Chess cheques

THE SPONSORS of the Penang international open chess championship recently presented their sponsorship cheques to the Penang Chess Association (PCA).

Receiving the cheques on behalf of the PCA was Penang State Executive Councillor Dato Dr Toh Kin Woon, who is also the association’s president.

Representing the Platinum sponsors, who contributed RM20,000 each to the championship, were Ms Chew Suat Teng (Finance Manager of Wah Seong Trading (M) Sdn Bhd) and Ms Hwang Yee Tuan (Senior Vice-President of Hwang-DBS (M) Berhad).

The tournament’s Gold sponsorship of RM3,000 each came from Evergreen Marine Corporation and Tourism Penang. JobStreet Berhad, email sponsor for the event, was also present at the cheque presentation ceremony.

According to Dr Toh, the last time that the PCA had organised its open championship was eight years ago and this year’s event, held in conjunction with the year-end Penang Festival, will be the grandest ever for the association in its 33-year history. Already, enquiries and confirmed entries have been received from many players in this region, including from some grandmasters.

Entry fees are RM100 for players with international ratings as well as junior players, and RM150 for those without ratings. Members of the PCA are eligible for a 10 per cent discount. Titled players such as grandmasters and international masters are given free entries. 

This tournament has a prize fund of RM19500, inclusive of a top prize of RM5,000. Dates for the event are Dec 7-11 and the venue is the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Gurney Drive, Penang. 

Inquiries, contact: Goh Yoon Wah (tel: 012-4308905, email: gtpile@streamyx.com) or myself (email: ssquah54@yahoo.com). The entry form can be downloaded from the chess-malaysia website at http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/chess-malaysia/files/ (filename: PgOpen2005.doc).

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Perak close

The Perak International Chess Association (PICA) will organise this year’s Perak close chess tournament on Nov 19-20 together with the Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Negeri Perak and the Majlis Sukan Negeri Perak. The venue of the competition will be the Seminar Room of the JBS Negeri Perak.

This is a nine-round contest with cash prizes for the top 10 players and trophies for the best under-12, under-16, woman and veteran players. Entry fees are RM15 for PICA members and players under-16, and RM20 for others. To register, contact Yunus Sharif (tel: 0133908129) or Hamisah (tel: 0124313326)before Nov 17. Entries after this date will be charged RM5 extra.

EZ-Chess junior competition

EZ-Chess will hold the third leg of this year’s Penang junior chess circuit at the Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel on Dec 4. This seven-round event will have prizes for the best players in the under-16, under-14, under-12, under-10 and under-8 age groups.

Entry fees for members of the Penang Chess Association are RM15 for under-16 players and RM10 for under-12 players. Non-members are charged at RM20 and RM15 respectively. 

Inquiries, contact: Eoh Hook Kim (tel: 04.8260196) or Eoh Thean Keat (tel: 016.4540070). More details are at http://www.ez-chess.50megs.com