Anand Did It Again!!!

(**picture above taken from chessbase.com)

I am totally sleepy at this moment, but my heart tells me I need to watch the last game (game 12) of the World Chess Championship between Vishwanathan Anand and Vesselin Topalov. And so I did. And yeay! Anand won, and he retains the World title!!!! And he won the last game using Black!

I am rooting for Anand to win the title since I am much fond about his game than Topalov (maybe coz I can understand a little, I mean a little about his chess moves compared to Topalov) and besides his attitude "I am here juz to play chess" to me is a humble statement.

The game has been played since 24th April and juz ended today 11th May 2010 (with a 12 game match, if the game is indecisive after game 12, game 13 in rapid time will be played), after a much controversial one day late start of the event due to the volcano eruption in Iceland that affects Anand's arrival in Sofia, Bulgaria to get on with the match.

And when Anand (as Black) lost to Topalov in the first round, not juz me but the whole of the chess fans was surprise at it! But on game 2, Anand (as white) take charged and won the game. And it is a tie now. But on game 4, Anand make full use of the blunder made by Topalov to secure a win (also using White), and by winning this game, the match is now fun coz all the fans will be watching closely how Topalov gonna break Anand's shield. From game 5 - 7 it was a hard fought drawn (according to Sofia Rule - no mutual draw is accepted, unless the game is actually drawn), it was very interesting when Anand for many times refused for a tripple repetition draw but instead opted to play for a win.

But on game 8 (and I was up watching the online match!) Anand made an endgame blunder and he lost! making the game now a tie for both parties.. After this I have been watching the game 9 to 11 with the hope for Anand to win (too tired to stay up is the main reason), but the hopes fade coz all ended in a draw. Everyone online was talking that game 12 will also ended in a draw at the beginning and force the game into rapid play next, but to me no matter how good Anand can be in rapid, but a GM (no wait! a super-GM) up against another GM is not an easy task.

In game 12, when I saw Anand played 24...Bd3, I said hey, this could be something, as I saw how powerful that Bishop could be later on controlling the diagonal a8-h1 plus the centre from the distance, not to mention the power of Rook controlling the d-file (wow! who would have thought I could read that!), I knew with pressure anyone can make mistake. And with pressure Topalov did make a weak move on move 32.

Though with one Rook and one Knight played against one Queen of Anand, I dont think Anand will let go the winning chances. At move 56, with a reluctant heart (I bet he is in that mood), Topalov resign....

And yeay!!! Hail King Anand! But thanks to both players for making it a worth while for the past weeks to stay up watching the game, trying hard to analyse the moves made by them and getting frustrated too when cant even understand what they are trying to do. Thanks again guys!

News and report can be found at www.chessbase.com and www.chessvibes.com

Exciting Weekend indeed!

This weekend is sure going to be a very exciting weekend indeed! with 3 tournaments held at different places at the same time!

First - Mustari Dungun 2010 will kick off this Friday till Saturday (14th - 15th May 2010)
Second - De Laguna Open will be a one day event (15th May 2010)
Third - On Sunday (16th May 2010), DATCC Sizzling Rapid will end the weekend tournament

Lets all join the tournament!

De Laguna Open 15th May 2010

**and this email received from Fadli Zakaria for the event that started this Saturday 15th May 2010**

DATCC Sizzling Rapid Event this 16th May 2010

**the same thing happened to this email I received from En Najib Wahab regarding the coming event on the 16th May in DATCC Kompleks Wilayah Kuala Lumpur. My apology also**

A Reminder for Mustari Open on 14 - 15 May 2010

**While browsing and cleaning up my spam box, found this email from En. Muhammad Arshad regarding the this Dungun Open event that was mentioned before by the organiser En. Norazmi Mohd Nor. My apology for not noticed this sooner... **

Farewell Florencio Campomanes...

Here is the pic taken in August last year during dinner at Malaysian Chess Festival at Midvalley Cititel Hotel. I had my wish (last wish) to take pic with him at that time. The first time I saw him he was still the FIDE President giving speech at the 29th Chess Olimpiad at Novi Sad, Yugoslavia back in 1990. At the dinner he was friendly towards all of us.

