Big Think Interview with Anatoly Karpov | Anatoly Karpov | Big Think

An excellent interview by bigthink.com with GM Anatoly Karpov -  the 12th World Chess Champion and candidate for the FIDE President in the 2010 FIDE election.

You can also read the full transcript here

video source: bigthink.com

YOUNG TALENT CHESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

CS Solution managed by Najib Abdul Wahab have come up with a chess program for the young talent. Below are the details:-

YOUNG TALENT CHESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Term 1: 24th July to 22nd August 2010


The wait is finally over as we have received confirmation that a generous organization has agreed to sponsor the YOUNG TALENT CHESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM to help develop our potential and talented young chess players. This will be one of a kind training program designed to help promote and accelerate the potential talent that we have amongst our youngsters, to help improve and develop their playing skills towards becoming a world class chess player.


The YOUNG TALENT CHESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM is aimed at developing and improving our junior talents between the ages of 8 and 14 years old. Older youths are also welcomed to join but the focus shall be for the younger players as they represent the future of our chess achievement.


The training program is divided into 6 terms of 30 days each and will run from July 2010 until September 2011. The 1st term is scheduled to start next month from 24th July 2010 until 22nd August 2010, followed by the 2nd term to start in September, 3rd term in November, 4th term in February 2011, 5th term in April 2011 and the final term in July 2011.


The training approach is divided into 2 major sessions; a group session where all students will learn the common fundamentals and basics of chess, and a personalized session where students will be paired with either the GM or the IM to participate in a more detailed study mode. The personalize session is focused on fine tuning the student in accordance to his/her playing style, opening repertoire and specific weaknesses and areas for improvement.

The group class runs for 5 consecutive weekends and the individual classes are arranged over the weekdays. Alternatively, personalized sessions can also be arranged on weekends (after the group classes especially for those from areas out of KL) or a separate arrangement can also be made between the student and their respective trainer, with the agreement of the latter. At the end of the 5 weeks term, each student would have experienced a maximum of 68 hours of classes of end-to-end chess improvement experience and learning.


This program will feature GM Ziaur Rahman as the main trainer, complemented by some of our local IM who has been invited to be a part of this program.


The fees for the 68 hours of chess lessons will be below RM500 per student which works out to be less than RM7.50 per student per hour. In normal circumstances, such training program can cost a student anything between RM 4,000 and RM 6,000 which is between RM58 and RM88 per hour per student.


Those who are interested to sign up for the program needs to do so before the 19th July and due to space constraint, and trainers availability, we are limiting the first term program to only 10 students. Take note that the students need to be of certain playing strength and skills as such, the organizer may request for additional information to substantiate the students playing strength before confirming his/her inclusion in the program


For further inquiries, or to request for program prospectus, please contact the program organizer, Najib Wahab at najib.wahab@chess-malaysia.com or you can reach him at (6016)3382542. We look forward to meeting some of the brightest young chess stars for the program!


Click here for the program prospectus


Source: Najib Abdul Wahab

3rd GM Ziaur Rahman's Clock Simul

The 3rd GM Ziaur Rahman's Clock  will be held  at the Dato Arthur Tan Chess Center (DATCC), tomorrow ( 1st July 2010). The simul will start at 7.30 PM .  GM Ziaur Rahman will face five players - Mohd Izz Saifuddin, Lim Zhuo Ren, Tan Ken Wei, Yeap Eng Chiam and Yat Guo Jie.

GM Ziaur won the 1st and 2nd edition by the score 5-0 and 4.5-0.5 respectively.

Abdul Hamid Majid nominated as the General Secretary of FIDE!

International Arbiter (IA) Abdul Hamid Majid (photo right)  nominated as the General Secretary of FIDE under  Anatoly Karpov's  team for the forthcoming FIDE elections.

Read the official announcement at FIDE website here

TELUK GONG Pro - Am CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 ( 4th JULY 2010 )

Persatuan Penduduk Teluk Gong, Klang, Selangor will organised the TELUK GONG PRO - AM CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 on 4th July 2010 (Sunday). The tournament is a rapid (30 minutes) tournament with 7/8 rounds.

The total prizes is worth more then RM 5500 to be won which include 3 special prizes & mystery gifts.

Breakfast and lunch is also provided so be quick, the closing date is on 26th June 2010. Late entry will be surcharge RM 20.00.

