KL Open 2008

On saturday (20/12/2008), I went to Kuala Lumpur, my first intention is to meet up with friends that I havent seen in months.. so, since they are there helping out at KL Open 2008, I'd get the closer look at the event myself.. After all I am the mamarazzi in action anyway!

The event took place at Dewan Komanwel at Bukit Jalil.. well it is a sweet memory for me coz, I have been here last year for the Sukan Wanita Kebangsaan 2007. So, the feeling of actually standing there again, was great! I am so excited to see the players, the games, as the publicity in the internet and newspaper sounds like a grand event. What a good time to take a break from my busy schedule at home to be around chess world again.

But what I see is not what it seems to be. I was surprised to see the challengers section using analog clock! and the Open section using digital but with no increment! Actually this is the first time I have heard that 2 hours time control without any specific number of moves or any increment can actually be a FIDE rated. This is a new thing for me to experience. Maybe the organiser have its own reasons or maybe FIDE wanted to introduce a new system of play to be FIDE rated. But to see all those players in such a good position actually lost on time, seems to me a bit unfair to them. Then seeing all those higher rated players with some of them GMs, IMs and etc writing on a photostat copy of A4 size of paper as the score sheet of the event, is also a new thing for me. The young players will ask the arbiter to copy back the game, but none requested by the higher rated players to do so (this is understandable why). Funny, dont you think? I was at the arbiters table helping out the event when one WGM from India asking for her games in pdf format. Then I ask my friend, she told me that the organiser promise the player to give the games after the event ended. Then I said, ok.. this is another new idea imposed by the organiser. But to have the game on hand on the next day would be much better, in terms of preparation for the next game. Well, I would prefer it that way, rather than waiting later on. Then on that day, there were list of names that players need for the purpose of the certificate. Once again I praised the organiser for the idea, coz when I played in DATMO, I sure want one cert. The players were all excited to find out they got certificate of participation. One foreign player were so happy when he ask us it is free? coz in his country he has to pay for the cert ( in this case, I hope this is not happening here). And one GM actually wants the cert too! But I heard until the final day the certs are not given to the players. Well, maybe the organiser wants to send it by post, who knows!

This are the pic taken from the challengers section :


Camillia Johari (the girl) giving it all out in the round. Pic on the right is the scene from the back table.


While Nabil (white shirt) were fighting hard against Tan Kien Wei from Spore, his sis Nur Nabila (pic on the right) were cool to take the crown by beating Joni from Indonesia in a Knight and Pawn endgame.

In round 8, the fight of the veteran vs the youth, and Li Tian won

Haslindah is making a chess move here at KL Open in challengers section, giving support to the ladies in action (and well, it is a GIRL POWER since Nabila is the Champ in that category)

Our to be GMs in the making......

the visually impared players are making the statement in the tourney. Pic on the left is Nur Fieqah - the gold medallist in last Para Games in Korat. Pic on the right is the Indonesian player with black specs. All VI players are being helped with the recording of the moves by the Helper (Asiah, Rezal, Ezane)

In round 8, Nur Nabila crushed Edwin Lam's dream of becoming the champ, they both played a very well fought game until Edwin could no longer take the heat given by Nabila.

(Pictures from the open section will be posted later)

PERJUMPAAN PENUBUHAN PERSATUAN CATUR PAHANG

Perhatian untuk semua peminat catur di Pahang amnya, dan Kuantan khasnya!
(Attention to all chess lovers in Pahang)

Satu perjumpaan untuk menubuhkan PERSATUAN CATUR KUANTAN akan diadakan seperti berikut :
(there will be a gathering to form PAHANG CHESS ASSOCIATION will be held as follows :)

TARIKH : 21 DISEMBER 2008 (AHAD)
WAKTU : 2.30 PM
TEMPAT : KEMAS, BUKIT SETONGKOL KUANTAN

Jamuan ringan akan di sediakan pada perjumpaan tersebut nanti. Sila maklumkan kehadiran ada kepada Setiausaha Kelab Catur Kuantan - En Nordin 012-9017143.
(Refreshments will be served during the gathering, to register and confirm your attendance, kindly call Secretary of Kelab Catur Kuantan - En Nordin 012-9017143)

Kehadiran anda beramai-ramai ke perjumpaan pada ahad ini adalah motivasi dan semangat kami untuk memajukan catur di Pahang ini!
(Your presence for the meet will boost our morale to develop chess in Pahang!)

