endgames is usually a theoretical draw. However, the rook and bishop have good winning chances in practice because the defense is difficult . There are some winning positions. See Philidor position#Rook and bishop versus rook and Cochrane Defense

71...Ra5+ 72.Kg6 Re5 73.Bf6 Re2 74.Ra7 Re1 75.Kf5 Rb1 76.Bd4 Kd8 77.Ke6 Kc8 78.Be5 Rc1 79.Rf7 Rc2 80.Bd6 Rc1 81.Kd5 Ra1 82.Rh7 Ra2 83.Bf4 Ra6 84.Be5 Rb6 85.Rc7+ Kd8 86.Ra7 Kc8 87.Rc7+ Kd8 88.Bd6 Rb1 89.Ra7 Re1 90.Be5 Rd1+ 91.Ke6 Rc1 92.Rb7 Rc2 93.Rb3 Rc6+ 94.Bd6 Rc1 95.Rh3 Kc8 96.Rh8+ Kb7 97.Rb8+ Ka7 98.Rb4 Rd1 99.Kd7 Rc1 100.Bc7 Rh1 101.Bf4 Rh3 102.Be5 Rh1 103.Bd6 Rc1 104.Bf4 Rc2 105.Bc7 Rc1 106.Rb5 Rc2 107.Rb6 Rg2 108.Rb3 Rc2 109.Rb1 Rc3 110.Be5 Rc2 111.Kd6 Rd2+ 112.Kc6 Rc2+ 113.Kd5 Rg2 114.Bd6 Rg5+ 115.Kc6 Ka6

The clocks at the playing hall shows that both players have been
playing for 6 hours and 45 minutes! ( the round start at 11.00 a.m!)

Geurt Gijssen the arbiter stop the clock at move 115
and ask both player to move to another rooms

Both players move to another rooms

116.Rb8 Rg7 117.Rb6+ Ka7 118.Rb1 Ka8 119.Re1

Maxime in the verge of being checkmate in 2 !

119...Rb7 120.Re8+ Ka7 121.Bc5+

After move 125. Bc5+ Maxime claim a draw to the arbiter to show his intention to make a move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any capture

it is mate in two but unfortunately for Nguyen the 50 move rules has occur! Maxime claim a draw to the arbiter to show his intention to make a move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any capture if 12...Ka6 [121...Rb6+ 122.Bxb6+ Ka6 123.Ra8#] 122.Ra8+ Ra7 123.Rxa7# checkmate!)

so.....½–½

1/2-1/2 - Both players agreed for a draw!
The spectator applause them for an interesting game!

Let look what the rules say about it. I'm refering to FIDE Handbook

Article 9: The drawn game

9.3 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, if

a. he writes his move on his score sheet, and declares to the arbiter his intention to make this move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any capture, or

b. the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without any capture.

source : Europe-Echecs.com and wikipedia

Hou Yifan achieced GM Norms!

Chinese wonder girls WGM Hou Yi Fan (right) earned his first GM norm at the recent concluded Aeoraflat tournament in Moscow. This 14 years old girls will defineatly be China women ( or men !?) number one and also a Women World Champion contender in a near future.

One interesting fact that our own women no. 1 - WIM Siti Zulaikha (left) beat her once in a tournaments held in China a few years ago (2005)!

Live From Jayati, Section17 , Shah Alam!

Tonight, i'm planning to make a coverage for the weekly "saturday night fever tournament" at Jayati Restaurant, Section 17, Shah Alam. In the past the tournaments was held on friday night but sometimes it is also held on saturaday.

Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 movie starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to a New York discotheque . The movie significantly helped to popularize disco music around the world, and made Travolta a household name.

In Malaysian Chess we have our own “night fever” that is the “Friday ( and Saturday!) Night Fever”. Almost every Friday ( or saturday) night, a group of chess player will gather at Jayati Restaurant at Seksyen 17, Shah Alam (near Shell pump-station) for a round robin tournament. The gathering held on Friday night because it will save the weekends for chess tournaments or family activity. The tournament use certain time control (eg. 15 minutes) depending on how many player turn-up during that particular night. Players that have played this tournament before is Kamaluddin Yusof, Mohd Saprin Sabri, Kamal Ariffin, Kamarul Ariffin,Shamsul Bahrin, Rusdi Sidi, Izz Shaifuddin, your’s truly and many familiar names in local circuit.

Shamsul Bahrain (right) in action at Jayati. Note that you are
free to smoke, answering call, eat, drink..etc during the games!

Usually the tournament will start at 9.00 p.m and last until late morning (2-3 p.m) but for tonight tournaments i have to confirm with the organise- Shamsul Bahrain. Last two years, i participated at this tournaments. At that time it have a prize money but his time i'm not sure.