For further details, click here

Registration and enquirers , call Azhar Said (012-6796193) or Zamri Sajari (016-277 5005)


Source: Azhar Mohd Said

Working at the 2010 National Championship

It's a nice experienced to have the opportunity to work as the webmaster with Malaysian top and pioneer chess blogger - Andrew Ooi the gilachess  at the recently concluded -  2010 National Chess Championship . I even planned about a month earlier to take  a  three day off to concentrate with the job.

What I like the most working with Andrew is he is an expert in technical computer stuff whereas I was born with 'ten thumbs' in that field. I observe that Andrew masterly 'dribble' the computer with his shortcuts, programming, html editing , video streaming skills etc etc  like Lionel Messi dribble the ball in the soccer field.

From left: Yours truly, Najib Wahab and Andrew Ooi.

With Andrew help, I try my best to concentrate on annotating games and some beautiful position from the tournaments. I also post the daily photo report and add some caption on it.

The organizer - Abdul Haq Mohamed (Tournament Director), Abdul Najib Wahab (Chief arbiter), NWM Khairunnisa Wahiduddin and Duratul Ain Yahya (Arbiters) also help us much by providing results and score sheet to us.

All in all, it's a nice experience for me to be involved in this tournament.

Tan Ken Wei - Saprin

It's a pity to see games from tournament like National Championship not being annotate by the players. Some probably think that annotating their own game will be a "suicide attempt" because you just reveal your opening repertoire , your strong and weakness to the "whole world".

How wrong they are ! The games of top players like Anand, Topalov, Kasparov, Carlsen and others are annotated LIVE and instantly  during and after the game but they STILL on top of the world!

I salute players like Mohd Saprin Sabri, Evan Capel and others who voluntarily sending their games to me to be annotated although i think many would prefer they annotated their game them self. Thanks to latest technology, patzer like me can annotated  games when they are beast like Rybka 4 on my side :)


Tan Ken Wei - Mohd Saprin Sabri
National Championship, Round 7, 19.6.2010

Analysed by Centaur (Hairulov + Rybka 4) 

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6 6. Ng5  Bxe2 7. Qxe2 dxe5 8. dxe5 h6 This move just push white's knight to a better square on e4. Theory give 8...e6 which i think is more correct   


9. Ne4  e6 10. O-O Nd7 11. c4 N5b6 12. Rd1 Qb8  13. Bf4 13. f4!? also strong with the threat of f5 later 


13... a5 A start of an original maneuver 


14. Nbc3 a4 15. Qh5 Rybka suggest an interesting developing moves 15. Rd4!? Bc5 16. Rd3 Qa7  (16... Nxc4?? 17. Rxd7) 17. Rad1 The c4 is poison for black.

15... Ra5? (!) A typo. Actually this move is good. I mistakenly type - ? 

A quite strange but effective way of developing the rook in the middle game. Black avoid to take the poison pawn on c4 because after 15... Nxc4?? White have the deadly 16. Rxd7!  Kxd7 17. Qxf7+ Be7 18. Rd1+
And Rybka give mate in 14 - maximum!


16. c516. b3!? seems better.


16... Nxc5 17. Rd6!?  

17. Nd6+  Bxd6 18. exd6 Nbd7 19.Qg4 Kf8 is a possible continuation.  17... Nxe4?

The correct move is 17... Be7 18. Nxc5 g6 19.Qe2 Rxc5 Now white have the strong 18. Rxe6+! Be7 18...Kd8?? 19.Qxf7! 


19. Nxe4 Kf8 20. Rxe7! Another strong move by Ken Wei. He surely not  turning back. 


20...Kxe7 21. Nd6 Qg8 Black have to cover the f7 square. 


22. Bd2 Rd5   23. Bb4 23. Qh4+ f6 24. Nxb7 Qe6 25. exf6+ Qxf6 26. Qb4+ c5 27. Nxc5 Kf7  


23...c5 24. Ba5 Nd7 25. Re1 g6 26. Qh4+  g5?  26... f6 is the best way to defense although white is still on top after  27. Bc3 g5 28. Nf5+ 


27. Qc4? 27. Nf5+! Ke6 28. Qc4 Threatening 28...Ne3 


27... Rxe5 28. Rxe5+ The deadly tactician - Rybka 4 give 28. Nf5+! Kf6 29. Bc3 Kxf5 30. g4+ Kf6 31. f4 gxf4 32. Qxf4+ Kg7 33. Rd1 Qe8 34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Qxe5+


28... Nxe5  29. Qxc5 Ke6 30. Bc3 f6 31. Nxb7 Qc8 ?