Perginya ke Rahmatullah.. Al-Fatihah!

Salam kepada semua pembaca..

Hari ini terbit rasa sedih, malah lidah seperti kelu untuk berkata-kata, tatkala menerima berita sedih pemergian Papa kesayangan, IM Mas Hafizul. Di diamkan diri ini, buat seketika lalu mensedekah al-fatihah untuknya. Jika sendu diri kami, maka sudah tentu keadaan lagi memilukan buat Mie (panggilan manja saya untuk Mas). Izinkan diri ini meluahkan apa yang terbuku dihati.

Bila difikirkan kembali, pemergiannya memang telahpun dijangka kerana sakit yang dideritai, namun hati mana yang tidak sedih dan meratapi pemergiannya. Takdir Allah swt memang tidak terduga oleh akal fikiran manusia. Merenung kembali sejarah silam bila mana Arwah, Cikgu Abdul Rahman Halim mula-mula memperkenalkan Mas ke dunia catur, kami adik-beradik mengenali beliau seawal tahun 1988. Itupun kerana kami mula aktif dalam dunia catur, dan kerana ramahnya beliau bercerita tentang anak kesayangan. Demi menemani Mas mengapai cita-cita murni dalam arena catur, arwah berhenti kerja. Kehadiran Papa disisi Mas dalam setiap kejohanan (termasuk Warsaw, Poland pada 1991) adalah saat-saat terindah mereka berdua.

Untuk berbicara tentang catur dan bagaimana arwah mengasuh Mas seawal usia 3 tahun demi merapat hubungan ayah dan anak yang pernah renggang suatu ketika dulu, cukup mengharukan kami dan mengagumkan bila kami tidak pernah melihat beliau putus asa walaupun faktor sokongan kewangan banyak membatas bakat luarbiasa Mas. Arwah sentiasa ramah dengan sesiapa sahaja dan ternyata tidak pernah lokek ilmu untuk dikongsikan semua. Kali terakhir saya bertemu arwah adalah pada tahun 1996 sejurus sebelum kami berlepas ke Yerevan, Armenia.

Masih lagi teringat sewaktu Mas mengalami demam teruk sewaktu kejohanan remaja kebangsaan. Masih lagi terbayang wajah Cikgu yang risau kesihatan anaknya, namun Mas tidak menghampakan pengorbanan Papa bila dia merangkul juara kejohanan. TIdak pernah rasanya kami mendengar suara kasar, atau adegan marah Cikgu dalam mencorak karier catur Mas. Suara lunak dalam nada cukup lembut sentiasa dialunkan untuk Mas.

Kenangan sewaktu bersama beliau, bila saya dan Mas masing-masing menjadi wakil tunggal catur di calon oleh negeri masing-masing pada anugerah sukan Putera-puteri MSSM dan anugerah Tunas Harapan Putera-puteri MSSM, menjadi cukup bermakna bila Mas merangkul anugerah Tunas Putera, dan berdiri segak disamping pemenang Putera MSSM - Wan Azlan (Jaguh renang negara) dan Puteri MSSM - Farah Hani Imran (jaguh gimrama negara, sekarang merupakan pakar bedah). Masih terbayang dibenak, senyuman terukir diwajah cikgu pada masa itu. Seingat saya, waktu itu Mas berumur 10 tahun.

Ucapan terima kasih buat arwah sekeluarga, kerana pernah menumpangkan kami dirumah di Kelantan suatu ketika dulu (bersama Punithavathy waktu itu). Terima kasih juga pernah menumpangkan kami menaiki Van beliau (sempat juga singgah ke Manchester United Fan Club di petaling jaya untuk bertemu Laurence How, bagi mendapatkan buku catur untuk Mas masa itu).

Buat Mas sekeluarga, tabahlah menghadapi dugaan dan redha dengan ketentuan-Nya. Ternyata Allah swt lebih menyayangi Papa. Banyak-banyaklah bersabar dalam menempuh hari-hari mendatang. Hari ini, Allah swt selubungkan kita dengan kesedihan, hari esok Allah swt serlahkan hikmah yang tidak terhingga buat hamba-Nya...

