Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open (DATMO) 2008

Our world as said in My Side Of Story...
Pic on the right : Seen on third board of the pic Haslindah (the one that inspires women in chess) vs Lim Kian Hwa.


Alia Anin vs Indonesian player. She is playing in DATMO as a preparation for World Youth in October this year.


Oliver Dimakiling from Philippines against another filipinos.
Pic on the right : Ian vs Ismail Ahmad


Malaysian players : Tariq Amru vs Balendran, and Mohd Saprin.
Pic on right : Ismail Ahmad


Malaysian : FM Mok Tze Meng and NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah


First Board : GM Li Chao vs FM Lim Yee Weng
Second Board : GM Zhang Zhong vs GM Marat


IM Julio Sadorra also took part.
WIM Kruttika Nadiq - another female taking part. She is from India


GM Marat vs GM Li Chao. This is an interesting game to watch, coz Li Chao never give up in attacking Marat, and Marat was defending well too. But one slight mistake for pushing the e-pawn cost Marat the game. Before Li Chao take advantage of the blunder, he gave a disbelief look at Marat..


Malaysian : Masrin Erowan, and Mohd Fairin Zakaria


On the second board : Mas is playing against WGM Li Ruofan

Another Malaysian : FM Lim Yee Weng who gave an impressive performance in DATMO, he finally got his IM!

Before event, they chat.. when it all started, the battle begins

GM Susanto was leading the pack in the beginning, and he beat Li Chao in the process too.. But I guess, it is a hard task to maintain the lead..

Pic on the right : WIM Irene Kharisma against GM Zhang Zhong

The GMs in action!

First Table : GM Susanto vs GM Marat (at the beginning)

Second Table : GM Zhang Zhong.. and he got second place too at the end..

WIM Irene gets another WGM norm in DATMO..

IM Mas Hafizul

Ambank Chess Challenge 2008

Ambank chess challenge attract players from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and of course our locals. It is a tough section where I witness most of the foreigners' are in the top spot! But our players did the best too!!


The first round of Ambank Challenge. Players seems to be on a relaxed mood...
Pic on the right is my brother, NM Kamal Arifin took part in Ambank too

My brother, Mohd Khair also took part in Ambank.
The players in action in Ambank Chess Challenge


Kamaludin in deep thought in round 11 (final) of Ambank Chess Challenge. He got himself in third place!


NM Kamal Arifin was placed no 8th overall!


And the Champion - from Phillipine!

for more info :
http://malaysianchessfederation.blogspot.com/2008/08/3rd-ambank-group-malaysia-chess_24.html

More Merdeka Rapid 2008

Fourth and fifth placing - both filipino's team!


Gold IS Berhad managed to break the all filipino's winner by becoming second in the Team Standing,
Pic on the right is the winner this year!... If I am not mistaken, they were in the top 5 list last year.. I noticed that coz IM Julio Sadorra in the team :-)


"and we are the champion!"

Merdeka Rapid 2008

Here are pictures taken by me during the Merdeka Rapid 2008
Enjoy!!!


Best Junior Teams


Best Veteran and Best school team


Best Ladies Team and Best University Team


Best Malaysian Team - Zambri represent AsliMAS (left) and Ismail Ahmad represent Astro (right)

The players.. On the right, Power Girls in action

The ladies competing for Best Ladies Team!

(Left) Filipinos Team Vs Indon Team, (right) Gold IS team vs another Filipino's team

Take note - Gold IS Berhad comprise of GM Iliudhachev, GM Marat, Ian Udani and Khor Shi Hong.


Team Astro with our IM Mas leading the team. On the right Jax Tham's Team

with Jimmy Liew and Mohd Kamal Abd in the team. (Right) the veterans from New Zealand (I think)

Astro (W) - From left: Haslindah, Nurul Huda, Alia and Nur Shazwani.

Pic on the right is Lim Yee Weng's team with Nicholas and Marcus in the Team.


