DATCC 3rd KL Team Chess League

The above are the results of Round 4 of the DATCC 3rd KL Team Chess League. Sixteen (16) chess teams are participating.

Three teams won convincingly in Round 4 - Kam Mah, Team AU and Excel Chess Team. Kam Mah won against Think Big who was anchored by the current chess prodigy, Li Tian. He managed to draw with IM Jimmy Liew on first board. The other point for Think Big came from Li Tian's father, Mr Yeoh Chin Seng who drew with Abdullah Che Hassan on the third board.

Muhd Izz Saifuddin of Nusa Mahkota Chess Club managed to score the only point (1/2) after a draw with Jax Tham of Team AU. While Excel Chess team led by Zhou Ren won all the four boards against their younger counterpart, First Saturday Chess team led by Roshan.

Camilia who played the fourth board for CS Solutions Ladies team managed to upset Sahir from 17 Chess Club team. It is based on their FIDE ratings where the latter has more than 200+ ratings higher than the former.

The above is the pairings of Round 5 for the DATCC 3rd KL Team Chess League. The top board match up shall be very interesting GiLoCatur believes. The battle is between Team AU (white) and Kam Mah (black).

Malaysian Chess in the Year 2009

Below are the Malaysian chess chronicles in the year 2009 that GiLoCatur had covered :

The year 2009 started with New Year's Eve Blitz at Jax Tham's Excel Academy. 15 players participated in the round-robin event including Fikri, GiLoCatur's eldest son. Who was the champion? Ian Udani. Click here for more details.

The Chinese New Year (CNY) Open had attracted about 70 participants. GiLoCatur also played in the 7-round tournament held on 26th and 27th January. The tournament, limited only to Under 1800 NRtg, was won by Zarul Syafiq Zullkafli. With 6.5/7 points, he won prize money of RM 500 plus hamper. Click here for more details.

On 1st February, Unitar Amateur Chess Open was held. Nearly 150 players had participated in the G/25 8-rounds tournament. A good turnout for a local rapid chess tournament. The champion was Cikgu Rizal of Sekolah Menengah Alam Shah, Putrajaya. GiLoCatur had a hard-fought game against him in the first round. Three U12 players were among the top 10 winners.

For more details, click here.

A record of highest participants for a local rapid chess tournament happend at Kelang Chess Open held on 8th February with 411. Ong Thian Loon had edged two FMs - Anas and Mok, to win the Open category. Nabil won the U18 category while Aziz Farhan won the U12 category. GiLoCatur had a chance to upset Cikgu Zullkafli in the tournament. The battle against him will continue forever, hopefully we will meet again in the coming Jeram Open. LOL! Click here if you want to know more.

In early February, Fikri participated in the MSSD of Petaling Perdana chess tournament. It was his first time representing his new secondary school. He was placed second in U15 and later played in the MSS Selangor chess tournament representing his district. While his younger sister, Anis Fariha, managed to win the gold medal for both individual and team events for U12 Girls. In fact, her school had an excellent result in the district tournament. Six out of the total eight players to represent the district were from her school, SK Bukit Jelutong. More? click here

In February there was also a chess tournament organized by CAS which had attracted about 100 players including big names like IM Mas Hafizulhelmi and FM Anas. Unfortunately, Ian Udani was the champion. Click here for more ...

GiLoCatur was quite sad to acknowledge that a rapid chess tournament held in one of the local universities in late February had a low turnout. GiLoCatur hopes such scenario will not happen in the year 2010.

In March, MSSM for chess event was held in Klang. Selangor was the overall champion and won four gold medals including U12 Girls Team category where GiLoCatur's daughter, Anis, was one of the players. It was a happy moment for GiLoCatur as a parent who supports and sacrifices for his children to excel in chess. To see pictures, here

On March 27th, Sargeant Ismail Ahmad had make a Malaysian Book of Records for "Most Simultaneous Chess Opponents". He had to endure for 10 hours playing simultaneously

against 120 opponents where his result was 90+, 21= and 9-. What a feat! Want to see the proof? Click here

Many chess tournaments in April last year.

• National Age-Group at Pearl Point OUG
• MBSA Chess Open
• KL Junior Chess Championship
• SM Sains Machang Open
• Bandaraya JB team Championship
• 36th Selamgor Open
• Sarawak Chess Closed

In June

GiLoCatur and family travelled to Batu Gajah from Sungai Besar in late May to participate in the Batu Gajah Chess Open. Fikri was the first runner up while Anis was placed third. Wanna read the travelogue? Click here, ok!