31... Qb8! is the better square for the queen in this position because it will not be exposed to white's knight after for w.g . 32. Qb6+ Kf7 33. Nd6+ Ke7 34. Nf5+ Kf7 35. Nd6+ Ke6 36. Nb7+ Kf5 37. Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nb7+ =


32. Qd6+ ?  throwing away the advantage. 32. Qb6+ ! and white is on top 32...Qc6

(i) 32... Kd5?? 33. Qd6+ Ke4 (33... Kc4 34. Qd4+ Kb5 35. Nd6+) 34. Qd4+ Kf5 35. Nd6+  losing the queen

(ii) 32... Kd7 33. Qd6+ Ke8 34. Qxf6 winning

33. Nd8+ Rxd8 34. Qxd8 and white is better


32... Kf5 ! 32... Kf7  Is probably safer. 33. Qd5+ Kg7


33. Qb4?  33. f3 !? Is a viable option. Qxb7 34. Bxe5  fxe5 ?? 35. g4+ Kf4 36. Qd2+ Kxf3 37. Qg2+


33... Kg6 Black king is safe now.  


34. Nd6 Qg4  Now white have to trade queen to avoide black to have  the initiative 


35. Qxg4 Nxg4 36. Nc4 Rd8 37. g3 Kf5! Previously ,  black's king have to move around for shelter, now he move for attack! 


38. a3 Ne5  39. Nxe5 39. Nb6  If black choose to avoid the knight trade, black have a deadly threat with  39...Rd1+ 40. Kg2 g4 Threatening Nf3-Rg1++ checkmate! 


39... fxe5 40. Kg2 e4 41. f3 exf3+ 42. Kxf3 g4+ 43. Kg2 43. Ke2  Staying in the center is wiser although black is still winning. 


43... Ke4 44. h3 h5 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Kf2 Rd3  Rd2+ 48. Ke1 Rg2 0-1

GM Ziaur Rahman win 4.5 - 0.5 !

A five players clock simul event against GM Ziaur Rahman (photo right) was held  at the Dato Arthur Tan Chess Center (DATCC), last night. The simul ended in a 4.5 – 0.5 victory for the GM. Former national player – Mohd Fairin Zakaria is the only player who managed to get the half points from the GM .

The simul used time control of 1 hour + 10 seconds increment for the GM and 45 minutes + 10 seconds increment for  the players.  GM Ziaur Rahman  face five players  ( Mohd Fairin Zakaria, Mohd Saprin Sabri, Mohd Irman Ibrahim, Abdul Haq Mohamed and Rizal Ahmad Kamal).

In the first edition which was held on 9th Jun 2010, GM Ziaur beat all his opponent (5-0).

2nd GM Ziaur Rahman's Clock Simul

A clock simul event against GM Ziaur Rahman (photo right) will be held  at the Dato Arthur Tan Chess Center (DATCC), tomorrow. The simul will start at 7.45 PM with the time control 1 hour + 10 seconds increment for the GM and 45 minutes + 10 seconds increment for  the players.  GM Ziaur Rahman will face five players  ( Mohd Fairin Zakaria, Mohd Saprin Sabri, Mohd Irman Ibrahim, Abdul Haq Mohamed and yours truly).

In the first edition which was held on 9th June 2010, GM Ziaur beat all his opponent (5-0).

2010 ASIAN Juniors Chess Championship

The 2010 ASIAN Junior  Chess Championship (Junior and Girls)  have almost reach the final stage. The event is held from 15th - 23rd June 2010  in Chennai India. Below is our young players performance after 7 rounds.

