The Most Important Game For The Future Of Malaysian Chess !?

Opening Ceremony Merdeka Chess Championship 2009

YB MINISTER OF YOUTH & SPORTS SPEECH

First and foremost, I would like to welcome all the participants and their accompanying family members and friends who have come from all parts of the world to be with us once again for the Malaysian Chess Festival, the IGB Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Chess Championship, the 6th in the series which started since 2004. This annual event has since been part of the Malaysia Independence Day celebration, an event that depicts the spirit of Malaysia as one country – One Malaysia, which is similar to the FIDE – World Chess Federation motto “Gens Una Sumus” which means we are one family.

As Malaysians, I am proud to have our foreign guests, chess Ambassadors from countries as far as USA, Germany, Kazakhstan, who have come to be part of our Independence Day celebration, some of which have been also been here last year to take part in the same event. For those who are here for the first time, I understand that most of you have expressed your interest to be a part of this event again for next year and I am sure, as Malaysians and on behalf of the chess organisers, we will make sure that this event will continue and grow in the years to come.

Chess is one of the few games that defies boundaries as it is not a game of physical strength, not how big or how small you are, young or old, men or women, and nationalities. Very rarely that we see a sporting event that allows for both gender to complete under the same category and chess provides the opportunity for everyone to be treated equally.

From my schooling days, chess is one of the more visible sports as we had the 3 times MSSM Champion as one of our students at school. So, from my schooling days, chess is not foreign to me and I understand the enthusiasm and devotion that most chess players have for the game. Because of that, I have some personal interest in chess and I also realise that to the general sports world, Football, Badminton, Tennis, are much more popular than chess. Now that I am responsible for a Ministry that looks towards promoting, growing and improving the level of all sports for the country, chess is definitely one sports that needs to be promoted further, as it also has the potential to attract players, visitors and enthusiasts just the same as how Football, Badminton or Tennis can.

As Tan Sri have mentioned earlier in his speech, I have met with the Malaysian Chess Federation team about a couple of months back, and they have mentioned to me that MCF has never been provided with any fund from the Federal Government compared to most other sports bodies. With this view, and with the strong showing and participation from chess enthusiast worldwide to this event, we would definitely look forward to approve funds to assist the Malaysian Chess Federation to further promote the game at all levels, and at the same time, to promote Malaysia to the international world as one of your great and memorable chess destinations

I would like to thank the sponsors for the event – CitiTel Hotel for providing the venue and the accommodation for the players and officials, IGB Corporation, ASTRO, Ambank Group, to the founding father of Malaysian Chess – Dato Tan Chin Nam for his love and enthusiasm towards the development of the game, Tan Sri Dato Seri DiRaja Ramli Ngah Talib, the President of the Malaysian Chess Federations, Organizing Committee, Officials and helpers for the 6th IGB Dato Arthur Tan Malaysia Open, Ambank Chess Challenge, Chess Festival Blitz Event and ASTRO Team Event for a very commendable and successful running and organizing such an event.

Most of all, I would like to thanks to you the players for making this event a success, year in year out, as you have all made this as one of the more better organised and popular chess event within the region.

Selamat Hari Merdeka!

Source : Haslindah Ruslan (Facebook)

The full press conference article can be read here

The 2009 Malaysian Chess Festival organiser and particpants was very honoured to have Y.B Dato' Ahmad Sabeery- Minister of Youth and Sports to officiate the MERDEKA Rapid Team Event. He gave a very promising speech for Malaysian chess development. He in fact play a game with Honorary Life President of Malaysian Chess Federation - Dato Tan Chin Nam and....Y.B won the game !

Before the friendly game between Y.B and Dato Tan start, i suspect the game will be a "typical" VIPs friendly game for tournament publicity... photo taking purposes...play a few moves and then...shook hand and draw. How wrong i was !

Y.B is really in serious mood to play....he in fact choose to proceed the game when Dato' Tan offer a draw on move 30!

The Most Important Game for the Future of Malaysian Chess !?

Dato Tan Chin Nam vs. Y.B Dato Ahmad Sabeery Cheek

Malaysian Chess Festival, 29.8.09

1. e4 e6

2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 O-O Y.B pick the h8 rook first and then his King's to castle which is against the rule but for a friendly game it should be fine. 5. Bg5 Ne8 6.Qd2 f6 7. Bh4 Nc6 8. Be2 d5 9. e5 fxe5 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Nxe5 c6 12. O-O Rf5 13. Bg4

13...Rf6 14. f4 b6 15. Bh5 g6 16. Bg4 Ng7 17. Ne2 Ba6 18. Rf2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 c5 20. c3 cxd4 21. cxd4 Rc8 22. Qb5 h5 23. Bh3 Qc7 24. g3

24...Ra8 25. Nd7 a6 26.Nxf6+ Kf7 27. Qe2 27.Qd7 is the correct winning move however there's a secret behind the 27.Qe2 move. Only me and - Najib Abdul Wahab - The chief arbiter of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2009 knows. 27...Nc6 28. Rc1 Kxf6 29. Qe3 Re8 30. Qd2

Dato Tan offer a draw here but Y.B was keen to proceed the game ! 30...b5 31. g4 h4 32. g5+ Kf7 33. Re2 Qb6 34. Rc5 a5 35. Qc2 Nxd4 36. Rc7+ Re7 37. Rxe7+ Kxe7 38. Rxe6+ Ngxe6 39. Qxg6 Ne2+ 40. Kf1 Qe3 41. Qf6+ Kd6 42. Qe5+ Qxe5 43. fxe5+ Kxe5 44. g6 N2f4 45. Bxe6 Nxe6 46. Kg2 Kf4 47. Kh3 Kg5 0-1

The final position : 0-1 !

The Minister play a good chess. Will this be a new hope for Malaysian chess ? - Time will tell...but i do believe !