10th Asean Age-Group in Vietnam

• Nur Najiha won gold medal in the U10G category to earn the WFM title
• Nur Nabila won silver medal in the U12G catgeory to earn the WCM title
• The Malaysian chess contingent won 3 gold medals.

Nabil won the Open category while Roshan won the Under 12 category of the Kampung Jawa Chess Challenge. The link ... is here

Sumant won the Batu Gajah Clearwater Sanctuary Chess Open.

In July

On 5th July, two Malaysian WCMs - Nur Shazwani and Nur Nabila, dominated the SMK Taman Bunga Raya Chess tournament. Click here for more details.

On 13th July, WCM Shazwani's twin brother, NM Zarul Shazwan won the Laguna Park Chess Open. The URL to check, here

Ian Udani won the DUN Sri Andalas Chess Open. Besides, he also won the lucky draw of a chess clock. The details, here

Other tournaments - UTP Chess Open that was won by Sumant and KL Young Talent Chess Championship. ( here )

***** GiLoCatur is now very very sleepy, will continue next time! *****

The Malaysian Masters Final - MAS vs NICHOLAS

Today, two out of the six games for the Malaysian Masters Final between Mas Hafizulhelmi and Nicholas Chan were played today. Tomorrow will be another two games. Luckily, the battle can be followed online. And there are also analysis of the games including by Mas's Dresden Olympiad teammates - IM Mok, IM Yee Weng and IM Jimmy Liew.

http://chessischess.blogspot.com/ (IM Jimmy)

http://thefinishing.blogspot.com/ (IM Yee Weng)

http://mokdern.blogspot.com/ (IM-elect Mok)

http://blog.gilachess.com

http://hairulovchessmaniacs.blogspot.com/

The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

The 9th seed, IM Mas had to satisfy for a draw against his Vietnamese IM opponent at Table #2. And it is a win for IM Yee Weng against a lady opponent, WIM Nguyen Quynh Anh of Vietnam.

The leader of the tournament which is also the defending champion, GM Le Quang Liem, is distancing himself in front. Surely, he is on top form and on his way to be the champion again. Can he continue his superb performance? Who will stop him? Just stay tuned for the results and news.

In the next round tomorrow morning, IM Mas has to face a tough challenge from the second seed, GM Dao at Table #2. Can IM Mas win? Let's pray for that.

Meanwhile, his compatriot IM Yee Weng will play black against the young Singaporean FM, Howard Fernandez. Let's hope that Yee Weng can win the battle.

GM Dao Thien Hai (Elo 2524)

GM Dao was the champion of the 3rd DAT Malaysian Open (2006)

(picture from klchess.com)

The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

Syabas and Tahniah to IM Mas for winning in Round 5 against a Vietnamese Candidate Master. And it is really sad for Malaysia that IM Yee Weng lost his game. GiLoCatur hopes that he make a comeback to win all the remaining four rounds. Same goes to IM Mas. The defending champion, GM Quang Liem looks unstoppable after winning against fellow countryman.

In the next round tomorrow morning, Mas will sit on Table #2 at the black section against a Vietnamese IM, the 12th seed. While Yee Weng will play a female opponent for the second time. So, Good Luck to both of them.

A question that pop up in GiLoCatur's mind is whether Ashwin Jayaram, an Indian IM, can stop GM Le's top form.

The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

As the previous round, both IM Mas and IM Yee Weng drew with their respective opponents. The top seed, GM Le Quang Liem, the only 2600-rated player in this tournament really played so well thus far. He thrashed his own countryman who is also the 2nd seed. So, now he is leading with 1 point ahead of the rest of players.

In the fifth round on Saturday morning, Mas is paired with a Vietnamese Candidate Master (CM), Nguyen Hoang Nam at Table #4. Can Mas win this time? While Yee Weng will face a Singaporean FM, Dominic Lo playing black. Hopefully, Yee Weng will start winning to improve his scores and position.

