Malaysia wins

So what did you do at the turn of the decade? Me, I went to Singapore. I went there not so much as to watch the fireworks display at their Marina Bay but to participate in the latest annual match between Malaysia and our neighbours down south, the 21st in a series that goes back to 1985.

With the Singapore Chess Federation being the hosts this time around, a contingent of about 50 people, comprising players and accompanying officials, travelled there bent on reversing the fortunes of the past few years.

It’s to be noted that in February 2010, when the last encounter was played in Kuala Lumpur, we had lost out to the Singapore team by the narrowest of margins: 76½ points to them and 75½ points to us.

What made it heartbreaking last year was that we as the hosts had taken the lead from the first two rounds of games played at normal time controls, only to see the visitors winning the other two rounds, which adopted rapidchess time controls, and thus overhauling us in the process. 

This time around in Singapore, the situation was the reverse. 

After the first day of normal time control games, we found ourselves down by an unenviable seven points. The first round in the morning had landed us in negative territory. We had tripped ourselves up. From the 38 games played in this round, we scored only 15½ points compared to the Singaporeans’ 22½ points. 

Luckily, the situation stabilized in the afternoon. Here, both sides were unable to find the advantage and the results were split right down the table with the Malaysians and Singaporeans scoring 19 points each. So, collectively at the end of the first day’s games, Singapore were leading us 41½ points to 34½ points.

If you were to suggest that the Malaysians were depressed, that would be an understatement. Not only were they depressed, they were openly asking what it would take to beat the Singaporeans at chess. Seven points was a big margin and an extraordinary effort, coupled with a large dose of luck, would be needed to overturn it.

Nevertheless, it could still be done. Someone mentioned that if ever we needed to the luck of the Malaysian football team, this would be the time. If the courage of the plucky footballers can be emulated on the chessboard, of course there was a chance for the chess players to overcome the seven points of deficit. It wasn’t insurmountable.

And so it proved not to be insurmountable. The second day’s matches would be played with rapidchess time controls and here, the Malaysians found back their own self-belief. 

Slowly, the seven-point gap was being narrowed. At one stage, the two teams were running neck-to-neck. But eventually, the Malaysians collected 24 points from this third round and the Singaporeans 14 points. At the end of the morning’s third round, the Malaysians suddenly found themselves leading by a narrow three points. 

The sudden reversal of fortune caused nerves to set in: nerves that obviously affected not only the Malaysians but the Singaporeans as well. Everything would now boil down to the fourth round. The last 38 games would be crucial. 

The Singaporeans, smarting from being dismantled in the third round, were looking not only to win the fourth round but by a big margin as well. As for the Malaysians, they were hoping that the same winning momentum would carry them through till the end of the last game. Whatever, I knew that the match would be very, very close.

And it was! Singapore threw everything at the Malaysians but perhaps because of nerves, maybe they couldn’t find the killer touches. Anyhow, the Malaysians built up a wall and stood firm behind it, despite their own nervousness too. Eventually, this round finished tied with both sides scoring 19 points.

Overall, the Malaysian team had collected 77½ points to the Singaporeans’ 74½ points. A modest three-point spread, you may say, but it was a fortunate result for us and of course correspondingly, an unfortunate loss for them. But that’s how chess is like.

So that’s how the year started with a chess win. For this year at least, the Tan Kim Yeow trophy is finally back in Malaysia’s hands.

Here’s a little trivia to end this week’s story. As I travelled back to Kuala Lumpur by train from Singapore’s Tanjung Pagar station, having purposely chosen this mode of transportation for nostalgia reasons as KTM would soon cease running their trains right through the middle of Singapore, I noticed a lady was still reading last week’s story about Hou Yifan winning the women’s world championship match in Turkey. Suddenly, she pointed to the picture of 16-year-old Hou and blurted out quite loudly to her husband, “Wah, so young, ah!”

I guess in a way, this reaction also pays tribute to the youth in the Malaysian team. Of the 38 games in each round, at least 30 players of our players were below the age of 18. Once again, they are proving to be the backbone and the future of Malaysian chess. If not for their determined effort in Singapore, I really doubt that we could have won back the Tan Kim Yeow trophy.

Meanwhile, here are some of the games from the women’s world championship match between Hou Yifan and Ruan Lufei. Do enjoy them.

