Round 3 Merdeka Rapid Individual

Pic left : Table 16 : Ng Ee Vern vs Sahapol Nakvanich (THA)
Pic right : in the middle is Nik Ahmad Farouqi who caused GM Ziaur to leave table 1


Pic left : Table 8 - Jimmy Ng (SIN) vs Jahongir Vakhidov (UZB)
Pic right : Table 1 - IM Dzhurabel (UZB) vs Sutarno (INA)


Pic left : Saprin Sabri and IM Mok beside him.
Pic right : Table 4 - Yeoh Chin Seng vs IM Kevin Goh (SIN)

Round 2 Merdeka Rapid Individu

Another upset, Nik Ahmad Farouqi drew with Ziaur Rahman. Other fav move to round 3 as predicted.

Merdeka Rapid Individu Starts Today (28/8/2010)

There are 106 players taking part in the Rapid event. Surprisingly there are 4 GMs, 5 IMs, 5FMs, 2 WFM and 1 WCM playing!

We have upsets in the event, Irfan Haqqim drew with GM Saidali Iuldachev and Ng Ee Vern drew too with Tin Jun Hao in the first round. Other fav goes to second round as predicted.

CItitel Hotel Midvalley Welcome The Players

The room set. The tables set. Clock set. Only waiting for the players to show up!

Dear All Chess Friends

Dear All my Chess Friends,

I will be at Cititel Hotel Midvalley Megamall Kuala Lumpur from 28th September - 7th September 2010. If you wish to donate any chess books, chess mags, etc to SCC Mini Library, you may do so, by reaching me at the hotel during the Malaysian Chess Festival.

Those that had donated, you have my deepest appreciation from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. As at to date we have collected 10 books from our generous Chess Friends.

I thank you again!

Announcement! - Setia Chess Centre (SCC)

Announcement :

SCC will be closing from 27th August until 17th of September 2010. SCC will open beginning on 18th September onwards. Chess classes will be as usual from the day onwards.

Opening Hours of SCC :
Monday - Friday : 6pm to 10pm
Saturday - Sunday : 10am to 6pm (will be extended to 12am upon request)
Public holidays : 10am to 6pm (will be extended to 12am upon request)

Entry fee (except for students of SCC Chess Classes and chess tournaments participants at SCC) is RM 5 per entry (with access to all facilities provided at the centre; chess sets + vinyl boards, chess clocks, chess books and free advise on chess from the experts). With as low as RM 5 visitors can organise their own chess sparring and mini tournament among them!

**entry fee is charged merely to cover the rental and utilities expenses, therefore, the fee will be charged if the visits is more than 1 hour, kindly bear in mind that SCC is a non profit centre, we are operating more on the interest of chess and for the interested chess fans**

Pic of the 3rd Kuantan Master Rapid Junior Chess Championship 8/8/2010

**Courtesy from En Asman Amin - Vice President of PCDK**
The receipient of Most Participants from one school - SMK Clifford Kuala Lipis and SK Batu Tiga Kuantan


Under 9 winners :

Under 12 winners :

Under 16 winners :

Under 20 winners :

The top 3 medallist :

Pic left : Bronze - Sharif Zaki

Pic right : Silver - Anis Nasuha

The gold medallist and the winner of the 3rd edition of Kuantan Master Rapid Junior U-20 - Muhammad Qhaider Zullkafli from UMP

Pic taken during Opening Ceremony of SCC

**we had Blitz event during the opening**

Malaysian Chess Festival 2010

We are in Ramadhan month, and chess in Malaysia will not stop during this month! Another exciting event - The Malaysian Chess Festival will be on the 28th July until 7th September 2010. It is during the school holidays, but towards the end of Ramadhan month. I am excited about the event, but i have to carefully planned my leave and the transportation there, coz on the 7th September, expect heavy traffic at Karak and LPT highway!

This will be my second involvement in the Malaysian Chess Festival as an arbiter (the first was last year) and my third FIDE rated event (second event was National Chess Championship last june).

This year, the festival offers 3 more exciting event besides Merdeka Rapid Team Chess Championship, DATMO, Ambank Challenge, Malaysian Blitz Open and Merdeka Age-group event. The 3 events are - Merdeka Rapid Individual, Simul Exhibition match and the Seniors Open. Hectic right!? Imagine me on duty on all those event!! (whoa!!)