GM Le Quang Liem (Elo 2624)

( picture from chessbase.com )

- Born in 1991

- Vietnam's Top player

- U14 champion of WYCC 2005

- the defending champion of the Dragon Capital Chess Open

- 4th Kolkata Open champion (Sep 2009)

- Seeded # 72 out of 128 of the World Chess Cup 2009

The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

Both Malaysian IMs drew their respective games in the morning session today. IM Mas drew with GM Anh Dung at Table #5 playing white, whereas IM Yee Weng drew with FM Nhu Tang playing black at Table #13.

GiLoCatur noticed that the young Singaporean FM, DH Fernandez who has participated in several chess tournaments in Malaysia won against his higher-rated opponent. Meanwhile, Francois Wolfaardt (below picture) from South Africa whom GiLoCatur's daughter, Anis Fariha, has played against twice this year drew with his opponent who is more than 300 Elo from him.

In the next round that will start in about 45 minutes from now, IM Mas will play against Indian IM Sharma at Table #4. Meanwhile IM Yee Weng will face his Vietnamese opponent, Le Quang Long. The former will play black while the latter will play white.

GOOD LUCK guys!

Francois Wolfaardt (Elo 1802) at the recent DATCC Individual tournament.

The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

What's going in ASEAN chess event? A chess tournament is currently on-going in Vietnam beginning last 2nd December until 8th. The name of the tournament is the second Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open.

Why should we the Malaysians want to follow the event? Firstly, as chess followers any chess tournament especially near the region will be followed. Secondly, Malaysian players are participating in the pursuit of a GM norm and title. Two Malaysian elite chess players who are IMs - Mas Hafizulhelmi and Lim Yee Weng, are participating. They bring the country's hope and dream to have a GrandMaster (GM). They are among 38 players registered for the tournament.

IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (Elo 2419, the 9th seed)

(picture from Kelab Catur Setia Kuantan blog)

IM Lim Yee Weng (Elo 2336, the 16th seed)

(picture from Gilachess.com)

In the first round, IM Mas played white on Table #9 against Vo Dai Hoai Duc from Vietnam and won. Unfortunately, IM Yee Weng who was paired against lower-rated Dang Hoang Son playing black could not get his first point.

In the second round, Yee Weng put aside his sympathy to a Woman International Master from Vietnam, Bui Kim Le to win his first point. It is a bit sad that Mas had to draw with his much lower-rated opponent, Nguyen Minh Tuan on Table #7.

So, who are our heroes opponents in the third round? IM Mas will play white to face a Vietnamese GM, Nguyen Anh Dung. Their Elo ratings is about equal, not much different. While Yee Weng will play black against a Fide Master from Vietnam.

BEST OF LUCK! IM MAS & IM YEE WENG ... play hard for your dream and mission! We, the Malaysians, will always pray for your success.

Chess Championship Zone 3.3

KEDUDUKAN 10 TERATAS

TAHNIAH! kepada IM Mas yang berjaya menempatkan diri dalam 10 kelompok pemain terbaik bagi Zon 3.3. IM Mas, yang disenaraikan sebagai pilihan ke 18 di awal pertandingan, berjaya mengungguli tempat ke 6. Beliau merupakan International Master (IM) yang mendapat kedudukan terbaik dalam pertandingan yang memilih pemain untuk Kejohanan Dunia 2010.

Dari carta keputusan di atas, tidak dapat disangkal lagi Filipina dan Vietnam merupakan negara yang hebat dalam sukan catur di rantau ASEAN. 3 pemain Filipina dan 4 pemain tuan rumah, Vietnam, mengungguli kedudukan 10 terbaik. Filipina berjaya membolot dua tempat teratas yang bakal mewakili Zon 3.3 ke World Chess Championship 2010. GM Darwin Laylo dan GM Wesley So, seorang "chess prodigy" yang merupakan pemain catur ke 7 termuda mendapat gelaran GM, masing-masing adalah juara dan naib juara Kejohanan Catur Kelayakan Zon 3.3 yang berlansung di Bandaraya Ho Chi Minh. Sudah pasti semua rakyat Filipina akan meraikan kejayaan ini.

Agak malang bagi pemain harapan tuan rumah, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son yang merupakan pemain ke 14 termuda mendapat gelaran GM, tidak dapat bersama Wesley So ke Kejohanan Catur dunia tahun hadapan.

