A Close Finish In The 2008 Singapore Challengers

It was an unfortunate finish for Malaysian youngster - Yap Eng Chiam (photo right) who lead for almost the entire rounds of the 5th Singapore Challengers but finally being overtaken by Singaporean Jerome Eng Andre and Jarred Neubronner in the final round. Jerome and Jarred shine in the last round to finished with 7.5 points. Jerome however was declared as the champion based on tie break.

Eng Chiam who have a half point lead before the final round unfortunately succumb in the final round to the eventuall winner - Jerome. However, Yap Eng Chiam - a 13 years old boy should be proud with his achievemnet considering that he start the tournament as the 7th seed.

Below are Malaysian players final overall standings and points.

3. Yap Eng Chiam (FIDE 2061) - 7 points

4. Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) - 6.5 points

45. Tan Jun Feng - 4.5 points

47. Yap Qian Zheng Jonathan - 4.5 points

59. Jeng Kuen Yong - 4 points

60. Tan Li Ting - 4 points

61.Yeap Khuan Yee - 4 points

66. Boey Jin Huey - 4 points

68. Saw Hong Ken Nixon - 3.5 points

82. Ong Yu Yang - 3 points

85. Neo Xue Wei - 2.5 points

87. Yat Guo Jie - 2.5 points

89. Neo Xue Wen - 2.5 points


source : chess-results.com

Day 4 - Singapore Challengers International Open 2008

Yap Eng Chiam (photo right) continue his excellent form to maintain his lead after day 4 of the 5th Singapore Challengers International Open Chess Tournament. Yap Eng Chiam who remain unbeaten , score 1.5 points from today rounds ( Round 7 and 8).

In round 7, he settle with a draw against Singaporean CM Jarred Neubronner (FIDE 2170) before beating Indonesian FM - Rian Kapriaga (FIDE 2054) in round 8 .

He now lead the tourney with 7 points . He is follow closely by three Singaporean - CM Jarred Neubrroner ( FIDE 2170) , Jerome Eng Andre (FIDE 2049) and Tan Weiliang (FIDE 2040) with 6.5 points each.

In the final round ( round 9) tommorow, he will be paired against Singaporean Jerome End Andre (FIDE 2049).

Lets pray that Eng Chiam will win that game and retain the title in Malaysia for two consecutive years after Justin Ong last year victory !

Below are Malaysian players overall standings and points.

1. Yap Eng Chiam (FIDE 2061) - 7 points

6. Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) - 5.5 points

36. Tan Jun Feng - 4.5 points

51. Yap Qian Zheng Jonathan - 4 points

55. Jeng Kuen Yong - 3.5 points

57. Saw Hong Ken Nixon - 3.5 points

59.Yeap Khuan Yee - 3.5 points

61. Tan Li Ting - 3.5 points

78. Boey Jin Huey - 3 points

80. Ong Yu Yang - 3 points

85. Neo Xue Wei - 2 points

86. Yat Guo Jie - 2 points

89. Neo Xue Wen - 2 points

Source : chess-results.com

Singapore Master 2008

Malaysian chess players should fimiliar with this name - Kim Steven Yap. He is a Philipino untitled chess players who played at this year DATMO 2008 . Although he has no title yet , he has already 2 IM norms in his belt. Read article about him in past gilachess blog article and one article in Sun Star Cebu

Steven played in the ongoing 5th Singapore Master Open Championship 2008. So far he had produced two upset by beating higher rated player - Chinese GM Zhao Jun (FIDE 2568) and Vietnamase GM Bui Vinh (FIDE 2507) .


Below is his round 1 upset against Chinese GM Zhao Jun.