I am hoping to see Kuantan Chess players to take part in any of the event mentioned, I know it is Puasa Month, but to have the chance to play and be part of the event, it is once in a year thing! If you cant join the Merdeka Rapid Individual (28/8/2010), join the Merdeka Team (29-31/8/10), FIDE rated event - Ambank Challenge, Seniors Open, Malaysian Open (1-7/9/2010), Or to those Juniors out there, I would recommend this - Merdeka Age Group (5/9/2010)!

It is a bit sad to hear that Malaysian Chess Festival (which has been our annual event and was announced months ago) clash with the Campomanes Memorial Event which will be held in Philippines on the same date. I think it is because, Malaysia support Karpov (FIDE Presedential Candidate) and they support Kirsan (FIDE Current President for 15 years).

Well in Malaysia I see different people with different views on this matter (the Karpov - Kirsan issue), some support Karpov and some support Kirsan. Kirsan supporters said that Malaysia is making the wrong move by supporting Karpov and let go the $100,000 offered by Kirsan (really? $100,000.. no kidding! that is huge amount!), and because Filipino support Kirsan, they were given that same amount for the Campomanes memorial. I heard that same amount goes to Indonesia too. Those that support Karpov would goes saying that if Karpov got selected then Malaysia will be the hub of chess because the General Secretary is based here (En Hamid is contesting for the post).

Where do I stand in this matter? I try not to interfere chess and politics as my main objective here in Kuantan is to develop chess here. I can find quantity of players at the tournaments held here, but I want quality of games to be improved! I want more good players to be borned from here! I want to have those talented juniors beat our family records! (2 NWMs and 1 NM, 4 FIDE rated players, 3 National Players, 6 states representative, etc, etc, etc). I think we heard enough of our names, now is the time to find new names for Pahang. I want another chess prodidy and get him/her the sponsors and make us all proud.

But, I like the idea of Karpov - no burden fees, means that I dont have to pay for my National Instructor title annual fee. No fees for titled players. And I like the idea where when you got selected to play for your country, the only thing that the federation need to think of is the airfare, coz lodging is provided by the host. Unlike today, the competition is open, so many can take part but pay own lodging. In these 15 years of Kirsan's ruling, I dont see any benefit to the Malaysians? (I bet someone would post at the shoutbox and say, dont blame FIDE blame it to the MCF.. hahaha, Ok fine, blame it to MCF, but if the Secretary General from Malaysia, and still, nothing is changed, then yeah! I would blame MCF too for sure!) I am not sure about this, but err.. has Kirsan visited Malaysia in this 15 years? (I was absent from chess for 10 years).

For more info on the Malaysian Chess Festival click here

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

Kepada semua pembaca muslim blog SetiaChess, saya ingin mengucapkan Selamat Berpuasa di Bulan Ramadhan.

Untuk pengetahuan pengunjung Setia Chess Centre yang telah memulakan operasi semenjak 7hb Ogos 2010, Centre akan menutup operasi pada hari-hari biasa, dan hanya akan dibuka pada hari sabtu dan ahad sahaja dari jam 10am - 4pm. Operasi pada tengah malam akan dibuka pada hujung minggu, hanya atas permintaan sahaja.

Harap maklum.

3rd Kuantan Master Rapid Junior Chess Championship

Full result you can view at Terengganu chess Association.

And I thank you to all the 134 participants this year!!

A big appreciation to SMK Clifford for sending 23 players and SK Batu Tiga for sending 26 players in total!!! Thank you!!

3rd Kuantan Master Rapid Junior Chess Championship

The above tournament juz ended last sunday (8/8/10) with a newly crowned champion. Apology to all readers that have been waiting for the results. I couldnt post it earlier as I am too tired after the tournament, it has been hectic week for me and last night was the post mortem meeting.

I am dissappointed because this is my third year handling the tournament and still there many flaws during the events. Honestly, I am sad. But I am determine to make it better next year, if it still doesnt work out like what i expected it to be, I will resign as the tournament director for the Kuantan Junior Master event. I have this big dream about this event for juniors as I want the juniors to be able to stand tall with the seniors too! But I guess, my dream is too big.