Marilah semua peminat catur yang mengenali IM Mas Hafizul, dan Papa beliau, bersama-samalah kita memanjat doa memohon roh Papa dirahmati Allah swt dan ditempatkan dikalangan orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh. Amin!

Al-fatihah......

Chess Workshop this school holidays in Kuantan!

Kelab Catur Kuantan is proud to announce, a Chess Workshop will be held at Pusat Tuisyen Taqwa at Jalan Bukit Setongkol Kuantan (near Tunas Manja Bukit Setongkol shophouse, and just next to Umi Komputer).

There will be 3 level of workshop. Anyone at age 4 and above can register!

Level 1 : Beginner - start to play chess (17/11/2008 - 20/11/2008) - 2 hours per day
Open to all kids out there who wants to learn chess from zero until at a stage where kids can start to play among friends, and most importantly have fun!

Level 2 : Beginner - Elementary (24/11/2008 - 27/11/2008) - 2 hours per day
This session is for kids that can play chess, know the movement and pieces, but not up to the level they can compete in a competition. The course will teach the kids on how to play systematically with the basic knowledge in all aspects.

Level 3 : Developemental - Competitive level (players at tournament level)
(1/12/2008 - 4/12/2008) - 3 hours per day
For any kids that is a regular tournament players in Kuantan. This workshop will focus on how to play in a tournament and the strategy in playing.

For level 1 and 2, participants will received workshop material + chess documentary CD + certificate of participation.

For level 3, participants will received workshop material + chess documentary CD + certificate of participation + a copy of chess software + and local chess bulletin for database

During the workshop, the students will enjoy the refreshment provided for them throughout the course!

To find out more call this number
- Khairunnisa' - 019-9699879
- Khair - 017-9460003

*members of Kelab Catur Kuantan will be given a 50% discount on the course fee*

The Malaysians at WCC 2008

These are the faces of our Malaysian players, courtesy of the team manager Pn Haslindah Ruslan also the Vice President of MCF...
The venue


Justin Ong (U-16 Open) and Syakir Syazmeer (U-14 Open)

Aron Teh (U-10 Open) and Elgin Lee (U-12 Open)

Alia Anin (U-14 Girls) drew against her opponent from Italy (pic right)

Our rep in U-8 Girls - Puteri Rifqah Fahada seems to enjoy her time there too..

the two siblings at Vung Tau..

The manager - Pn Haslindah Ruslan

WYCC Vung Tau, Vietnam 2008

Thousands apologies to readers who have been expecting news on the World Youth Chess Championship 2008 from me. (I'm down with fever, so I am off to report about the event) But I am making it out with the latest news about our players result!

Our malaysian in U-10 Open Yeoh Li Tian didn't manage to make a surprise he made last year in U-8 category, but he did make an impression by being the best among malaysian competing by getting 7 points which puts him in 14th place! (not bad!) The winner in his group is Duda Jan from Poland with 9.5 points.

U-10 Open, Aron Teh who is also competing in the same event as Yeoh Li Tian was placed 37th with 6 points.

U-12 Open, Elgin Lee was placed 36th with 6 points.

U-14 Open, Muhammad Syakir Syazmeer in 74th placing with 4 points.

U-16 Open, Justin Ong was in 57th placed with 4.5 points.

While the girls are doing pretty good, they started off impressively and ended the campaign with a good score too!

U-8 Girls, Puteri Rifqah Fahada was placed 22nd with 6 points.

U-10 Girls, Nur Najiha was placed 39th with 5 points, and Camilia Johari was placed 44th also with the same score, 5 points.

U-12 Girls, Nur Nabila is ranked 27th with 6 points.

U-14 Girls, Alia Anin Azwa was placed 29th with 6 points.

All the players fought their best at the games and showed better results than our neighbour Singapore. If the talent of these youngsters is nuture from the beginning we can improve our results and soon we can make our mark... Hope we have the National Age Group event at an early date so that the future Malaysian representatives can make a better preparation for the next WCC 2009.

photos of the players will be uploaded soon!

World Youth Chess Championship 2008

This year World Youth Chess Championship will be held at Vung Tau, Vietnam from 19th October 2008 - 31st october 2008. Malaysians will not miss this annual youth tourney as we will also be taking part by sending 10 youth players to the game.

It will be interesting to watch our Yeoh Li Tian performing in U- 10 boys category as last year he made a fine marked for being number fourth in U-8 boys category at Turkey.

