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..

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