This U-12 Kids really tough! With Nabila and Yeoh Li Tian in the team.

Pic on the right is AsliMAS team, with NM Kamal Arifin, Mohd Saprin, Kamaludin, Fairin and Zambri in the team.

Mixed Asset team; with GM Zhang Zhong leading the pack, together with WGM Li Ruofan, Yeap Eng Chiam and Mohd Khair


Lim Kian Hwa is still in the Sarawak's Best!

Pic on the right: IM Mas vs Nur Nabila

Astro (W) in action against those cute boys that represent Malaysia in Danang last June.

What makes Merdeka Rapid the most awaited event for the year, is all about the best team vs the best team!

GM Susanto Megaranto with white shirt

DATMO 2008 - My Side of Story (Ep 2)

For Merdeka Rapid our Ladies Team were finished with 19 points from 9 rounds of play, we are juz one point behind Team AsliMAS to grab the fifth Malaysian Best Team. However, we still got the Best Ladies Team score.. It was a fun and amazing days for me. Thanks to the team! To Haslindah, Nurul Huda, Alia, and Shazwani for the adventure! Thanks to MCF too for the chance of a lifetime!

Haslindah, Alia and I stayed on after Merdeka Rapid to play at DATMO. Even though it was a rapid event but I do feel tired of playing.

The next day, we have the DATMO at Cititel Ballroom. I didn't prepare anything, as I was spending my night sleeping. I seems not to have the stamina at all.. and I can't seems to focus well for the game. As if I only had one option in front of me and I juz play as per that option. And it cost me a terrible loss. I lost to Yee Weng on my first round! much as everybody expected I guess... I chat with Yee Weng (after all I am still a paparazzi for my blog), and he expressed his interest to play in Olimpiad this year. So, I guess that is why he performed well..

I feel that IM Mas GM quest has inspired every chess players in the country to do well, and nothing is impossible as long as you strive hard for it. And I believe that is the reason why many youngster participate in DATMO and Ambank, not to mention the outstanding performance of FM Lim Yee Weng (congrats!)..

Well, since all news in other blog covered about the champ and the star players, plus cuties from China that everyone has been talking about. I am going to tell my part of stories with the news from behind... hehehe... since I am part of it anyway.

Yea.. I was sitting at the back in the entire DATMO.. and the feeling sucks! this was the first time I lost 6 times in a row, and managed only to get 3 points from 11 rounds with one win, and 4 draws. I drew in my last four because I lost my mood for the games, but I am more interested in watching the games of GMs and support my brothers who's playing in the Ambank Challenge. Oh yes.. I like watching and learn from the moves the top players made...

Ok ok ok.. back to the back end players. The way the setting of the tables for DATMO seems as if MCF knew that the standard of play for DATMO will be separated into two. Class A and class B. Coz, we at the back end are like in the world of our own! as if we are competing against ourselves. Whenever there is a victory, someone will jump to class A, but later on in the next round he/she will jump back at the place where we belong... hahaha... sounds funny when thinking about it.

And I do see familiar faces at our side of the world, (hehehe as they are considered top Malaysian players) with the remaining rounds to finish. So, you see, the difficulty of DATMO is not only experience by me alone, but is shared by others too. ( And yes, this paparazzi has been asking around too)

At the back end, there are not only Malaysian players, there are players from Hong Kong, Australia, Indonesia and there are also WIM and WFM in our group too. Also rated players at level 2xxx were there too. During the last round, I saw the last year Ambank champ sitting at our world playing against an Indonesian... quite shocking isn't it! So you see we are not alone in our own league...

If there is another DATMO, and I am encouraging the other Malaysian to take up the challenge. Please do not feel embarrassed by the performance, the experience is more important for the next challenge in chess life. Hey, I played badly too. The least I can say to the people, "I have been there and done that, but have you?"