When i played in 2006, the prize amount will depend on the total of participants. Every participant should pay RM 10 and the total amount will be given to the champion (winner take all!!!). But that’s not all, the champion must pay for every meal and drink order by the player during the tournament. But don’t worry, there is always extra money left after you settle the bill. I have won once and receive about RM 100 and after settling the bill I still have something like RM 50.00 . So it still worth it but the more important thing is we have a pleasant night doing thing that we like. So for anybody who like to feel the “Friday Night Fever” you’re welcome. (you can call Shamsul Bahrin, President of Puncak Alam Chess Club at 012-9363119 if you interested to play).


Photo from 17 chessclub.blogspot.com

Round 6 Morelia Linares 2008 Live !

Just wake up to watch the round 6 live online in the Internet Chess Club (ICC). I'll do some annotation .

GM Levon Aronian (2739) - GM Peter Leko (2753) [A33]
Morelia Linares 2008

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 a symmetrical variation 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Ndb5 Ne5 8.Bf4 Nfg4 9.Qa4 !?

i don't know whether this move is theory or not but it seems that white is willing to permit black to check on f2 with his queen! 9... g5 why not 9...Qxf2+ ? let see what Fritz will do after 10.Kd2...eeemmm black have to eye c7 square because white is threatening Nc7+ forking the rook on a8 and black king ! furthermore, white also threatening h3, and the knight on e5 be en prise! 10...Qc5 11.Ne4 Qc6 and white queen will have a hard time after move like 122. Bg2 threatening 13. Ned6+ and take the queen on c6! 10.Bxe5 Nxe5 11.0–0–0 a6 12.e3 Rb8 13.Nd4 Qc7 14.Be2 Be7 15.Kb1 Nc6 16.Rc1 Qe5 17.Rhd1 h5 18.Ka1 g4 19.Bf1 f5 20.Bg2 Kf7 21.h3 Bf6 22.Qc2 Ne7 23.Nce2 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.Nf4 d5 26.Qc5 Rb7 27.Qb4 Bd7 28.Nd3 Qb8 29.Nc5 Qd6 30.Qa5 Rc7 31.Nxd7 Rxd7 32.hxg4 hxg4 33.Bf1 b4 34.Nb5 Qe5 35.Qxb4 Ra8 36.Rd2 Qb8 37.Kb1 Be5 38.Rdc2 Rda7 39.a3 Ra4 40.Qb3 Qb6 41.Rc5 R4a5 42.Be2 Rb8 43.Qb4 Kf6 44.R1c2 Rh8 45.e4 fxe4 46.Bxg4 Rha8 47.Rc1 Ra4 48.Qd2 Rxa3 49.Nxa3 Rxa3 50.Rc6 1/2-1/2

GM_Topalov (2780) - *GM_Anand (2799)
Morelia Linares 2008 ,Round 6, 23.02.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 4.Nf3 is known as the Kasparov Variation, since Garry Kasparov used it to great effect against Anatoly Karpov in their 1985 World Championship match. Kasparov played 4.Nf3 twice, winning both times.4...c5 4...c5 is the most common move that stays within Nimzo-Indian territory. 4...d5 transposes to the Ragozin Defence of the Queen's Gambit Declined and 4...b6 5.Bg5 Bb7 transposes to the Nimzo/Queen's Indian hybrid line5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 cxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qd3 0–0 10.b3 d5 11.cxd5 Ne7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.e4 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nxe4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qxe4 Bxd5 17.Qg4+ Ng6 18.h4 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qf6 20.Qb7 Qe7 21.Qe4 Qc5 22.Rad1 Rfd8 23.Rfe1 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Rc7 25.Bf3 Qe5 26.Qb4 Qc3 27.Qg4 f5

28.Qh5 ICC commentator condemn this move at first suggesting 28.Qd4+ but after 28...Qxd4 29.Rxd4 Kf6 Black looks like he is more comfortable because of his active king, knight and pawn center! 28...Qf6 29.Bg2 e5 28...Qf6 29.Bg2 e5 30.Bh3 Rf7 31.Qe2 e4 32.Rd5 f4 33.Rf5 Qa1+ 34.Kh2 fxg3+ 35.fxg3 Rxf5 36.Bxf5 Nxh4 37.Bxe4 37.gxh4? Qe5+ 38.Kg2 Qxf5 37...Qe5 38.Qg4+ Ng6 39.Bxg6 hxg6 40.Qd7+ Kh6 41.Qxa7 Qe2+ 42.Kh3 ½–½

GM_Radjabov (2735) - *GM_Carlsen (2733)

Morelia Linares 2008 ,Round 6, 23.02.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0–0 6.0–0 d5 7.Nbd2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.dxe4 Qf6 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Ne7 14.f4 c6 15.Bc4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Ng6 17.Bg3 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rad8 19.Rad1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Rxe4 21.Rd8+ Nf8 22.Bd3 Re1+ 23.Kg2 a5 24.Ra8 Rd1 25.Bc4 Bb6 26.Rb8 Rd7 27.Ba6 ! may be Carlsen didn't expected this move by Radjabov. Black queenside pawn will be seriously damage!

