Chess ... Chess ... Chess

What a hectic couple of weeks for GiLoCatur. Juggling between work and chess activities during the weekends.

24 Jan 2010

GiLoCatur and family were busy at Jeram (Kuala Selangor) Chess Open. The three kids and GiLoCatur participated in the national-rated event of seven G/25 rounds . Both adik "Fahim" and kakak "Anis" played in the Under 12 section while abang "Fikri" was in the Under 18 group. Meanwhile, GiLoCatur himself was among the Open category participants. How's the performance? Both Fikri and Anis managed to be among the winners. Fahim, as usual, still play very fast. A long way to go for him. As for GiLoCatur, not bad at all, in fact had positive rating difference. And had a good game against WCM Nabila.

The above picture was candidly taken by Ng6 while GiLoCatur just arrived at the venue of Jeram Chess Open.

25 to 27 Jan 2010

In Monday morning, GiLoCatur drove to Muar for an outstation. Had three sparring sessions with Zullghafari Suparmin who stay and work there. We also had chit chat, discussion and knowledge sharing that relate to chess. We are really "gilocatur" or chess maniacs. GiLoCatur has yet to write and post entry about our chess sparring.

GiLoCatur was in front of Muar's landmark at night. Muar is a big town located in Johor. It is about 2-hour drive or 200 kilometers from GiLoCatur's house in Shah Alam.

30 & 31 Jan 2010

GiLoCatur was at KL Junior Chess Championship. All the kids were participating in the tournament held in Cochrane Sports Excellence Center. Five age group categories were contested by about 180 Malaysian junior chess players. The youngest one, Fahim, was among the Under 10 Boys category. He was supposed to play in Under 8 Boys. The only daughter, Anis Fariha, tops the Under 12 Girls category. But due to certain circumstances like spending much time on tuition for the UPSR exam this year, she could not win the gold medal. The other important factor that affected her performance during the tournament is coming late for the second day and the crucial fourth round. Not her fault though. It is the mistake of GiLoCatur himself for not strong enough to handle the hectic schedule. Fortunately, the eldest one Fikri was offered a draw by his opponent even though he had time deficit. The fourth round and the first game of the 2nd day started at 8.30am. Fikri arrived at his board at around 9.05am which means that he had less than 30 minutes left. He cruised through the tournament in his Under 14 Boys age group section with 4 wins and 2 draws to claim the first spot. He was very happy for his performance. But he must continue practicing and learning to improve his ratings and achieve the target.

Fikri received his champion medal and winning certificate from Muhammad Arshad, the secretary of Terengganu Chess Association and a chess blogger of http://caturterengganu.blogspot.com/

1 to 3 Feb 2010

GiLoCatur once again went outstation to Muar. If in the previous week GiLoCatur stayed at Classics Hotel, this time around GiLoCatur stayed at Muar Traders Hotel. The latter is preferred because it is situated near a river which is very peaceful at night. Moreover it is not in the cramped downtown or city center. This time, GiLoCatur had only two chess sparring sessions with Zullghafari, one of GiLoCatur's chess buddies. One at the hotel lobby having about seven 10-minute blitz games and the other at MacDonalds. [ Jika Ng6 buka satu cawangan di MacD Bangsar, GiLoCatur lak buka cawangan di MacD Muar he he ... ]. GiLoCatur will write a dedicated entry for activities and attractions in Muar next time.

6 & 7 Feb 2010

During this coming weekend, there will be four chess tournaments:

1) KL Chess Grand Prix - the first leg

Organizer : KLCA and Polgar Chess Asia

Venue : Royal Selangor Club, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Format : G/45, six rounds

Click here, for further details.

2) First Saturday Chess Classics (FSCC) - month of February

Organizer : Jax Tham and Excel Chess Academy (ECA)

Venue : ECA, OUG Jalan Kelang Lama, KL

Format : G/90 + 30 seconds, six rounds

Click here for further details.

3) MMU (Multimedia University) Open

Organizer : MMU Chess Club

Venue : MMU, Bukit Beruang, Melaka

Format : G/45, six rounds (may change)

Click here for further details.

4) SMK Seri Putera Open

Organizer : PICA and Chess Club of SMK Seri Putera

Venue : SMK Seri Putera, Ipoh, Perak

Format : G/20, six rounds

Click here for further details.

(Registration deadline : tomorrow! 4 Feb 2010)

Four chess tournaments in one weekend? Two in KL and one each in Melaka and Perak. WOW! What else Malaysian chess players and community have to do? Just select one of the four tournaments and enjoy playing chess. Show your support by participating in the local chess tournament. Let's put chess in the limelight in the country and improve the quality.