He left us on the 3rd May 2010 at the age of 83 years old.

As the former FIDE president (held the post for 13 years until 1995 Kirsan Ilyumzhinov takes over) he will surely be missed by all and I think that will include us too (Malaysians) that has always welcomed him here (he was at closing ceremony of last year DATCC Chess Team event too).

Rest in peace Mr Campo.....

(more stories read it at here )

TELOK GONG Pro -Am CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 ( 4th JULY 2010 )

This is from the sms and email I received from En Azhar Mohd Said (a very active chess supporter and organiser) regarding a chess tournament at Telok Gong.

And it is interesting too becoz, both Amateur Player and Above 1701 National Rating Player will get the chance to compete in their own category of prizes!! Great huh?!

So chess lovers, get ready yourself for 4th July!

Catur Terbuka Mustari 2010

I received info from En Norazmi regarding the tourney that will be held on next Friday and Saturday (14th - 15th May) called Catur Terbuka Mustari that will be held at Blok 8, UiTM Dungun. And this is a good news to all East Coast chess lovers, becoz according to the organiser, this tournament is open to all East Coast Players ONLY!

It will be in a 7 rounds swiss system, with a time control of 30 min + 15 sec increment to finish. Tie break will use Solkoff and SB, PE and Cumulative.

Registration will start at 9am - 10am. While round 1 will kick off at 10.30am.

Champ will receive - RM500, Second - RM400, Third - RM300, Fourth - RM200, Fifth - RM100, and Sixth - Tenth will receive RM50 each. There will also be prizes (RM30 each) for 2 Best University players, 2 Best U-18, 2 Best U-12, and 2 Best Ladies.

Registration fee RM 10 for IPT/Primary/Secondary School, RM15 for Terangganu Players, and RM20 for others.

Any queries kindly call - En Norazmi at 012-5560460.

MSS Pahang 2010

MSSP which started on Monday 3/5/2010 was juz ended today (5/5/2010) and it was held at Cameron Highlands. Alhamdullillah, Kuantan squad managed to pull at 24 players for each category that was contested (Kudos to PT Kuantan, Puan Norinah). Here goes the brief result courtesy by sms courtesy from En Asman who was giving support to his daughter.

U-18B :
Champ - Sumant Subramaniam
Second - Muhd Khairilhelmi
Third - Shazmie
Fourth - Liau Zhen Kang
Fifth - Umar Mukhtar
Sixth - Foo Wai Sing

U-18G :
Champ - Nor Syahirah
Second - Anis Nasuha
Third - Grace Kuppa
Fourth - Tan Wen Leng
Fifth - Izzatun Amirah
Sixth - Awnie Azzahra

U-15B :
Champ - M. Hafiz Aiman
Second - M. Ameersyah Adhwa
Third - Chai Sze Quan
Fourth - Tay Shan Wei
Fifth - Amirul Azwan
Sixth - A.Aiman

U-15G :
CHamp - Sarika Subramaniam
Second - Effah Fazera
Third - Nur Aina Syamimi
Fourth - Sayidatul Aisyah
Fifth - Nurul Izzati
Sixth - Ho Ying Rou

U-12B :
Champ - Shreyes Subramaniam
Second - Mannajah
Third - M. Alamin
Fourth - Zaib Hamizi
Fifth - Muhd Naim
Sixth - Kuhan Ganesan

U-12G :
Champ - Nurjannah
Second - Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman
Third - Amira
Fourth - Nur Athirah
Fifth - S.Kausal
Sixth - Nurul Ain

I have heard from one of the parent, this year MSSM only top 4 will be chosen to represent Pahang. I wonder why not top 6 like last year? or has the format change? Hope someone can clarify this matter.

Congrats to the winner! Hope you guys are the hope to make Pahang proud!

MSSD Kuantan 19-22 April 2010

I am too busy with work plus my camera is longer working (when can i get new one), that i couldnt make any reports on the MSSD Kuantan that was held from monday till thursday. The participants for this year is more (about 500 plus participants in total) compared to last year ( i guess, last year was held in haste). I had few students competing, and when few of them failed to qualify, somehow i felt sad, wish that i could have done more.. now where did I go wrong...