Yap,Kim Steven (2386) - GM Zhao,Jun (2568) [A00]
5th Singapore Masters Teck Ghee Community Club (1.1), 10.12.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 a6 8.0–0 d6 9.Kh1 Qc7 10.f4 Be7 11.Be3 b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qf3 0–0 14.Qh3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Na5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rab8 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.Bd4 Ba8 20.Nc4 d5 21.Nb6 Qd8 22.Nxa8 dxe4 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.dxe4 Rxa8 25.e5 Be7 26.f5 Qb6 27.f6 gxf6 28.Qh4 Rfc8 29.exf6 Bf8 30.Ra4 Kh8 31.Rg4 Rc5 32.Rg1 Rf5 33.Ne4 Qe3 34.Ng5

34...Qxg1+ Force move. 35.Kxg1 Bc5+ 36.Rd4 Bxd4+ 37.Qxd4 Rxg5

A topical endgame position has arise. A queen versus two rooks with black has extra pawn which doesn't add any advantage for black because it's difficult to mobilize. Fritz 11 evaluate this position as equal.
38.h4 Rd5 39.Qf4 Rg8 40.Qc7 Rf8 41.Qe7 Kg8??

The main mistake. Black should sit tied with 41...Rdd8 and white can't made any serious progress. 42.Qa3! White is threatening Qg3+ followed by Qg7++ checkmate on g7! 42... Rfd8 43.Qg3+ Kf8 44.Qg7+ Ke8 45.Qg8+ Kd7 46.Qxf7+ Kc6 47.Qxe6+ R5d6 48.Qe4+ Kb6 49.f7 Rf6?? Black is already lost but he made white job easier by separting black "twin brothers" - the rook on d8 and d6. Both should not separate from each other because after 50.Qb4+ the f6 rook will be captured 50...Kc6 (50...Kc7 51.Qe7+ Rd7 52.Qxf6) 51.Qc3+ Kd7 52.Qxf6 1–0






In round 3 he produced another upset by beating Vietname GM Bui Vinh.

Yap,Kim Steven (2386) - GM Bui,Vinh (2507) [A00]
5th Singapore Masters Teck Ghee Community Club (3.1), 11.12.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8.Nc3 Qd6 9.0–0 Be7 10.Bg5 0–0 11.Bb5 Nb4 12.Qb3 Nbd5 13.Bc4 Nxc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.Rfe1 Bb7 16.Ne5 Rac8 17.Re3 Bd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Rf3 Qg5 21.g3 Nf6 22.h4 Qh5 23.Re1 Ng4 24.Rf4 Nxe5 25.Rxe5 Qg6 26.c4 Rfd8 27.a4 Rc7 28.Rg5 Qh6 29.a5 Rdc8 30.axb6 axb6 31.Qxb6 Rxc4 32.Rc5 R4xc5 33.dxc5 e5 34.Qb7 Rf8 35.Rc4 Qd2 36.Qe4 Re8 37.c6 Qd1+ 38.Kh2 f5? 39.Qxf5 Rf8?? Black probably missed white's next move 40.Qxf8+! Kxf8 41.c7 and nothing can stop white c pawn from promoting. 1–0

Day 3 - Singapore Challangers International Open 2008

Malaysian youngster - Yap Eng Chiam (photo right) shine in the 3rd day of the 5th Singapore Challengers International Open Chess Tournament. Yap Eng Chiam who is still unbeaten so far, score maximum two points from today rounds ( Round 5 and 6). He is now the sole leader with 5.5 points . He was follow closely by Singaporean - CM Jarred Neubrroner ( FIDE 2170) with 5 points.

In round 5, Eng Chiam beat Singaporean - Tan Weiliang ( 2040) and in round 6 he beat another Singaporean - Scott Neubronner Shanon ( FIDE 2087) - (is Scott is Jarred Neubrroner brother !? )

Tan Kai Boon didn't fare well today when he only managed to collect 1/2 point from two rounds . He draw with Indonesian FM Rian Kapriaga (FIDE 2054 ) in the 5th round but lost to Aussie - Steven O'Reilly in the 6th round.

Below are Malaysian players points and their overall standing.

