Johor win MAKSAK 2013 !

6th October 2013 - Johor  win the 2013 chess team event at the Kejohanan Catur Majlis Sukan dan Kebajikan Anggota-Anggota Kerajaan (MAKSAK). This event was host by Johor  from 3rd - 6th October 2013 at New York Hotel, Johor Bharu, Johor.

Johor finished with 17.5 points from 8 rounds and they create  history by being the first state apart from   Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sarawak to win this annual chess team event. Since 1999,  the three giants ( Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sarawak) have alternately held the title.

Johor drew the defending Champion -  KL,  2-2

Second to fourth place is won by  Kuala Lumpur  (16.5 points) , Terengganu  (14.5 points) and Sarawak (14 points). 15 team participated in last year event held  in Penang but for this year, only 13 teams took part in this annual Malaysian civil service chess team event. The absentees is Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Sabah and Labuan.

As usual the top players in this annual event is  NM Kamal Ariffin, Nor Azmi Mohd Noor, Hashim Jusoh, Rizal Ahmad Kamal, Zarul Syafiq, Amri Ibni Hajar, Taulani Tukiran, Abang Reduan, Morsin Ahmad, Abdul Rahim Ramli, Mohd Zambri Syarif and many others.

From my observation, the level of the competition has improve. Teams like ATM and PENJARA is no longer a "whipping' teams.  Gone are the day were the giants (KL, Terengganu and Sarawak) could easily wallop ATM and PENJARA with the score of 4-0 . This year, ATM even manage to qualified to the winner's pool and  PENJARA  finish as the first runner-up in the loser's pool.

Regarding the tournament format, initially  the organizer purpose a 13 round robin format but after the managers meeting, they decide to retain the previous   format  of winner's and loser's pool . Every team consist of maximum 6 players ( 4 + 2 reserve) and the time control is 45 minutes per player .

The first day is the preliminary stage where teams were divide into three groups ( A,B,C). Top two team of each groups plus two teams which is the best 3rd placing among the groups proceed to the winner's pools while the rest play in the loser's pool.

Below are the teams who proceed to winners and losers pool. (The team in bold qualified to the winner's pool.)

 Group A 

Kuala Lumpur 
Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM)
Pahang
PENJARA



Group B 

Terengganu 
Selangor
Pulau Pinang
Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)


 Group C

Johor
Sarawak
Perak
Perlis
Kedah


Final Standing (Winners Pools) 

1. Johor -17.5 points   CHAMPION 
2. Kuala Lumpur - 16.5 points
3. Terengganu - 14.5 points
4. Sarawak - 14 points
5. Perak- 13.5 points
6. Selangor - 13 points 
7. Pahang - 12.5 points 
8. ATM - 10.5 points

Final Standing (Loser's Pools) 

1. Kedah - 11 points
2. PENJARA - 10 points
3. PDRM - 7.5 points
4. Perlis - 7 points 
5. Pulau Pinang - 4.5 points 

Full results can be download here

This tournament news is also cover in the.star.online.com here