Congratulations to Muhd Qhaider Zulkafli, 18 years old from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) for winning this third edition! He did well winning all 6 games and drew once with Sharif Mohd Zaki. Before the last round game, he knew if he drew with the sole leader at that time, Nur Aina Syamimi, he will be denied the champion, coz Aina only needed the draw to get the title. But Qhaider fought hard that last round and win (in earlier round, Aina cause a sensation with an upset against top seed from UMP - Husaini). He brought home his name on the Challenge Trophy, Cash RM100, Gold medal winner, Hamper and Certificate of achievement. Congrats also to the silver medallist Anis Nasuha Mohd Fekry from SBP Integrasi Kuantan, with 6 points overall. Bronze medal goes to Sharif Mohd Zaki from Kolej Matrikulasi Pahang who also score 6 points. He drew twice to secure his place.

Here goes the overall winner from each age group category :
Under 9 Boys :
Gold - Zulkarnain Safri (SK Kg Aur, Rompin) - 5 points
Silver - Meor Airil Rahimi Ayib Rosdi (SK Sg Isap) - 4.5 points
Bronze - Muhd Hazid Ekquan (SK Batu Tiga) - 3 points
Bronze - Mohd Faris Firdaus B Sabri (SK Batu Tiga) - 2.5 points
Bronze - Muhd Amirul Hafizi (SK Batu Tiga) - 2.5 points

Under 9 Girls :
Gold - Nur Aqilah Aishah Bt Rosseli (SK Assunta) - 4 points
Silver - Nurfatin Mohd Fakri (SK Mat Kilau) - 3.5 points
Bronze - Nur Fatin farzana Mohd Idrus (SK Batu Tiga) - 2.5 points
Bronze - Siti Balqis Sakinah Bt Norizan - 2 points
Bronze - Nurfarah Hanim Bt M. Fadzil (SK Batu Tiga) - 1 points

Under 12 Boys :
Gold - Muhd Muzakkir Aiman Nazri (SK Jaya Gading) - 4.5 points
Silver - Suhaimi Ash'ari (under the patron of SMK Clifford, Kuala Lipis) - 4 points
Bronze - Lukma Hakim Romael (SK Batu Tiga) - 4 points
Bronze - Muhd Asyraf B Nazairi (SK Batu Tiga) - 4 points
Bronze - Muhd Nur Adha B Azman (under the patron of SMK Clifford, Kuala Lipis) - 4 points

Under 12 Girls :
Gold - Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman (SK Teruntum) - 4.5 points
Silver - Nur Syahirah Rokeman (under the patron of SMK Clifford, Kuala Lipis) - 4 points
Bronze - Nur Nadia Mohd Nawi (SK Assunta) - 4 points
Bronze - Nurhasya Mohd Fakri (SK Mat Kilau) - 4 points
Bronze - Nurul Aishah bt Awang (SK Batu Tiga) - 3.5 points

Under 16 Boys :
Gold - Ng Zheng Ann (SM Abdul Rahman Talib) - 6 points
Silver - Muhd Firdaus Afiq Asman (SM Sultan Abu Bakar) - 6 points
Bronze - Ahmad Khairulamin Bin Zamri - 6 points
Bronze - Muhd Yusuff B Ismail (SMK Paya Besar) - 5.5 points
Bronze - Ridhwan Alias (MRSM Kuantan) - 5 points

Under 16 Girls :
Gold - Anis Nasuha Mohd Fekry (SBP Integrasi Kuantan) - 6 points
Silver - Nur Aina Syamimi Mohd Nazri (SM Abdul Rahman Talib) - 6 points
Bronze - Atiq Nadhirah Mohd Fekry (MRSM Kuantan) - 5 points
Bronze - Nur Amalina Alyaa Mohd Ridzal (SMK Tg Panglima Perang Tg Muhammad) - 5 points
Bronze - Meggan Lee (SM Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah) - 5 points

Under 20 Boys :
Gold - Muhd Qhaider Zulkafli (UMP) - 6.5 points
Silver - Sharif Mohd Zaki (KMP) - 6 points
Bronze - Muhd Husaini Hasnul (UMP) - 5.5 points
Bronze - Mohamad Azmir Osman (SMK Clifford Kuala Lipis) - 5.5 points
Bronze - Mohd Yusof B Abdullah (UMP) - 5 points

Under 20 Girls :
Gold - Siti Ros Aishah Bt Rosli (UMP) - 4.5 points
Silver - Nurul Amilin B Mohyin (MRSM Mersing Johor) - 4 points
Bronze - Syuhada Sulaiman (SMK Paya Besar) - 3 points

Congratulations again to the winners! See you again next year!