DATMO 2008 - My Side of Story (Ep 1)

"You must be out of your mind!"
That was my sis first reaction when I told her that I wanted to play in Malaysian Chess Festival month. She was ok when I mentioned I will be playing in Merdeka Rapid on the 16th and 17th of august. But later on, juz before the closing date, I told her about the DATMO 2008 on the phone, she was furious!..

At whatever tourney that I want to take part, family blessing is important to me. Maybe she is worried that I might came back home in tears, or decided to not play chess again (juz like after Armenia 1996). But I manage to convince her that I am going to have my fun there, and never to get too emotional about my games, and besides the rumours saying that it is the last installment of DATMO, gives me the strong reason to play and feel the experience!

I know I am not ready for the big event, coz I havent study chess for months!, but I am curious about the standard of the event.

I have been a big fan of the event ever since I found out about it in 2005. I have been to Midvalley every august to get a glimpse of the games played. Every time I step into the hall, I was like a little girl in a candy shop... (hahaha). It puzzles me why there are players who always sits at the back, and with a lowest score. I said to myself, "is it that difficult?"... Yes.. fans would only gather around top players. They never bother about the far end players. I wonder, what would be my results if I am in action too.

Year after year, I was a spectator.. but this year, I finally get my chance to be part of it! And gosh!!!! wow!!! It was harder than it looks (trust me on this!).. Now I know what it feels like to play in DATMO. I spoke to Cathy Rogers at the tourney (she was there with hubby Ian Rogers who trained IM Mas Hafizul for the event), she said "Well at least you got guts to play, coz I dont". Yeah.. I have guts, and I really appreciate her for that statement, it does boost my morale for the remaining rounds. (But to prepare in the big event like this, I need more than juz guts!).

I took a long leave from work and home from 16th - 24th August 2008. To play in Merdeka Team Rapid, DATMO, and Blitz. It was a long exhausting days for me, with the total games I have played was 27 games! What a record! (for me la).

I will tell you the next stories later.....

UiTM Dungun Open 2008

I got this sms from Muhammad Arshad from Terengganu. There will be UiTM Dungun Open dated 30th August 2008 at UiTM Dungun. For more info visit
http://caturterengganu.blogspot.com

Malaysian Chess Festival 2008

Our annual Chess Festival which schedule on this August 2008 will be an intersting event to be apart with! Titled players from ranging from GMs, WGMs, IMs, WIMs, FMs and our NMs or NWMs will be taking part. I am sure all will be excited to be get the experience to have a match with these players. I have heard that GM Zhang Zhong with ratings of 2632 will be playing!

The Festivals kicks off this Saturday with Merdeka Rapid Open 2008. This is a team tournament, which comprise of 4 players + 1 reserve and with a time control of 25 min + 10 sec. There will be a 9 rounds swiss system to be played on saturday and sunday (16-17th August 2008). For the last 3 Merdeka Rapid the Philipinos ruled the event. Lets see this year who will lift the challenge trophy! For those who want to catch the event, come and join us at Ballroom Cititel Midvalley Megamall Kuala Lumpur. To know the updates log on to www.gilachess.com

The next exciting event is the Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open 2008, which schedule on Monday August 18th, till sunday 24th August 2008. I hope more players will come and play in this event and it is good to hear the GMs are playing. Li Chao from China who won last year is expected to take part (he is doing well in the World Junior right now). Our best bet for future Grand Master, IM Mas Hafizul will be doing his best to get his first GM norm. As we all know he was closed to get the norm at Biel last month. He was merely half point short to get the norm.

The next event that most of Blitz player cant wait to play will be the Malaysian Blitz Open 2008. The game will start on 24th August 2008 at noon also in Cititel. Time control will be 3 min + 2 sec.

In between 25th-29th August 2008, there will be a Simul Match with GM Yasser Seirawan of USA (the first time I met him was at Novi Sad, he was quite a nice guy back then).

The last event will be the Merdeka Classical schedule to be on the 30th - 1st Sep 2008 at Kompleks Wilayah Kuala Lumpur. This is a team event with same players as the rapid event but with a 1 hour time control to the finished.