27... bxa6 28.Rxb6 f6 29.Rxa6 Rd2 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 Rb2 32.Bd6 Ne6 33.a4 Rc2 34.a5 Kf7 35.Bc5 Nf4+ 35...Nxc5 36.Rxc6 Rb2 37.bxc5 Ra2 38.a6 Ke8 39.Rd6 Ra5 40.Rb6 Rxc5 41.Rb8+ Kf7 42.a7 36.Kf3 Nd5 37.Rb6 !? GM Hikaru Nakamura on ICC said that: Radjabov better be careful and not get too cute but Fritz quite like it . The point is 37... Nxb6?? Would be a serious blunder after 38.axb6 Rd2 39.b7 Rd8 40.Bd6 ! 37... Rc4 38.Rb7+ Kg6 39.a6 Rc3+ 40.Kg2 Nf4+ 41.Kg1 Nxh3+ 42.Kh2 Nf4 43.Be3 1-0

source : wikipedia

photo from chessbase.com

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is a CHESS BOXER !?

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov – FIDE and Kalmykia President is a chess boxer!? Watch video below!!!

GM Nigel Davies Annotated IM Jimmy Liew game in Chesscafe.com!

I noticed in one of GM Nigel Davies (left) , Let's Take A look, Chesscafe archives columns title Don't Blame The Authors , it discuss about habits of many chess player buying chess opening book in the expectation that this is what it takes to help them win games and when it doesn’t happen they start looking round for someone to blame. Rather than admit that they’re not quite as strong as they’d like to be (heaven forbid) or don’t know how to study, so they blame the authors of the book they bought!.

What made the articles interesting is he annotated Malaysian first IM- Jimmy Liew (right) games against Asia first GM Eugene Torre. Below is his introduction comments of the game:-

..."This month’s game features a nice win with the Veresov by someone who didn’t read my book (it hadn’t been published). Jimmy Liew uses a homemade treatment of the opening, going his own way on move five. Later, he shuffles his pieces round to the king side and unleashes a fierce attack"...

What made the articles interesting is he annotated Malaysian first IM- Jimmy Liew (right) games against Asia first GM Eugene Torre. Below is his introduction comments of the game:-

..."This month’s game features a nice win with the Veresov by someone who didn’t read my book (it hadn’t been published). Jimmy Liew uses a homemade treatment of the opening, going his own way on move five. Later, he shuffles his pieces round to the king side and unleashes a fierce attack"...



Read the articles and annotated game here




photo (jimmy liew) from kid4chess.com

Interview With Hou Yifan

GM Robert Fontaine is doing a great job for Europe-Echecs.com by doing "countless" interviews with great players competing in he recent Aerofleat Open in Moscow, Russia. Below is one of his interview with chinese prodigies WGM Hou Yifan. Watch how shy Yifan is and i noticed that she always close his mouth after answering the questions.

Watch the video here

Rafael Benitez Love Chess!

My friend Rusdi Sidi once said to me that i better not write about football in my blog because he was afraid that i will start losing track in chess and eventually - stop posting chess article as what happen to my former chess blog nusa mahkota

But today i couldn't resist to write about what happen last night in Anfield when my favorites football team ever Liverpool produced a memorable performance to beat Italian Serie A leader Inter Milan 2-0 on a truly wonderful Champions League night at Anfield. It was a badly needed win after Liverpool dream to win the English primer League is near to impossible after trailing the leaders Arsenal with 19 points. Furthermore the 2-0 success was a huge tonic to the Reds boss - Rafael Benitez following the shock FA Cup defeat to Barnsley at the weekend.

The interesting fact i found about the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez (right) is he is and avid chess player! Below are excerpt from BBC Sports interview with Rafa.

Chess

"Rafa is a very good chess player - he has been playing the game ever since he was a child.

"He likes his team to behave as if they were players in a chess game. He hates losing when he plays chess. Though I'm not sure he has much time to play chess now he is in England."

Read the full interview here

IM Mashafizul scheduled to play at 2008 Sydney International Open Chess Tournament

click here for the tournament website

Today i found that IM Mashafizul Helmi has been listed to participated at 2008 The Sydney International Open (SIO) which will be held on 25th - 29th March 2008 at Parramatta Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. Among the top players that have been listed to play is:-

1. GM Malakhatko, Vadim (2600 - BEL ) 2. GM Akobian, Varuzhan (2599 - USA ) 3. GM Georgiev, Vladimir (2581 - MKD ) 4. GM Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2579 - IND ) 5. GM Jones, Gawain C B (2562 - ENG ) 6. GM Gagunashvili, Merab (2553 - GEO ) 7. GM Kunte, Abhijit (2550 - IND ) 8. GM Chandler, Murray G (2540 - NZL ) 9. GM Zhao, Zong-Yuan (2487 - AUS ) 10. GM Antic, Dejan (2476 - SRB )

This would be another attempts for Mas for achieving his first GM norm. Let wish him all the best and i personally hope that he would achieve it at the tournaments.