Malaysia bersama-sama Indonesia dan Singapura boleh berbangga dengan pemain-pemain masing yang berjaya mendapat tempat ke 10 terbaik. GM Zhang Zhong (Singapura) terpaksa berpuashati di tempat ke 8 dari seeded ke 2. Sementara GM Susanto Megaranto berjaya naik setingkat di tempat ke 5 dari seeded ke 6. Justeru itu, IM Mas yang merupakan seeded ke 18 bermain cemerlang dan berjaya mendapat tempat ke 6. Syabas, IM Mas sebenarnya setaraf dan setanding dengan para GM terutamanya dari rantau Asean.

sumber : chess-results.com

Apakan IM Mas berjaya mendapat norma GM yang dicari-carinya? GiLoCatur tidak pasti. Harap-harap beliau berjaya. Malaysia amat mendambakan kejayaan beliau bagi membuka laluan dan memberi motivasi kepada pemain-pemain Malaysia lain untuk mengejar cita-cita itu.

Dalam kejohanan ini, IM Mas berjaya menang 3 dan seri 6 permainan. IM Mas berjaya menewaskan seoarang GM dan seorang IM pemain tuan rumah. Dan beliau juga berjaya seri dengan dua orang GM, seorang veteran dan seorang remaja.

GiLoCatur mengharapkan pemain-pemain muda negara akan menjadikan usaha dan kesungguhan IM Mas untuk mendapatkan gelaran GrandMaster sebagai satu azimat dan motivasi.

HOPE MALAYSIA WILL GET ITS FIRST GM SOON!

Update on Zone 3.3 World Chess Championship Qualifiers

Gambar di atas merupakan statistik prestasi dan keputusan permainan-permainan IM Mas Hafizulhelmi, satu-satunya wakil negara di Kejohanan Catur Dunia Pusingan Kelayakan Zon 3.3 yang sedang berlansung di Bandaraya Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam selepas pusingan ketujuh.

Satu keputusan yang boleh dianggap cemerlang kerana setakat ini IM Mas masih belum tewas. Beliau menang 2 dan seri 5 kali. Dia menang ke atas GM Vietnam, Bui Vinh, yang juga merupakan pilihan ketujuh dengan FIDE rating 2517 di pusingan ketujuh.

Di pusingan kedua dan kelima IM Mas telah seri dengan GM kebanggaan Vietnam, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (pilihan ketiga), dan GM veteran Filipina Eugene Torre (pilihan keempat). Beliau akan menentang pemain tuan rumah CM Nguyen Hoang Nam di papan ketujuh dengan bermain buah hitam. Diharap IM Mas menang pusingan kelapan esok jam 2.00 petang waktu Vietnam.

Setakat pusingan ketujuh, rating performance IM Mas adalah 2466 dan menduduki ranking ke 9. Di awal kejohanan, IM Mas menduduki ranking ke 18.

World Chess Qualifiers Zone 3.3 Update

sumber : chessgames.com

IM Mas telah berjaya menewaskan lawannya dalam pusingan pertama iaitu seorang pemain tuan rumah. Di pusingan kedua beliau bermain buah hitam menentang pemain catur tuan rumah yang hebat iaitu GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (FIDE 2592). Permainan mereka berlansung pada jam 4.30 petang tadi dan seharusnya sudah tamat. Tetapi keputusan bagi kategori lelaki masih belum dipaparkan di chess-results.com.

(11.00pm - IM Mas telah seri dengan GM Son. Satu keputusan yang masih dianggap sangat baik. Di pusingan ketiga, IM Mas akan bermain buah putih melawan IM Vietnam dan pilihan ke 15, Duong The Anh (FIDE 2440) di papan kelapan. Mari kita semua rakyat Malaysia mendoakan semoga beliau menang permainan tersebut yang berlansung esok pada jam 2.00 petang. Setakat dua pusingan dengan 1 kemenangan dan 1 seri, IM Mas telah mengumpul 1.5 mata sama dengan pilihan utama GM Wesley So.)

Berikut adalah salah satu game GM Son yang ditewaskan pemain Indonesia, Irwanto Sadikin, di kejohanan Asian Championship pada bulan Mei yang lepas.