1. Yap Eng Chiam (FIDE 2061) - 5.5 points
9. Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) - 4 points
42. Tan Jun Feng - 3 points
44. Jeng Kuen Yong - 3 points
47. Saw Hong Ken Nixon - 3 point
51. Yap Qian Zheng Jonathan - 3 points
52.Yeap Khuan Yee - 3 points
64. Tan Li Ting - 2.5 points
65. Boey Jin Huey - 2.5 points
73. Neo Xue Wei - 2 point
86. Ong Yu Yang - 1.5 point
89. Yat Guo Jie - 1 point
91. Neo Xue Wen - 1 point


source : chess-results.com

Day 2 - Singapore Challangers International Open 2008

Today is the second day for the 5th Singapore Challengers International Open Chess Tournament. Round 3 and 4 were played today and below are Malaysian players performance :

1. Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) - 3.5 points

2. Yap Eng Chiam (FIDE 2061) - 3.5 points

3. Jeng Kuen Yong - 2.5 points

4. Tan Li Ting - 2.5 points

5. Boey Jin Huey - 2 points

6. Yap Qian Zheng Jonathan - 2 points

7. Tan Jun Feng - 2 points

8. Yeap Khuan Yee - 2 points

9. Neo Xue Wei - 1 point

10. Saw Hong Ken Nixon - 0.5 point

11. Ong Yu Yang - 0.5 point

12. Yat Guo Jie - 0 point

13. Neo Xue Wen - 0 point

Tan Kai Boon and Yap Eng Chiam is Malaysian top performer so far with 3 1/2 points each. In Round 5 tommorow, Kai Boon will meet Indonesian - FM Rian Kapriaga ( 2054) where as Eng Chiam is being paired against Singaporean - Tan Weiliang ( 2040).

Source chess-results.com

Day 1 - Singapore Challangers International Open 2008

The first day for the 5th Singapore Challengers International Open Chess Tournament start today with two rounds being played . As you all already know, there's no Malaysian taking part in the Master section so i'll be concentrating on the Challenger section were 13 Malaysian participate.

After round 2, Malaysian players performance is as below.

1. Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) - 2 points
2. Yap Eng Chiam (FIDE 2061) - 2 points
3. Boey Jin Huey - 1 point
4. Jeng Kuen Yong - 1 point
5. Neo Xue Wei - 1 point
6. Yap Qian Zheng Jonathan - 1 point
7. Tan Jun Feng - 1 point
8. Tan Li Ting - 1/2 point
9. Yeap Khuan Yee - 1/2 points
10. Yat Guo Jie - 0 point
11. Neo Xue Wen - 0 point
12. Ong Yu Yang - 0 point
13. Saw Hong Ken Nixon - 0 point

Tommorow there will 2 round to be played ( round 3 and round 4). All the best Malaysian!


source : chess-results.com

No Malaysian Players in the Singapore Masters 2008 ?

I checked with the official site for the 5th SINGAPORE CHESS FEST 2008 - Singapore Masters & Challengers International Open Tournaments which will be held from 9th December -15th December 2008 at the Teck Ghee Community Club, Singapore and sadly... there will be no Malaysian players playing in the Masters section. As my previous post, both Malaysian top players - IM Mashafizul and IM elect Lim Yee Weng couldn't play. In Mas case, his father poor health condition couldn't permit him to be in Singapore while FM Lim Yee Weng has no annual leave left . In fact Yee Weng has take a few advance leave !

I expect there will be a few Malaysian top 20 will play but after checking with the official site, there's no single Malaysian player play in the Masters section. Even our last year Challenger Champion - Justin Ong who should be "promoted" this year to play in the Master section is not in the starting list.

I think this would be a sad missed considering Singapore is quite near and there's many international strong and title players have confirmed to play. The will be 13 GMs, 14 IMs, and 6 FMs. The top players confirmed to play is GM Kuriy Kuzubov ( 2622), GM Zhaou Jun (2568), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2567), GM Fillipov Antov ( 2543) and several others. This should give good opportunity for GM/IM norms!

However in the Challenger section, 13 Malaysian players have registered and the leading Malaysian players in this section is Tan Kai Boon (FIDE 2129) the second seed. The first seed is Singaporean - Jarred Neubronner (FIDE 2170).

Malaysia is the "defending champion" in the challenger section after Justin Ong victory last year!