The 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open

So, the 2nd Dragon Capital Vietnam Chess Open is over. The top Vietnamese GrandMaster, Le Quang Liem, who played in the recent World Chess Cup in Russia is in his own league. His sterling performance with 8/9 score, a two point lead, had enabled him to defend his title as the champion of the tournament.

With 5.5/9 points, IM Mas Hafizulhelmi is placed 1oth. He shared points with four other participants but had the lowest tiebreak. Meanwhile, IM Lim Yee Weng who lost to Nicholas Chan in the semi-final of the Malaysian Masters is placed 15th with 5/9 points.

Both of them then will fly to Singapore to participate in the Commonwealth Open held from 9th to 15th December 2009. Let's hope that they will earn better placings and results.

Both Mas and Yee Weng managed only to draw with their higher-rated opponents in the last round. Not a bad result actually.

Both Malaysian top players, Mas and Yee Weng, played superb in Round 8 to win against their respective opponents as per in the above chart.

Round 7 is the turning point where IM Mas could not have more solid performance. He was defeated by the 2nd seed, GM Dao. It is the only lost game for him. He won 3 and drew 5 games.

IM Yee Weng could only drew with the young Singaporean FideMaster in Round 7 playing black.

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.