Nguyen Ngoc,Truong Son (2588) - Sadikin,Irwanto (2447) [E05]

Subic, Asian Championship (2.15), 14.05.2009

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0–0 6.0–0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Nc3 b5 11.Qd3 b4 12.Nb1 Be4 13.Qd1 c5 14.Nbd2 Bd5 15.dxc5 Nbd7 16.Nb3 Nxc5 17.Nbd4 Rc8 18.a5 Qc7 19.Bd2 Qb7 20.Qe1 Nce4 21.Ra4 Nxd2 22.Qxd2 Rfd8 23.Qf4 h6 24.Bh3 Bxf3 25.Nxf3 Qb5 26.Raa1 g5 27.Qe3 g4 28.Nd4 Qd5 29.Nxe6 Qxe6 30.Qxe6 fxe6 31.Bg2 Rc5 32.Rfc1 Rdc8 33.Rd1 R8c7 34.e3 Rf5 35.Bf1 Rcc5 36.Bxa6 Rxa5 37.Bc4 Kf7 38.Rxa5 Rxa5 39.Kg2 Rf5 40.Rb1 Rc5 41.b3 Ne4 42.Rb2 Bf6 43.Rc2 Bc3 44.Be2 Nd2 45.Ra2 Nxb3 46.Ra7+ Kf6 47.Bxg4 h5 48.Bd1 Na5 49.Rh7 b3 50.Rh6+ Ke7 51.Rxh5 b2 52.Rxc5 b1=Q 53.Bg4 Qb2 54.Rc7+ Kd6 0–1

sumber : http://potretcatur.blogspot.com

Pilihan pertama, GM Wesley So, seri dengan seorang FM tuan rumah di papan utama. Seorang lagi pemain Filipina, IM Richard Bitoon (FIDE 2495) , pilihan ke 9 juga telah seri dengan pemain tuan rumah yang memiliki FIDE 2196.

Dalam kategori wanita pula, salah satu keputusan yang menarik minat GiLoCatur ialah kemenangan "puteri catur" Indonesia, WCM Medina Warda Aulia (FIDE 1945) ke atas pemain Filipina, WFM Cua Shercila, yang memiliki FIDE 2167. Tetapi sayangnya Medina gagal meneruskan kemenangannya di pusingan kedua. (Sila ke laman http://potretcatur.blogspot.com/2009/07/susanto-dan-irene-menang-medina-bikin.html untuk berita dan gambar Medina.)

Selain itu satu upset telah berlaku ke atas WGM Indonesia, Irene Kharisma Sukandar (FIDE 2311), pemain pilihan keempat di pusingan kedua. Beliau ditewaskan oleh pemain WFM Vietnam, Pham Bich Ngoc (FIDE 2105), pilihan ke 15. Irene telah menang di pusingan pertama ke atas seorang pemain Filipina.

World Chess Championship Qualifiers Zone 3.3

Pusingan kelayakan Kejohanan Catur Dunia bagi Zon 3.3 akan bermula esok dengan pusingan pertama dijadualkan pada jam 10.00 pagi. Ia akan berlansung di Bandaraya Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Seramai 54 pemain catur dari 8 negara - Malaysia, Vietnam, Phillipine, Indonesia, Singapura, Thailand, Jepun dan Mongolia akan menyertai kategori lelaki sementara 31 pemain catur pula akan bertanding dalam kategori wanita.

Malaysia hanya diwakili seorang peserta iaitu IM Mas Hafizulhelmi yang diletakkan pada ranking ke 18. Sementara Indonesia menghantar seorang pemain bagi kategori lelaki iaitu GM Susanto Megaranto dan 4 pemain wanita. WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar mengetuai pemain-pemain wanita. Apa yang menarik perhatian GiLoCatur ialah penyertaan WCM Warda Aulia Medina di dalam kejohanan ini di mana beliau sebaya dan dalam age-group yang sama dengan WCM Nabila.

Kategori lelaki diketuai oleh "chess prodigy" dari Phillipine, GM Wesley So, yang pada mulanya tidak bercadang untuk menyertai kelayakan Zon 3.3 ini. "Chess prodigy" Vietnam pula, GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, berada pada ranking ketiga. Bagi kategori wanita pula, WGM dari Monggolia merupakan seeded yang pertama diikuti WGM dari negara tuan rumah, Vietnam.

Pada pusingan pertama nanti, IM Mas akan bermain buah putih pada papan ke-18 menentang pemain tuan rumah, Nguyen Hung Cuon. Mari kita semua rakyat Malaysia mendoakan kejayaan pemain tunggal negara kita dalam kejohanan ini. Selamat berjuang IM Mas!