GM Ziaur Rahman - Nor Ilhamuddin

The focus of round 1 of the  3rd DATCC Team League is of course on GM Ziaur Rahman (2558) from Bangladesh. He  now act as a GM Resident in Malaysia and offer  local chess coaching and training services. In this league, he play on board 1 for team - Think Big,  along with  formidable line - up - IM Mok Tze Meng (2415), Yeoh Li Tian (1971), NWM Tan Li Ting (1879). In round 1,  the team really  score BIG (4-0) against  their  opponent  - 17 Chess Club. I guess many team will suffer the same fate in later rounds.

Below are the GM first `victim` in this league - with all due respect to my great friend - Nor Ilhamuddin who by the way has create a new chess blog  which i follow passionately.

GM Ziaur Rahman (left) vs Nor Ilhamuddin

GM Ziaur Rahman (2558) vs Nor Ilhamuddin (2040)
3rd DATCC Team League, Round 1, 23.3.2010


Analysed by Hairulov and Fritz

1. d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 From Slav opening the game now transpose into a Semi-Slav.


5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Nbd7 9. e4  Be7 10. Bg5 10. Nc3 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5


10... h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 Black has the pair of bishop 12. Qe2

12. e5 is another option Be7  13. Qe2  With the idea of Qe4 later after black castle 12... a6 12... e5   Is probably better 13. d5 cxd5 14. exd5 O-O 15. Bxb5 e4


13. a4 b4?!

I think this is unnesasary. Probably Ilham want to prevent Nc3 but white has other way to develop his knight for e.g Nbd2-Nb3 or Nbd2-Nc4. Against 13... e5!? Should be played for e.g 14. Nbd2 O-O 15. axb5 axb5


14. Nbd2  O-O 15. e5 Be7 16. Qe4 White force black`s to create weakness on his king side 


16...g6  Of course 16... f5? 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Qh7+ Kf7 19. Ne5+ Nxe5 20. dxe5 and black can resign immediately 


17. Rac1  The backward pawn on c6 becomes a target 


17... Kg7 18. Nb3 Ra7 18... Qc7 probably better 


19. Qe3 White plan to play 20.d5 - attacking the rook on a7 


19... Ra8 20. Be4 Rc8 21. a5 Rc7 22. Rc4 Qa8 23. Rfc1 Rfc8 23... Rd8 24. h4  


24. Nc5! Just about time for black to push c5, white prevent it forever. 

24...Nxc5 25. dxc5 Rd7 Now black`s queen and bishop on b7 is mere spectator. 


26. Rxb4 Rcd8 27. h4 Rd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29. Kh2 Rd7 30. g3 Qf8 31. Rc4 Qd8 32. b4 f5? 
Black is desperate to find counterplay. but i think the position is already difficult to play for black. Probably better is to wait and see with 32... Qc7


33. exf6+ Bxf6 34. Bc2 Planning Qe4 attacking the g6 pawn.


34...Rd5 35. Kg2  Also strong is 35. Rg4 g5 36. Qe4 h5 37. Nxg5 Bxg5 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. hxg5 Rxg5
40. Rf4+


35... Bc8 36. Rg4 g5 37. hxg5 37. Qe4


37... hxg5 38. Qe4 Rf5? 38... Kf8 39. Qg6 Qe7


39. Qxc6 Qd5 40. Qxd5  40. Qc7+ Qd7 (40... Kh6 41. Bxf5 exf5 42. Rxg5 Bxg5 43. Qxc8) 41. Qxd7+ Bxd7 42. Bxf5 exf5 43. Rxg5+ Bxg5 44. Nxg5 is winning also.

 40... Rxd5 41. Be4 Rd1 42. Bc6 e5 43. Re4 g4 44. Nxe5 Bf5 45. Rf4 Bxe5 46. Rxf5 Bf6 47. Bb7 1-0 Black resign. 

Play might continue for e.g 47...Rb1 48. Bxa6 Rxb4 49. c6 Bd8 50. Rd5 Bc7 51. Rd7+