Mashafizul - Tariq , Malaysian Master Championship 2009 (Quarter-Final)

Mr.Ibrahim Abu Bakar - Vice President of Malaysian Chess Federation made the first move of the IM Mashafizul (left) vs. Muhammad Tariq Amru (right), Malaysian Masters Championship (Quarter-Final Match) 2009.

31st July 2009 - IM Mashafizul took an early lead in his Malaysian Master (Quarter-Final) Match against NJM Muhammad Tariq Amru which held at the Dato' Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC), Kuala Lumpur. It's clear that Mas is in his class of his own although Tariq did have a promising game in game one before he made an "unforced error" ( to borrow a term from tennis) by blundering an exchange and had to resign immedietly. In the second game, Mas play ala Karpov - inexorably building up minute advantages through flawless but colourless maneuvers to achieve eventual victory. The will be two more games to be play tommorow ( 1st August 2009).

Below are photos and the games.

Game 1

IM Mashafizul Helmi vs. NJM Muhammad Taiq Amru

Malaysian Masters Championship (Quarter-Final), Game 1, 31.7.09

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6.h3 e6 7. g4 Nge7 8. Be3 Nd4 9. Bg2 b5 10. Qd2 b4 11. Nd1 Qb6 12. O-O Rb8 13.Nh2 f5 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 Ndc6 16. Rc1 Bd7 17. Nf2 O-O 18. Nh1 Qa5 19. Ng3 Qa3 20. Rc2 Kh8 21. gxf5 exf5 22. h4 Rb5 23. h5 Rfb8 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. exf5 Bxf5 gxf5 26. Nf3 Rb2 27. Ng5 Qxa2 28.Rfc1 Rxc2 29. Rxc2 Rb1+ 30. Kh2 Qb3 31. Bf2 Be8 32. Bf3 a5 33. Nh5 Bxh5 34.

Bxh5 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Qe1 27...Rb2? a blunder. Black is far from losing after for e.g 27... Rb1 28. Qh4+ Kg8 29. Nf3 Qa6 30. c4 Qa4 28. Bc1 White will win the exchange and the game so black resign 1-0

Game 2

NJM Muhammad Taiq Amru vs. IM Mashafizul Helmi

Malaysian Masters Championship (Quarter-Final), Game 2, 31.7.09

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4 O-O 9. f4 Nc6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Nb3 Qc7 12. a5 Rac8 13. Bf3 Nb4 14. Qe2 e5 15. Rfd1 Rfe8 16. Bb6 Qb8 17. f5 ?! 17.g3 is probably the correct move

17...d5 ! Mas apply the golden rule - when the opponent attack from the flank, you attack the center . 18. Rd2 d4 19.Nd1 Bb5 Still winning but best is 19... Rxc2! 20. Rxc2 d3 21. Qd2 dxc2 winning a pawn 20. Qf2 Nd7 21. c3 Nd3 22. Qg3 Nxb6 23. axb6 Nc5 24. Na5 Nd7 25. Nb3 Bc4 26. Nc1 Nxb6 27. Kh1 Bf6 28. Nd3 dxc3 29. Nxc3 Rcd8 30. Rad1 ? correct is 30. Be2 30... Bb3 31. Nb4 Bxd1 32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 33. Bxd1 Qd6 34. Nbd5 Nxd5 35. Nxd5 Rc8 36. h3 Rc1 Tariq resign 0-1

Larry Parr kitbiz with the players after the second game

Tariq (right) resign his second game

Game 1

Game 2