Other players representing Malaysia are also not to be left out in the event! as all Malaysian chess fans at home will be monitoring their progress in the event in the hope of performing better with better results than expected! Best of luck to all the players.

The players are :

1. Yeoh Li Tian FIDE Rating -1955 (Open 10)
2. Aron Teh Eu Wen (Open 10)
3. Lee Kah Meng Elgin FIDE Rating - 1811 (Open 12)
4. Azhar Muhammad Syakir Shazmeer FIDE Rating - 1844 (Open 14)
5. Ong Way Justin FIDE Rating - 2044 (Open 16)
6. Azhar Puteri Rifqah Fahada (Girls 08)
7. Camilia Bt Johari (Girls 10)
8. Nur Najiha Hisham (Girls 10)
9. Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (Girls 12)
10. Bakri Alia Anin Azwa FIDE Rating - 1907 (Girls 14)

Salam Aidilfitri !

To all Muslim chess fans out there, Salam Aidilfitri or Eid Mubarak !

The Latest...

Our IM Mas Hafizul will continue his journey for the GM norm to play at the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Nagpur, India on 27th September to 6th October 2008. He had just sms me that he is at the Mumbai airport (Malaysian time 2.28am - 27th september, India time 12 mignight on the same date) waiting for the flight connection to Nagpur at 6am India time.

Hope he will play the best there and be more focussed. He was at his hometown for few weeks to spend Ramadhan with his family (after the GM tournament at Cititel Express on the 5th september). I hope with the encouragement and advises he received from his father (who is his no. 1 mentor), he will be in good shape and performed better too! He will be spending the remaining few days of Ramadhan fasting there, plus the additional celebrating Aidilfitri on the board... fighting...

All the best Mas!

What's the News Today?

Fasting month is almost over soon, only few more days before Aidilfitri (Eid Mubarak). There's not much to tell in the month of Ramadhan, as Malaysian chess scene is off too in respect of the month. But after Raya, the chess season is on as usual, with tourneys coming in as soon as on the 12th October with Kuala Langat Open, then on 19th there will be Pearl Point Open. UPSI Open also booked their date on the 26th of October.

I know the chess fans out there are eager to be in action as we all have been fasting from tourneys too.

more info log on to link Hairulov and Gilachess website.

Also marking a debut will be the up coming FIDE rated event in Kuala Terengganu on 18th - 22nd December 2008. The total cash prize of RM18,000 are up for grabs only for the best players in the top ten finishing rankings. But sadly it is invited to all FIDE rated players only and only 30 Terengganu players are eligible o take part. But still it is an event that has been awaited by the fans as we can witness the best quality of classical chess games played by the nations best player. It is expected that the competition will be an interesting event to watch!

visits http://www.caturterengganu.blogspot.com/

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

Untuk semua peminat catur tanahair yang beragama Islam.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak!

IM Mas GM Tournament

And yes.. IM Mas is still pursuing his dreams of becoming Malaysia's first GM. He has been to many tournaments ever since he turned pro last october. His leave of absent from work will expire April 2009. The last time I saw him was at Royal Selangor Open in May, where he dropped by to see what's going on. Then the latest was at Merdeka Rapid and DATMO. Well, he looked different (lost few kilos!). More serious than ever, but still he is smiling all the way at whatever circumstances he is in right now. He is not in good condition, and has been playing straight too, it does gives him the stress to realise our one dream! I juz wish him well and play well.

Pic left : Mas, Cathy and Ian

Pic right : the table that Mas was playing

I went to Cititel Express KL to get a glimpse at the happening there, but when I arrived there with Haslindah, Mas was having a discussion with his trainer GM Ian Rogers and wife Cathy Rogers. He won round 5 against FM Myo. He doesnt sound like he is happy with his result so far, juz like I said earlier he is under a lot of stress, and he is playing under that circumstances..

The two board that still playing
pic left : GM Ziaur Rahman vs WIM Zhang Xiaowen

pic right : GM lludhachev vs GM Drazen Sermek

The tourney was held juz for Mas to get the norm, well, he almost done it at Biel... There are 3 GMs playing (Sermek - from Croatia, Illudhachev from Uzbek and Ziaur Rahman from Bangladesh), 1 WIM Zhang Xiaowen from China, 1 FM Myo from Myanmar and 1 IM Mas.

