Mashafizul - Nicholas Game 3 : LIVE

20th December 2009 - Game 3 proceed today with Mas leading the match 2-0. The Final Malaysian Master Match between Malaysian no.1- IM Mashafizul vs Malaysian no.2 - Nicholas Chan consist six classical time control game . Nicholas can't afford to lose game 3 if he want to avoid playing under a must winning situation for game 4,5 and 6.


* I'm now at DATCC doing live coverage. IM elect Mok Tze Meng is also here blogging with Andrew Gilachess, Shirajuddin and few others.

IM Mashafizul (2419) - FM Nicholas Chan (2402)

Malaysian Master (Final), Game 3, 20.12.09

Analysed by Hairulov and Fritz

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Be2 Nbd7 Fritz opening book suggest 7...Na6 and game can continue for e.g 8.0-0 Nc7 9.a4 b6 10.Nc4 Ba6

8. O-O Ne8 9. a4 Rb8 10. f4 a6 11. a5 It's clear that Mas will focus on b6 square. Both of his knight going towards that direaction for e.g Nc4-Nb6 and/or Na4-Nb6

11...Nc7 12. Nc4 Nb5 13. Na4 Nf6 14. Bd3 14.Bf3 is probably better

14...e6 15. Nab6 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 f5 18. c3 Mas take his own sweet time to prevent black's to put his piece (knight,bishop) on the active d4 square

18...Nc7 The knight see no future on d4 square so that's probably why Nicholas choose to relocate it

19. Nb6 Bd7 20. Be3 Be8 The idea of this move if to play Bf7 later- attacking d5

21. Qd2 Na8 Black choose to trade his passive knight with white's active one on b6

22.Nc4 Bb5?! 22...Bf7 look more consistent. If black want to play Bb5 he should play it from d7 and not waste move by playing Bd7-Be8 and then Bb5

23.Bf2 Re8 24.Rfe1 Qc7 25.Ne3 Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Bh6 27.g3 after this move White bishop look passive. Fritz suggest 30.g4!? to open the position . The possible continuation is 30...Bxf4 31.gxf5

27...Qd7 28.Nc4 Qb5 29.Re6 I think this is the first aggresive move by both player . Mas is planning to double the rook on e-file and also attack the d6 pawn.

29...Bf8 30.Rae1 Nc7 31.R6e2 It looks like Mas has lost all his advantage. The move 32.Re6 is probably the reason because it looks like white's has wasting move playing Re6 -Re2 while black gain tempo by playing Nc7

You can see Andrew Ooi, IM Mok Tze Meng blogging and others help providing the moves

31...Rxe2 32.Rd8 33. h3 Ng7 34. Re2 Nh5 35. Kg2 Bh6 36. Kf3 Rf8 ?

This move is condemn by everyone - Fritz, Rybka and carbon based - IM Mok Tze Meng !

37. Re6! Nf6? 37...Rf6 must be played to protect the vulnerable d6 . The move also can allow the bishop on h6 to retreat on f8 later

38.Qe2 Qb3 39.Be3?! why not taking the d6 pawn ? for e.g 39.Rxd6 Ne4 40.Nd2! probably Mas missed this move

39...Ne4 40.g4! Now i see "real" Mas - according to Mok Tze Meng !

40...Bg7 41.g5?! Fritz didn't like this move and suggest 42...Bc1 instead. 41... Bg7 42.h4 Kf7

43.Bc1 Rd7 44.h5?! Mas missed 44.Rxd6 for e.g 44...Nxd6 45.Qe6+ Kf8 46.Nxd6

44...Rd8 45.Kg2 Mas should have just take the d6 pawn with 45. Rxd6! Rxd6 ( 45... Nxd6 47. Qe6+) 46. Nxd6+ Kg8 47. Nxe4 fxe4+ 48. Qxe4

45... Qb5 46. Kh3 Qb3 47.Ne3 Qb5 48.Nc4 Bh8 49. Kg2 Rd7?

50. Kf3? Both players is in time trouble so they start to make mistake. Mas missed 50.Rxd6! and if 50...Nxd6 51.Qe6+ Kf8 52.Nxd6 and black has serious problems

50...Bg7 51. Be3 Qb3 52. Qd3 Qa2?

53. hxg6+ hxg6 54. Rxe4! 54... fxe4+ 55. Qxe4 Re7

56. Qd3? In severe time trouble Mas missed the winning move 56. Nxd6+ Kf8 The different is now black's king is force to retreat on f8 to guard his rook on e7 57. Qd3 Qxb2 58. Bxc5 56... Kg8 57. Nxd6 Qxb2 58.Qxg6 Qh2 1/2-1/2 both players agreed to draw. Mas lead the match 2.5-0.5