I dont have the results with me, nor did i ever come close to the playing area, (juz watch the game from afar) afraid that i might cause controversy or something.. besides, i am juz there for chess, not to cause any stir.

U-12 G champ and U-12 B champ was undisputed with a perfect 7/7 score. They are Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman and Kuhan Ganesan. The second place in the U-12 B goes to Meor Airil Rahimi Ayib Rosdi.. I was impressed with this 9 years old kid, he played like a 12 years old! It is good that the parents fight with the school to get him to play in MSSD, coz in some certain school here in Kuantan only those ages 10 above are allowed to play for the school. I am not sure why...
Based from few chit chat at the MSSD, not many noticed that Airil is actually 9!

U-15 G and U-15 B champs was predicted. Effah Fazera who was the champ last 2 years before managed to clinch the title from her closed rival Nur Izzati. While Mohd Ameersyah Adhwa won the Boys section with such ease! I met this boy a day before the MSSD took place, and surprisingly he has a lot of potential to offer. I wish i met him when he was in primary school.. but it is never too late, even myself started at a teenage years in chess too!

U-18G and U-18 B section..based on my observation, in this section, there were gaps between those who is actually good in chess and those who is not so good. And it came clearer when in U-18 B all 4 reps from the same school were placed 1-4th! U-18B champ goes to Muhd Khairilhelmi and U-18G champ goes to MRSM schoolgirl!

I wish that i could get the chess notation (scoresheet) of the MSSD Kuantan so that I could make a database and futher study of the standard performances and share it with all the school that interested to improve their students. This is juz my small contribution to chess before one day i finally say farewell..

(Met with Cikgu Robil yesterday, i noticed that he doesnt look so well. He told me that he suffered a stroke attack months back and it paralyse his left side. He is under medication and physiotheraphy. Hope he gets well soon, coz I do know there a lot of teachers out there who is still counting on him)

MSSP is schedule to be held on the 2-6th May 2010 at Sek Keb Brinchang in Cameron Highlands. At this moment the sad news is, there were no budgets to send players there (I overheard this from Cikgu Norinah - PT Kuantan). But i think there are many Kuantan parents will send their kids there.

Unfortunately, for other districts the fate of the players is still unknown, as the recent news that I heard Rompin will definitely not sending players to Cameron! I do wish that this is not true, coz, then the talent of the 8 years old Zulkarnain Safri (whom I see to have potential to go far in chess) will be in vain, last year at the age of 7, when he won the U-12B for Rompin he was denied to play at MSSPahang level becoz many felt that he is too young..

I do hope that something can be done.....

KL Open 2010

Lucky me! I never really like to go outstation coz, going outside meaning that i have to sacrifice valuable time off teaching chess, but this time when my boss tells me that I need to attend an important meeting on behalf of him in Kelana Jaya on friday, I was jumped up and down! :-))

Why? coz in while in KL, I can catch the glimpse of Hou Yifan the female third ranked in the world, also a chess prodigy hailed from China who cause the sensation of becoming the runner-up in the world chess championship! (she lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk in the final). Not to mention, to meet friends there and to catch live the endings played in seconds of the time remaining is something that i enjoyed the most. Well, being at KL Open does takes me off the stress from the results of the meetings and what i must tabled back at the office on monday.

MSSD Kuantan 2010

Juz got this news, MSSD Kuantan will be held at Sek Men Teknik Kuantan, on the 19th and 20th April 2010!

So, all the school kids out there, training hard!

For MSSD Pekan, I am not sure where it will be held, but try and consult your school, but for sure the date will be on the 27th April 2010.

NWM Alia is the 1st MWM 2010!

Congrats to NWM Alia Anin for becoming the 1st MWM champion in 2010!

She beat WCM Nur Nabila by 2.5 - 1.5 in a gruelling four rounds! Congrats again!

Full report at here

NAG 2010 - Full Results!

It has been a sad time for 2 of Pahang players at the NAG. While Meor Airil Rahimi missed the top ten spot in the U-10B category, Nur Sabrina Aliya also faced the same dissappointment when she was placed 6th overall in the U-12G (Prizes were given for top ten in the Boys section and top five in the girls section).