Junior

1. NM Evan  Timothy Capel

Name	Capel Evan Timothy
Starting rank	45
Rating	2026
Rating national	0
Rating international	2026
Ratingperformance	2085
FIDE rtg +/-	6,6
Points	3,5
Rank	35
Federation	MAS
Ident-Number	0

Rd.	SNo		Name	Rtg	FED	Club/City	Pts.	Res.
1	8	IM	Karthikeyan P	2411	IND	TN	4,5	s 0
2	66		Karthik V Ap	1599	IND	AP	2,5	w 1
3	62		Visakh Nr	1754	IND	TN	3,0	s 1
4	24		Mehar Chinna Reddy C H	2295	IND	AP	5,5	w 0
5	6	IM	Swapnil S Dhopade	2457	IND	MAH	4,5	s 0
6	58		Sai Prahlad K	1893	IND	TN	3,0	w 1
7	32		Tan Weiliang	2186	SIN		3,5	s ½
8	30		Sahoo Utkal Ranjan	2231	IND	ORI	3,0	w

Girls

2. WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham

Name	Nur Najiha Hisham
Title	WFM
Starting rank	41
Rating	1724
Rating national	0
Rating international	1724
Ratingperformance	2059
FIDE rtg +/-	0,0
Points	4
Rank	20
Federation	MAS
Ident-Number	0

Rd.	SNo		Name	Rtg	FED	Club/City	Pts.	Res.
1	15		Bernales Christy Lamiel	2043	PHI		4,0	s 1
2	17		Savetha C H	2014	IND	TN	3,5	w ½
3	3	WFM	Hejazipour Mitra	2216	IRI		5,0	s 0
4	8	WFM	Saranya J	2119	IND	TN	3,5	s ½
5	26		Sithalatchumi A	1906	IND	TN	4,0	w 0
6	34		Supriya Joshi	1831	IND	MAH	2,5	w 1
7	23	WFM	Kotepalli Sai Nirupama	1931	IND	AP	2,5	s 1
8	14		Lakshmi Praneetha K	2052	IND	AP	4,0	s

3. WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham

Name	Nur Nabila Azman Hisham
Title	WCM
Starting rank	35
Rating	1817
Rating national	0
Rating international	1817
Ratingperformance	1715
FIDE rtg +/-	-10,4
Points	3
Rank	41
Federation	MAS
Ident-Number	0

Rd.	SNo		Name	Rtg	FED	Club/City	Pts.	Res.
1	9	WFM	Bharathi R	2110	IND	TN	4,5	s 0
2	48		Shvetha V	1583	IND	TN	3,0	w 1
3	23	WFM	Kotepalli Sai Nirupama	1931	IND	AP	2,5	s 0
4	51		Iswerya A D	0	IND	TN	1,0	w 1
5	17		Savetha C H	2014	IND	TN	3,5	s 0
6	38		Nivedhitha J G	1784	IND	TN	3,0	w 0
7	40		Navya Vyshnavi Mannepalli	1734	IND	AP	2,5	s 1
8	46		Sushmitha G	1624	IND	TN	3,0	w

Source: chess-results.com

2010 National Chess Championship Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

The 2010 (Open and Women) National Chess Championship was successful held from 16th - 20th June 2010 in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

President of the Malaysian Chess Federation - Tan Seri Dato' Seri Diraja Ramli Ngah Talib gives the closing speech

Tournament Organiser - Abdul Haq Mohamed from UKM deliver a speech on behalf of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

VIP during the closing ceromony - from left :- Abdul Haq Mohamed (Tournament Director), En. Abdul Rahim (Ketua PALAPES UKM), Tan Seri Dato' Seri Diraja Ramli Ngah Talib (President of the Malaysian Chess Federation), Tuan Haji Ibrahim Abu Bakar (Vice - President of the Malaysian Chess Federation)

The 2010 Open Section Winners and the the VIP. Standing from left : Mohamad Tariq Amru (9th), Mohd Saprin Sabri (5th), Ahmad Fadzil Nayan (th),NM Kamal Ariffin Wahiduddin (3rd), NM Tan Khai Boon (Champion), NM Edward Lee (2nd), Nik Ahmad Farouqi (6th), Yeoh Li Tian (4th), Mohd Nabil Azman Hisham (7th) and Mohd Izz Saifuddin (8th)

The 2010 Women Section Winners and the the VIP. Standing from left : NWM Tan Li Ting (2nd), Amira Syahmina Zulkafli (3rd), NWM Fong Mi Yen (Champion), NWM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri (5th) and Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan (4th).

