Temerloh Open 2009 - Day 1

Warm up session before the tournament begins. A local veteran folk, Haji Salim (wearing kopiah), is participating again this year.

GiLoCatur and family travelled to Mentakab from Shah Alam this Saturday morning to participate in the two-day Temerloh Open. The tournament is the third edition. GiLoCatur and kids did not play in the first edition in two years ago. We just started to play in this tournament last year. We left home a bit late maybe because we were so tired. GiLoCatur and Fikri were at PKNS last night for Shah Alam Chess League tournament where "GiloCatur Gambir" was thrashed to 3.5 - 0.5 by 17ChessClub. Only our first board player, Roslan, could manage to draw. The rest of the team, Azam, Fikri and the Firey_Rook (Shamsuddin) were defeated by their respective opponents.

While having supper, Fikri and Roslan played one practice game before Roslan made a long drive back home to Sungai Besar. So, GiLoCatur and Fikri arrived home a bit late half-hour past midnite. In the morning, GiLoCatur rushed to settle the routine chores before any travelling like preparing the needs for our cat, Comel and its 8 children.

GiloCatur and family arrived at the tournament venue at around 9.30 am. Settling the registration and the payment fee, we then went to a warung nearby to have breakfast. The first round of the tournament began at 10.30 am.

This year edition attracts only 52 players both local and non-locals. Such low participation numbers may be due to several reasons:

- H1N1 outbreak

- examination week and big exam, UPSR, PMR & SPM is around the corner

- longer tournaments are less preferred

The defending champion and his family is absent this year. Subramaniam family is also missing due to Sumant playing international tournament. Stonemaster also is not around, maybe due his coaching commitment.

But Ian Udani is playing in this year's edition to win the RM 1,000. He is seeded first. Last year he was at the Merdeka tournament. Kamaluddin Yusof and Abdullah Hassan, second and third seed respectively, will try to stop Ian to be the 2009 Temerloh Open champion. Mohd Khair, the younger brother of NM Kamalariffin who is the fourth seed, surely will lead Pahang players to challenge other pro players. Fairul Yusoff, Ruzenan Abu Bakar and Muhammad Arshad of the neighbouring terengganu state will also add more challenge to the tournament.

In the first round, Ian and Kamaluddin were playing againts Sabirin daughters, Siti Aisyah and Siti Khadijah, who are Terengganu MSS state players. Abdullah Che Hassan was paired againts yes GiLoCatur on the third board.

In the first round, all the top 15 seeded players won and cruised to the second round with one point except the 13th seed, Saharuddin Said which was upset by Kasputera Karnaini, what a unique and beautiful name.

Going to round 3, most top 15 seed players scored the perfect two points. The fourth seed however, could manage only a draw againts the 17th seed, Ali Akbar Kuning, who in the third round managed to win againts Fikri, GiLoCatur's eldest son on the seventh board.

The unrated 47th seed, under-16 Muhammad Khairil Roseli, managed to earn the perfect 2 points entering the third round. He played white on the sixth board againts Abdul Rahim Ramli who drew with Fikri in the second round.

As for GiLoCatur,

1st round - lost to the third seed, Abdullah Hassan

2nd round - won againts unrated Muhammad Hafizullah Roslan

3rd round - beaten by the 15th seed, Sulaiman Johari

Fikri,

1st round - won againts Safaruddin Hassan

2nd round - drew with Abdul Rahim Ramli

3rd round - lost to Ali Akbar Kuning

Anis Fariha,

1st round - lost to unrated Shazmie Mohammad Nadziri

2nd round - won againts Mohamad kamal Omar

3rd round - beaten by Muhamad Jamal Jamaluddin

GiLoCatur needs to go to bed now since it is nearly 4.30 am. Had a sleep several hours after having dinner at hotel. Woke up at around 1 o'clock and had a very late supper of few slices of bread with "kuah ikan patin" bought earlier at Temerloh.

GiLoCatur reporting from Room 106, Hotel Jelai, Temerloh, Pahang.

(Just notice that GiLoCatur's blog just reached 15,000 visits.)

Temerloh Open

The 3rd Temerloh Open this year will be held on 1st and 2nd August. GiLoCatur plans to participate in the tournament.

GiLoCatur and kids - Fikri and Anis Fariha, participated in last year's 2nd edition Temerloh Open. The time control is 45-minute per player. It was held at Bangunan Umno Temerloh, Mentakab, Pahang near a bus station (above picture). It will be at the same venue for this year.

NM Zarul Shazwan was the champion. He came with his other sibblings (except his twin) and parents. Will he defend the tittle this year? In the final round he played againts his brother Zarul Shazwan. Just 60 plus players both local and outside participated in the tournament. Merdeka team tournament was also held during the same weekend. Hopefully, this year more players around the country would come and join the tournament.

The above diagram (white to move) is GiLoCatur's last round game againts a local player. GiLoCatur played white and it was the 38th move. GiLoCatur should had won the game because it would mate in 4 or at least 5, but GiLoCatur fumbled and made very big blunder and then resigned. During that time GiLoCatur used to make silly and big blunders. LOL!

Can you identify the checkmate moves? (mate in 4 / mate in 5)

Try solve the puzzle!

The playing venue is on the first level of the building. (Above picture) Fikri played white againts Shreyes Subramaniam who came down with his elder brother, Sumant, and sister, Sarika. Subramaniam family is one of familiar faces in local chess tournaments. The sibblings also are Pahang MSS chess players.

Prize giving time.

On Monday after the weekend tournament, GiLoCatur and family went to Lanchang Deerland Park and the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary.

The Deerland Park is privately owned. Click here for more details. GiLoCatur's children were happily feeding and playing with the tame deers. They got the chance to touch the deers where you won't get that opportunity in zoo.

There are also bears in the park. GiLoCatur's kids managed to conquer their fear to touch one of the bears. Yes kids! There are bears in Malaysia but the size are not as big as their counterparts overseas.

GiLoCatur and family could watch the elephants taken shower in the river while visiting the sanctuary. Anis Fariha and Fahim managed to ride an an elephant too.

It was an exciting moment and intriguing experience for GiLoCatur and kids visiting them. If foreigners could appreciate and took time to visit these two natural tourist spots, why couldn't us the Malaysians?

SO, LET'S PLAY IN TEMERLOH OPEN!!