Whenever there is bad news, there is always good news! the parents after came back from Penang, sounds very much enthusiast to compete in the next event, and have planned to make it work next time! That is good news indeed! More ideas were brought up on the table to prepare for the next year NAG. I am so excited to hear their plans, and it will be more exciting if the dream to open up one chess centre in Kuantan will realise soon this year, so that i can help too in the process for future Pahang's National Junior Players!

Ok, back to NAG. Meor Adib competing the U-12B managed to score 3.5 points from 8 rounds and was placed. While Muhd Firdaus Afiq - U-14B section also scored 3.5 points from 8 rounds and was placed 26th overall.

The report with pictures can be found at Gilocatur's NAG winners and Gilocatur's Summary of champions . More reports can be found at EuHong's website and he has uploaded the result at the chess result

Congratulations to this year winners! hope all of you can do Malaysia proud in the coming ASEAN, Asia and World Youth 2010!

NAG 2010 - Waiting for the updates..

I am currently waiting for the updates of the result NAG 2010 at Penang.. Heard that 2 of the Pahang players finished with 5 points, there are possibilities that they might finished in top ten of their age group....

(As per the sms from the parents - Meor Airil Rahimi with 5 points from 8 rounds was placed 11th overall.. a sad turn out that his tie break is lower than the others, his father told me how sad he was for missing the prize. On the other hand - Nur Sabrina Aliya with 4 points from 7 rounds as informed by the father is placed 6th overall. Playing on board 1 in the last round, she lost to NWM Tan Li Ting in an endgame position favourable to Li Ting. I am still waiting the updates for the overall results from the official website)

NAG 2010

I am not at the NAG 2010 this year, but I think we have 4 representatives from Pahang playing there:

U-10B - Meor Airil Rahimi
U-12B - Meor Adib Rusyaidi
U-12G - Nur Sabrina Aliya
U-14B - Muhd Firdaus Afiq

So far Meor Airil, Meor Adib and Nur Sabrina scored 1/3 while Muhd Firdaus scored 2/3. Meor Airil and Meor Adib both are newcomers in the chess scene ( I am glad that their parents agree to take them to Penang for the NAG, it is a worth experience to take back home!). I didnt expect though for Nur Sabrina to be at the bottom pack in the U-12G. I know that in her group it is tough group becoz all the well known national juniors are there competing. The likes of WFM Nur Najiha, NWM Tan Li Ting and Camilia Johari plus others state representatives. Just hoping she end up in better placing in her second NAG debut. Muhd Firdaus Afiq did well in scoring 2 points!

For full pairings and result you can check this and for pictures and report of the NAG you can check here

MSSM 2010 - In Perlis?!

Just found out about this from Terengganu Chess . Chess in MSSM will be held in Perlis from the 6th June to 12th June 2010. If this is true, then MSSD or MSS Pahang should be held soon. Anyone from Pahang that can clarify this? Or would there be anyone that can tell me which date would it be for MSSD on each district in Pahang, and the date of MSS Pahang?

I have been to Arau, Perlis in 1995 when chess was held there.. it would be nice to revisit the place again if I were to give MSSM the visit juz like what I have been doing when chess was held at MSSM Melaka (2008) and Klang, Selangor (2009)..

MCF - Selection Criteria

MCF has come up with the selection criteria to represent Malaysia. For any international events that will bear our country's name, the players must get themselve in the process and guideline as listed by the MCF here

To me the guideline is clear and understood, but hopefully after the selection process is over, MCF will disclosed the players and who shall be next in line and included for the MCF President's Choice (discretion player). Coz after all, MCF's decision is always final!

MCF - Meet The Parents! (during NAG 2010)

Found this from MCF Blog, I found this very interesting indeed. I am urging all parents to go for the forum! either your kids a national junior player or not, this forum certainly gives you the ideas on the selection process and the future of your kids chess! and I do agree with IM Jimmy

Check out the forum here !

NAG 2010

The annual event - National Aged Group will be staged in Penang this year, and the event will kick-off from 13th-16th March 2010. For those Pahang players interested to take part, kindly register before the closing date - 11th March 2010!

Just happened to come accross this blog (owner - Alias Hanafi), for anyone with any needs for accomodation during the stay at Pulau Pinang, well here is the link