More info visit www.gilachess.com. I think hairulov will also be playing and cover the event too!
I'll try to make it there and updates the fans!

The best of luck to all Malaysian Chess Players!!

Temerloh Open 2008

There will surely be a new champion crowned in this year Temerloh Open 2008. Tournament will kicks off on 16-17th of August 2008 at Dewan Abdullah Kia in Mentakab, Pahang.

A lot of attractive prizes are up for grabs for best players in under age category as well as the best ladies, also not to mention the Champ this year will get to hold RM1,000.

For further info and registration call :

Fazli - 019-9299767

To the players playing there, all the best and good luck!

What Happened?

What happened to my shoutbox? The hot debate there regarding my statement juz vanished!? Wonder what cause this?

Can anyone help me about this?

Regarding No Ladies Team To Germany 2008

All of a sudden my blog has attract visits from chess fans, all becoz of the comments I made about the sms I received from MCF. Well, to nasero and dinovsky. Let me be honest with you guys.

I am merely questioning why no Ladies Team to Olimpiad, juz coz the two are not playing. Is it worth it to leave a mark that in Malaysia only those two are the best. During the years where WIM Audrey Wong and FM Seto Wai Ling was regards the best women players, they too got a special automatic spot in the Malaysian team. But still with their absent, Malaysia send ladies team to the Olimpiad. In which that was the first Olimpiad I took part. And becoz I was considered "NASIB BAIK JE" to qualified and represent Malaysia by the chess people and was young too (I was 15 years old that time), I was placed as Malaysia's fourth board (reserve) player. Oh well, this so called "NASIB BAIK JE" one actually placed no. 8th on the fourh board in the overall ranking in that olimpiad which witness 68 countries taking part in the Women section.

I was schooling, therefore I was more focussed than today. With limited resources (no books, no computers) I studied chess and sparring with my siblings during those school years! I bet Siti and Wani also study hard and concentrate on chess during their school years. No responsibilities yet, so what else to think about! but CHESS! But are they still focus now? Have Siti been playing lately? or how was the score of Wani? (If you guys said that the rest of us is to NO good la...)

May I make a statement here. When I quote the sms from MCF, it is none of my intention I did that juz becoz I wanted to be in the team too. Even if I qualify, I might not make it to Germany, due to my work commitment at home. But why I bother playing again? (After taking a 10 years break from chess. I played again, becoz I missed chess, I like the feeling being surrounded by my chess friends, and to give support to Women in Chess!) My points is that, there are other youngsters out there who is eager to make the country proud if we juz give them the chance to do so. Is it the right thing for not giving them the chance? I too dont have any ratings and never perform well in any local tournaments before, but I surprised everyone and did the best in my Olimpiad, and do my country proud back then.


When I received comments saying that my game is the worst ever, some said I am not worth for the nation, some even said I am too old to play, and there are comments like I was a national player becoz during my years, there are no other players as good as Siti or Wani. Well, to these people. Is it my fault that I was born years earlier compared to those two? For those who said that I am not worth it today, must I be bothered? I had the amazing years, playing with my siblings. Playing for Pahang in Merdeka with juz us in the team. Witness my brother and Sis became the first siblings to be crowned NM and NWM in the same year. I am proud to make upset against Audrey Wong, and helped my Sis once again win the NWM title in the following year. I twice stopped MCF favourite player, Geraldine Johns Putra. Once from winning the 1990 National Closed, and second in the selection to Olimpiad. Not juz that, after I get my NWM title in 1995, in dec that year I played first board for Malaysia. I only lost once from all my games. And I am proud to standing tall at the podium winning the first board bronze medal for Malaysia together with the gold medallist and the world champion Xie Jun! That experience is something that can never be trade. And the horrible comments may break me into tears, but the memories kept me strong to keep on playing chess, and for the sake of Women In Chess!