Mas needed 6.5 points from 10 games (double round robin format). But so far after 7 rounds he is at 3 points standing. Which makes the norm seems far to reach for. But I do hope he will increase his ratings. Increase in ratings does gives impact to him when he get his norms.

Hopefully, he'll get his leave from chess for few days and get his focus back on track! (he need that)

~for more info click link hairulov~

Merdeka Standard 2008

The outside of the tournament hall..
Pic on the right : the juniors section

The Open section..

Pic on right : Pelikan team in the pic - Kamaludin yusof vs Astro team - Siti Zulaika (this was Siti's second tourney in the year after Merdeka Rapid, due to her studies)

The ladies in action too. Pic above is Roslina and Nurshazwani. Roslina's playing for ex-MMU and Shazwani for Selangor's (her team won best state and second runner up after Apocalypse Manila.

Mohd Irman playing for his company (I think), Pic on the right : is Hairulov.. I saw him at the playing hall and take photos of him, then I am off to Cititel Express to see the GM event there. To my surprise he was there too... A very active paparazzi indeed, off to Cititel express like a bullet after his game!

Jimmy Liew, Mohd Kamal Abdullah abdullah, Yeoh Chin Seng..

On the right : Selangor team vs Sarawak's Team. Selangor led by Ian Udani, Zarul Shazwan, Abdullah Che Hassan, Fariz and Shazwani (reserve)

Pelikan team : Nicholas Chan, Marcus Chan, Kamaludin Yusof, and Leong Mun Wan against Astro Team : Mok Tze Meng, Ooi Chern Ee, Siti Zulaika, Edward Lee and Ismail Ahmad (reserve). Pelikan was leading in the early rounds.

The last series of Malaysian Chess Festival 2008 is Merdeka Standard that was held at Kompleks Wilayah Kuala Lumpur on the 30th and 31st August 2008. This is the second I am not playing, but however I am in KL for the paparazzi news, esp to all the fans!

Though 1st sept is the first Ramadhan (fasting month for all muslims), the turn out for Merdeka Standard was overwhelm like last year.. Thanks to the organiser that eventually reduce the rounds and concluded the game in two days instead of three to give way to outsiders to have their ramadhan at home!

I was surprise to see the one and only Phillippines team stayed in Malaysia a bit longer for Merdeka Standard after the DATMO. The team - Apocalypse Manila who was fifth in Merdeka Rapid, obviously wants to the crown on this one! They only suffered a terrible loss to Pelikan team in round 4, but came out the best they could to close the gap from tournament leader - Selangor. Before the last round Selangor was leading with one point.

Both team met in the last round, Selangor only need a narrow win to walk away with the title, but fate decide that Filipinos won the game with 2.5 to 1.5. Though the total score was the same between both teams, but the champion belongs to Apocalypse Manila after all.

Anyway congrats to all Teams participating.. This is the last event that will be held in Kompleks Wilayah. After this, MCF will have a new office at OCM, so, the tourney hall will be in the OCM building too. Hope it will be better looking and with better facilities to all players.

For more info log on to www. gilachess.com

The Winners!

The Malaysian Chess Festival 2008, has ended! The event that I experience myself this year. I managed to get few photos.


Malaysian best this year! FM Mok and FM Lim (note : IM Mas was present at the closing ceremony but my camera ran out of battery power to take his photo)


The third place : GM Marat from Uzbekistan


And the winner for the second year in a row, GM Li Chao from China!

Malaysian Blitz 2008

Before the closing ceremony, as usual, annually we will have the Malaysian Blitz Open. The time control of the event is 3 mins + 2 secs increment. Many players registered for the event. Not juz the DATMO and Ambank participants but other interested Malaysian also take part. Azhar's family, Irman Ibrahim.. and etc!


All players will be playing for all 9 rounds swiss system. Top 16 will receives prizes, but top 8 will compete for knock out rounds (quarter finals, Semi and Final round)


This is me taking part too... It was fun and interesting way to test your skill..


The final between GM Zhang Zhong vs GM Saidali lyuldachev. The final game was conducted after the closing and dinner held at Cititel Ballroom.. Saidali beat Zhang Zhong 2-0 straight. I think the factor of having the game delayed does affect the players' game..