World Youth Chess Championship 2009

Back in my days (when I was the National Junior Player), the tournament is called World Junior Chess Championship, but since I started my chess career at the late age, I only get the chance to compete in the U-16 girls and U-18 girls and in the Asian Junior event for U-20... Back then U-10 was introduced in 1991. Later on U-8 was included.

Today, categories ranging from U-8 to U-18 is held in the same venue at Antalya, Turkey and the name is called World Youth Chess Championship (for U-20 the tournament is call World Junior Chess Championship and it will held in a different date and venue).

This year, we had representatives in most of the categories except for the U-16 Girls, U-18 and U-18 Girls (If the readers are wondering how the National Juniors are selected to represent the country, well, the results are based from this year National Age Group).

Representing
U-8 are : Teh De Juan and Amier Hamzah Muhd Zuhrin.
U-8 Girls : Teh De Zen.
U-10 Girls : Nur Najiha Azman Hisham.
U-12 Girls : Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (FIDE Elo 1847) and Camilia Johari.
U-12 : Mohd Irfan Haqqim Azhar.
U-14 Girls : Hoh Tjin Li.
U-14 : Wong Jianwen(FIDE Elo 1905) and Elgin Lee (FIDE Elo 1861)
U-16 : Sumant Subramaniam (FIDE Elo 2064)

What makes me eager to write about this even in this busy hour and I had skip my lunch to update this, is that, one of the player is currently 3rd in ranking after 6th rounds!!! The one that the nation has been talking and stay closed by the monitor watching her game live is none other than NUR NABILA AZMAN HISHAM!

She has scored 5 points from 6 rounds, being unbeaten! She beat all her opponents up to round 4 and drew in her last 2 encounter. What an impressive performance! Those who wants to catch the results can click here .

Here are the results of others in their field after round 6:
U-8 : Teh De Juan - seeded 112 now ranked joined 63 (3 points)
Amier Hamzah - seeded 20 now ranked 15 (4.5 points)
U-8 Girls : Teh De Zen - seeded 73 now ranked joined 35 (3 points)
U-10 Girls : Nur Najiha - seeded 57 now ranked 39 (3 points)
U-12 : Irfan Haqqim - seeded 112 now ranked 103 with 2.5 points
U-14 Girls : Hoh Tjin Li - seeded 86 now joined ranked 88 (1.5 points)
U-14 : Wong Jianwen - seeded 79 now joined ranked 88 (2.5 points)
Elgin Lee - seeded 85 now ranked 78 (3 points)
U-16 : Sumant Subramaniam - seeded 80 now ranked 78 (2.5 points)

Overall, most of the players reached 50% score, juz hope that they can improve the score in the remaining rounds to go.

All the best to all the players!

to catch the latest update click here

November Tournament Line up!

The Dato' Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC) at Wilayah Kompleks in Kuala Lumpur will be organising 2 FIDE rated events! FIDE rated events in Malaysia again?! Whoa! that sure satisfy the hunger for Malaysians to pursue FIDE rating. Tournament will begin this saturday (14/11/2009). For more details click here

Then on 28/11 - 5/12/2009, the annual GACC International Inter Varsity Chess Championship. Open only to University students all over Asia. This is also FIDE rated event. Hope my students will prepare and give all out (though without training from me.. huhuhu )

On 29/11/2009 - The Skudai Giant Chess Competition is coming up! Click here

I think it is not going to slow down this year end, coz even during Raya Haji there will still be tourney going on that day! Click here to find out more about the event.

Those who is interested to listen to a chess seminar titled "Sicilian Dragon" by IM-elect Lim Yee Weng, it will be held at DATCC this sunday 15th Nov 2009, during a break of DATCC chess league. Details can be found here

All the best to those participating! :-))

What's Up?

Many have been asking where have I been, and the blog seems to be crowded with cobweb now (hahaha).... I am terribly sorry! Really Sorry! As I mentioned earlier, I will be busy when the new system at the office is install, and indeed I am too busy to even play a game of chess by myself or to participate in any chess competition.

I have so many things to write and share with all the readers. My opinion about whether titles of women player should be abolished or not, the recent FIDE ratings, update of local chess tournaments, or perhaps about one interesting email in the chess-malaysia yahoo group posted by a chess friend (you can click gilocatur link)...

I shall try to write that one thing at a time.. at least you wont get bored waiting for news from me.. :-))

regards,
NWM

UiTM Dungun Open 2009 - (17/10 - 18/10/2009)

Despite the frustration from postponement of the UIA open on the 17th oct, UiTM Dungun offers the comfort for the interested chess players who still wants to play chess this weekend!

This is a 2 days tournament with 7 rounds swiss system and time control of 45 min.