As for GiLoCatur and the kids, where we will be playing? Come back again to find out. :)-

Jeram Open - The Photojournalism (Part 2)

What a nice chess tournament venue during the Jeram Chess Open. It deserves the national-rated event. GiLoCatur could not take many photos for the Open section because did not want to disturb the focus and concentration of all the players especially the pros with the flash. Furthermore, GiLoCatur was busy taking pictures for the other two categories - Under-18 and Under-12.

Chess players and chaperons were waiting for the next round. Waiting for the chess pairings to be put up.

Not only Jaffolea Chess Club wearing green shirts. The Sivanesan's from Seremban are also in green.

Jeram Open - The Photojournalism

"Ni tak boleh ngap banyak-banyak, nanti ngantuk. Eh! alamak lupalah pulak, lepas ni aku nak main opening apa?"

Ustaz Zamri, "Ko jangan main-main. Cuba ko tengok color baju aku. Sama hijau tak dengan World Police Champion. Kami si baju hijau tau!"

From Bukit Beruntung we came.

I ate very little only you know. One fish only ... "Nanti ngantuk, can not arbitering" ... Mr Azhar MS

Zainoor Ikmal Maisarah, "Look mom! That uncle takes my picture. Mana aci, I am not ready yet."

My darling .. dearest Zull, this crab does not bite, you know. Cum'on here, I "suap" you ... he he he

The happy couple of Azman Hisham and Zaza. Surely, happy one ... after the stomach is full with variety of fresh and delicious seafood dishes. Diet is not a concern, eh!

Thanks a lot to Puan Zurin for her lunch treat.

Under-18 category

Under-12 category

Ng6 and Ng6 Jr. "Like father like son!"

Ng6 had brought his junior to the Jeram Chess Open for a tournament debut. A GM in the making. Bravo, Ng6!

Jeram Chess Open Winners

The champion - Muhd Fikri Farizal (6.5/7 points)

[ the prize : RM 100 + Trophy ]

Under 12 category (The Top 10 Final Ranking)

2) Puteri Rifqah Fahada (6/7)

3) Mohd Noor Azam (6/7)

4) Mohd Faizal Roslan (6/7)

5) Anis Fariha Saleh (5.5/7)

6) Cheah Ea Son (5.5/7)

7) Ker Jia Rong (5/7)

8) Muhd Fahmi Farizal (5/7)

9) Wong Gon Shek (5/7)

10) Leong Zhi Chen (5/7)

Seventy three (73) participants in the Under-12 category. Some of them had their debut tournament.

The champion - Muhd Syakir Shazmeer (6/7 points)

[ the prize : RM150 + Trophy ]

Under 18 category (The Top 10 Final Ranking)

2) Muhd Irfan Haqqim (5.5/7)

3) WFM Nur Najiha AH (5.5/7)

4) Tan Chee Seng (5/7)

5) Amira Syahmina Zullkafli (5/7)

6) Fikri Saleh (5/7)

7) Chan Sheng Yip (4.5/7)

8) Muhd Hakimi Mazlan (4.5/7)

9) Subramaniam Sivanesan (4.5/7)

10) Tan Chee Wei (4.5/7)

Three players among the top 10 winners has much better tournament ratings or + difference (W-We). Chee Seng had TPR (Tournament Performance Rating) of 1636. He had a big win against Amira and Irfan in Round 3 and 4 respectively. His MCF (national) rating is 1373. Meanwhile Sheng Yip had 1700 TPR. His current national rating is 1207. While Chee Wei, the 10th place, jumped from 1198 to 1434.

The total number of players in the Under-18 section is thirty three (33).

The champion - Ian Udani (6.5/7 points)

[ the prize : RM 400 + Trophy ]

Open category (The Top 10 Final Ranking)

2) Ong Thian Loon (5.5/7)

3) Lim Zhou Ren (5.5/7)

4) jax Tham (5.5/7)

5) Ismail Ahmad (5.5/7)

6) Cheah Chuk Fung (5/7)

7) Muhd Syazwan Zulkifli (5/7)

8) Ahmad Fadzil Nayan (5/7)

9) Muhd Ariez Azman (5/7)

10) Muhd Nabil AH (5/7)

How many participants in the Open category? Seventy eight (78) players.

So how many participants in the Jeram Chess Open? 73 + 33 + 78 = 184. Not bad, uh?

Click here for the full results. Click here for pictures of the tournament by SelChess blogspot.