NM Tan Khai Boon - Open Champion

NWM Fong Mi Yen -  Women Champion

2010 National Chess Championship official site

Temuramah Bersama Abdul Haq Mohamed

TEMURAMAH BERSAMA  ABDUL HAQ MOHAMED 

Fide Rating : 2081

Tahniah di atas kejayaan Abdul Haq (photo di bawah) dalam  menganjurkan 2010 National Chess Championship di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)  buat julung kalinya. Tolong terangkan kejayaan pihak UKM yang mendapat kepercayaan Persekutuan Catur Malaysia (MCF) untuk menganjurkan kejohanan tersebut pada tahun ini?

Kejayaan penganjuran Kejohanan Catur Kebangsaan yang berprestij ini merupakan kerjasama erat berdasarkan kepercayaan terhadap satu sama lain dan sikap bertolak ansur di antara UKM melalui Pusat Sukan UKM dan MCF.  

Adakah penyertaan tahun ini lebih baik berbanding tahun lepas?

Ya. Penyertaan tahun ini ternyata lebih baik jika dibandingkan pada tahun lepas memandangkan jumlah penyertaan bagi kedua-dua kategori telah meningkat kepada suatu angka yang sukar dipercayai oleh semua.

Apa perbezaan yang ada pada kejohanan ini berbanding yang lepas?

Perbezaan paling ketara ialah apabila nama `National Closed` yang sinonim di kalangan peminat catur Malaysia telah ditukar kepada `National Chess Championship atau NCC`. Selain itu, jumlah terkumpul hadiah telah meningkat sehingga mencecah 5 Ribu Ringgit. Malah saya sendiri boleh dilihat sebagai perbezaan jika saudara Hairul bersetuju :)

Adakah kejohanan tahun ini berjalan dengan lancar?

Kejohanan NCC pada tahun ini saya kira telah berjalan dengan begitu lancar sekali memandangkan NCC kali ini saya kira telah melibatkan 3 pihak yang terlibat iaitu pihak Pusat Sukan UKM, MCF dan sekretariat NCC.

Apa maklumbalas yang anda terima mengenai kejohanan ini dari para peserta dan penonton? 

Pelbagai maklumbalas telah diterima secara langsung mahupun tidak langsung. Peserta sudah pasti gembira apabila kenaikan jumlah hadiah memberi impak kepada jumlah penyertaan peserta yang turut disertai oleh kebanyakan peserta berpengalaman, sehinggakan memberi peluang kepada peserta unrated untuk mendapatkan rating FIDE. Penonton yang terdiri daripada ibu-bapa pula memberikan kata-kata semangat yang membina keyakinan saya untuk terus mengekalkan dan menjayakan konsep yang telah diperkenalkan oleh pihak sekretariat NCC.

Ini merupakan kali kedua pihak UKM menganjurkan kejohanan yang agak besar selepas UKM Master baru-baru ini yang melibatkan para pemain dari luar negara. Adakah UKM akan menganjurkan lagi kejohanan-kejohanan besar di masa akan datang?

Ya. UKM akan terus menjayakan pertandingan catur samada besar atau kecil. UKM Masters dan NCC telah menjadikan UKM antara `venue` pertandingan yang semakin dikenali oleh peserta catur tempatan mahupun luar negara. Jika tiada halangan, UKM bakal menjayakan Kejohanan Catur Pesta Konvo UKM pada 7 Ogos 2010 seperti yang dirancangkan oleh pihak secretariat Konvo UKM. Jika tiada masalah, GM tournament bakal dilaksanakan pada bulan September! Banyak lagi idea-idea yang pasti dilaksanakan juga seperti Kejohanan Catur Alumni UKM dan sebagainya J 

Tolong ceritakan hubungan anda dengan pihak UKM?

Sehingga jawapan ini diberikan, saya masih lagi berstatus pelajar UKM dan juga bekerja secara kontrak di salah sebuah institut penyelidikan bioteknologi di bawah pentadbiran UKM.

  

Apakah ada  program2 catur lain oleh pihak UKM   pada masa akan datang?

Ya, sudah tentu. Pelbagai idea telah dilontarkan kepada saya.  Kini, hanya masa menentukan. Terima kasih dan saya berharap pihak UKM dan anda akan lterus menganjurkan program2 catur bagi memeriahkan sukan catur Malaysia.  


Terima kasih kerana sudi untuk memberi kerjasama dalam sesi temuramah ini.

Terima-kasih juga kepada saudara Hairul kerana sudi menjayakan interview ini.