More info contact : Norazmi (012-5560460) dan Siti Naqiah (017-7640764, 0139033181

UIA Open Postponed!!

UIA Open that is supposed to be scheduled next saturday and sunday (17th and 18th October 2009) has been postponed to 1st November 2009. Dont know the reason, but this has been the second announcement that the tourney has been postponed. Perhaps the organiser wants to attract more participants after the Deepavali celebration (on 17th Oct 2009).

Those who wish to take part, kindly take note on the matter!

**the source of info was taken from here **

DATCC Open House Blitz - Result

I dont have the list of the participants taking part, but I heard there are 34 players playing the blitz, while the rest spectators enjoy the Open House menu provided by the host. My bro - Khair who took part in the Blitz yesterday said, the food is delicious!

Hairulov and Gilachess were there to highlight the event. You can find it here and here .

October 2009 Updates!

What is going on in the month of October 2009? Will the months of competitive rapid chess happens again till the end of year?

Saturday, 3rd October 2009, Dato' Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC) at 4th Floor Car Park, Kompleks Wilayah, Kuala Lumpur will be organising its Hari Raya Open House! And due to that there will be a Blitz Chess happen on the day with a time control of 5min + 2sec increment! (wish I could be there too.. but due to the unforeseen circumstances I have to cancel my plan to KL for the event.. yesterday evening, my boss said I need to be in the office today to monitor the progress of the new system that will go live on sunday.... sad huh?!)

Those who are interested to take part, kindly be there at 12 noon to register, the game shall start at 12.30pm at the same venue! All the best to the players taking part.. and Happy Hari Raya!

Johor will be hosting its Johor Closed today, a selection tournament for the Sarawak Team Open that will be held this coming December. All States are invited to take part in the Team Tournament, as team of 4 will only need to pay for the airfare and f&b only, the accomodation is provided by the host!

UIAM Open will be on 17 & 18 October 2009. On the 17th October, the game for U-12 and U21 will be schedule on that day, while on the 18th October, the game for Open will kick off on that day. I dont have the details for the event, but you can check it out at this blog

The latest updates that excites me the most is that the chess legend, Garry Kasparov is coming to Malaysia! YESSSSS!!! it has been publicised here with the link
in The Star . And you can join too at here

Karpov - Kasparov 2009

** pic taken from chessbase.com**

While we are celebrating our Eid Mubarak, there was an exhibition match that brings back the two chess legends on the chess board for the first time after their last encounter for the world championship title in 1984. The match marks the 25th annivesary since the 1984! The match is played from 21st September - 24th September 2009 at Valencia, Spain...

Karpov - Kasparov.. the two chess legends when I was a kid, the name kept popping.. especially Kasparov, he is known not only to the chess fans, but also to the rest of the world. Wherever I go, when I mentioned I play chess, they will often pronounce the name Kasparov to me.. and that proves how widely famous he is!

The match is certainly the match of a lifetime that has been waiting by all the fans... I think even in Malaysia, there are people who keep up todate of the results! Well, since it is an exhibition match, they both agree for 4 rapid games and 8 blitz games! I guess.. the solution of having rapid and blitz game is better, since both have been long inactive from professional chess for years now.. Karpov has made his chess appearance more of a hobby rather than serious play. He did compete in few tournaments, but the focus is different now. Kasparov has been retiring from chess since 2004, now a serious politician for the opposition in Russian politics. He also writes many chess books, giving advises and help on Kasparov Chess Foundation (I think the foundation is somewhere in US). And currently, the latest news, Kasparov is collaborating with Magnus Carlsen for the latter World Champion project! (great news to all Magnus fans).

Both players came from different era, Karpov (now aged 58, born in Zlatoust USSR) was the world champion after Bobby Fisher refused for the match in 1975 (he later on fought hard to prove to the world that he is the best player after all). Karpov kept the title until 1985 (at the age of 24-34 years old). I met him once at the World Junior Chess Championship 1993 at Bratislava, he was there for the closing ceremony. He was indeed a very nice person back then.

Kasparov, (who is now aged 46, born in Baku, Azerbaijan but choose to be a Russian Citizen). He was a chess prodigy, and has been predicted to be the world champion when Mikhail Botvinnik first saw him at the age of 6. He won the World Champ title from Karpov after a long hard fought battle in 1985. And kept the title undefeated for more than 20 years until 2000, when he lost the title to Vladimir Kramnik. But still, one cannot forget the beautiful, stylish and brilliance that he posses on the chess board! (I never had the chance to meet him in person, but I do hope one day I will get the chance).

It was an interesting battle overall.. Kasparov won the rapid match by 3-1 (Karpov won the last match), and Kasparov also won the blitz match by 6-2.

*source of the news taken from www.chessbase.com and www.chessvibes.com *