Places To Visit Around Jeram and Kuala Selangor

Tomorrow, Jeram Chess Open will be played at a seafood restaurant named "Restoran Ikan Bakar Pantai Jeram". It is a national-rated event as promised by the organizer. Its format is a rapid game of G/25 (25 minute time-control per player) with 6 or 7 rounds of Swiss System. Insya Allah, GiLoCatur and family leave home in the early morning to reach the venue which is about an hour drive. So, GiLoCatur needs not to stay in a lodging near the venue. Maybe some participants will stay at a lodging for tomorrow's tourney. SEE YOU ALL THERE, TOMORROW!

So for those people, check out below interesting places around JERAM and KUALA SELANGOR.

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - well known nature park for migratory and local birds & other animals at Kuala Selangor.

Kuala Selangor fishing village - fishing village with cheap seafood restaurants.

Pantai Remis - pristine beach beside Pantai Indah Resort, food and souvenir stalls open on weekends & public holidays. Stroll along the beach and collect shellfish or other group activities.

Mangrove Forest Reserve - serene mangrove forest at Pantai Indah Resort, great for collecting seashells, small prawns, fishes, cockles, crabs, clams, hermit crabs. Excellent for educational tours and activities.

Bukit Melawati Historical Hill - where the site of the first Selangor Sultanate's Palace and Altingsburg light house are located. Check out this link and about its history here. ( GiLoCatur recommends! )

Sekinchan Paddy Fields - well known as the golden rice fields of Malaysia.

Tanjung Karang fishing village - old fishing village with cheap seafood restaurants.

Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Sanctuary - well known fireflies sanctuary at Kuala Selangor. Check out this link for further info. ( GiLoCatur recommends! )

Sungai Buloh New Market new market - selling lots of seafood and delicacies in Jeram.

Pasir Penambang market - selling fresh and dried seafood.

Source : http://www.malaysiasite.nl/selangoreng.htm

JERAM (Kuala Selangor) Chess Open - 24 JAN 2010

Reminder : The closing date is on 18th January which is on Monday. Better register and pay early or else will have to pay extra RM 10. Registering and early payment will avoid late pairings and tournament kick-off.

Dear all,

Kindly re-post and publish again the flyer of the tournament.

Also need your help to mention that we would accept the first 200 entries and walk-in registration is up to the availability on that day. Do call us!

Secondly, this is n easy direction how to get Jeram, Kuala Selangor:

1. From Ipoh (North )

PLUS highway, find way to Sg.Buloh - Klang - Bukit Raja and EXIT SETIA ALAM.

Make sure that you're only EXIT SETIA ALAM toll gate.

From ther go staight to MERU - KAPAR- KUALA SELANGOR.

Just 10-15km from Kapar Town.

2. From Seremban (South)

PLUS highway, find way to KLIA- Shah Alam -Klang and EXIT SETIA ALAM.

Make sure that you're only EXIT SETIA ALAM toll gate.

From ther go staight to MERU - KAPAR- KUALA SELANGOR.

Just 10-15km from Kapar Town

TQ and see u there!

Azhar Mohd Said

JERAM (Kuala Selangor) Chess Open - 24 JAN 2010

JOM PEGI JERAM, MAIN CHESS!

Event : Jeram (Kuala Selangor) Chess Open (A National-rated event)

Date : 24 JAN 2010

Day : Sunday (8.00am - 6.00pm)

Venue : Restoran Ikan Bakar Pantai Jeram, Jeram, Kuala Selangor

Format : G/25 (25 minute time control), 6 or 7 rounds of Swiss System (Round 1 will start at 9.30am)

Tie Break : Solkoff, Sonneborn Berger, Progressive Score

Entry Fees : U12 (RM 15), U18 (RM15) & Open (RM25)

Closing Date : 18 JAN 2010

The prizes :

Certificate will be given to all the winners.

For enquiries or pre-registration :

Azhar Mohd Said (012-679 6193), Faridah Hussain (012-387 8375)

How to register:

1. Bank in your entry fee into CIMB Bank account no. 1222-0018775-525, Faridah Hussain
2. Fax the photocopy of bank slip with name and category entered to 03-3264 6102 before the closing date i.e. 18 JAN 2010.
3. Call Hasif at 017-690 8779 (or maybe can just text/sms) to inform and confirm after faxing the bank slip.

Important : Do not forget to bring along the original bank slip during the tournament.

Late registration will have to pay extra RM 10. Walk-in registration and payment will be accepted only at the discretion of the organizer depending on the availability of chess equipments.

If you need accomodation and lodging, check out the following:

1) De Palma Hotel, Kuala Selangor - http://www.depalmahotel.com/kuala_selangor.htm

2) Pantai Indah Seaview Resort - http://www.seaviewresort.com.my/ (nice apartment at reasonable price!)

If you are not familiar how to get to the tournament venue at Jeram or Kuala Selangor, you can download the map from the above website.