Hou Yifan - Ruan Lufei, Game One

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bc4 Nd7 7. c3 b5 8. Bd3 Ngf6 9. O-O Bd6 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bh4 Qc7 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. h3 Be6 15. Rae1 Nf4 16. Bg3 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Rad8 18. Bf2 a6 19. Nh4 Nb6 20. b3 Rfe8 21. Qf3 b4 22. Rc1 bxc3 23. Qxc3 exd4 24. Bxd4 c5 25. Bxg7 Bf4 26. Nhf3 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Bxd2 28. Qxd2 Kxg7 29. Qc3+ Kh7 30. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 31. Rxc5 Ra8 32. Ra5 Nc8 33. Rc1 Nd6 34. e5 Nf5 35. Kf2 h5 36. Rc2 Nd4 37. Rd2 Nc6 38. Rc5 Ne7 39. b4 Kg6 40. a3 Kf5 41. Ke3 Rg8 42. Ra5 Rg3+ 43. Kf2 Rb3 44. Rxa6 Nd5 45. Ra5 Ne3 46. Rc5 Nc4 47. Rc2 Nxa3 48. R2c3 Rb2+ 49. Kg3 Nb1 50. Rf3+ Kg5 51. h4+ Kg6 52. Rc7 Kg7 53. Rf6 Kg8 54. Rf4 Rb3+ 55. Kh2 Rb2 56. Rc5 Na3 57. Rc3 Nb5 58. Rg3+ Kf8 59. Rg5 Nc7 60. Rxh5 Nd5 61. Re4 Kg7 62. Rg5+ Kh7 63. Rc4 Rb3 64. Rg3 Rb2 65. Rg5 Rb3 66. Rd4 Nxb4 67. Rg3 Rb2 68. Rc3 Nd5 69. Rcd3 Ne7 70. Rd2 Rb5 71. Re2 Ng6 72. Rde4 Bf5 73. e6 Bxe6 

½-½ 

Ruan Lufei - Hou Yifan, Game Two

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. f4 e5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Kh1 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Bf3 Qb8 14. b3 Qb4 15. Qe1 a5 16. Rd1 Rfe8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Rac8 19. Qg3 g6 20. Na4 Nd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bc3 Qg4 23. Qxg4 Bxg4 24. Rxd5 Bb4 25. Bxb4 axb4 26. Rd2 Bf5 27. Kg1 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Bxc2 29. Kf2 Bd3 30. Re1 Rc8 31. Ke3 Bb5 32. Rd1 Re8+ 33. Kf4 Re2 34. g4 Bxa4 35. bxa4 Rxa2 36. Rd4 Rxa4 37. h4 Kf8 38. Re4 f6 39. Rc4 Ke7 40. Rd4 Ke6 41. Ke4 Ke7 42. Kf4 h6 43. h5 gxh5 44. gxh5 Kf7 45. Re4 Kf8 46. Kg4 f5+ 47. Kxf5 Ra5+ 48. Kg6 Ra6+ 49. Kh7 Rb6 50. Rf4+ Ke7 51. Rf1 b3 52. Kg7 b2 53. Rb1 Ke6 54. Kxh6 Kf5+ 55. Kg7 Kg5 56. Kf7 Kxh5 57. Ke7 Kg4 58. Kd7 Kf3 59. Kc7 Rb3 0-1

Hou Yifan - Ruan Lufei, Game Three

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 g6 7. N1f3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 h6 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 c5 12. Bc4 e6 13. Be3 Nf6 14. Qd3 Ng4 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. Rad1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 b6 18. Nd2 Qxc5 19. Qxc5 bxc5 20. c3 Bb7 21. Nb3 Rfc8 22. Na5 Rc7 23. Nxb7 Rxb7 24. Rd2 Rab8 25. Bb3 a5 26. Rc1 a4 27. Bxa4 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Rxb2 29. Bd1 Rxa2 30. g3 Ra3 31. c4 Bd4 32. Kg2 Ra2 33. Rc2 Ra1 34. Bf3 Kf8 35. h4 Ke7 36. Bc6 g5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. g4 Ra3 39. Be4 Kd6 40. Re2 Kc7 41. Bh7 e5 42. Be4 Kb6 43. Rd2 Ka5 44. Bd5 f6 45. Kf1 Kb4 46. Ke2 e4 47. Rc2 e3 48. fxe3 Rxe3+ 49. Kd1 Rg3 50. Rg2 Rh3 51. Re2 Kc3 52. Rd2 Rh4 53. Rg2 Kd3 54. Rd2+ Ke3 55. Re2+ Kf4 56. Re4+ Kg3 57. Be6 Rh8 58. Kd2 Re8 59. Kd3 Rxe6 60. Rxe6 Kxg4 61. Re4+ Kf5 62. Re1 g4 63. Rf1+ Ke5 64. Re1+ Kd6 65. Ke4 Bf2 66. Rd1+ Ke6 67. Rd5 g3 68. Kf3 f5 69. Kg2 Kf6 70. Kf3 Kg5 71. Re5 Kg6 72. Rd5 Kf6 73. Kg2 Ke6 74. Kf3 f4 75. Kg2 Be3 ½-½ 

Ruan Lufei - Hou Yifan, Game Four

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. h4 Nc6 8. Rg1 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Bg2 Qe5+ 12. Be3 Qh2 13. f4 Bd7 14. Qd2 Nxd4 15. O-O-O Bc5 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O-O 18. Qc4+ Kb8 19. Qe4 Bc8 20. h5 Ka8 21. a4 Rd5 22. Rdf1 Qh4 23. Qc4 Rd7 24. a5 Qd8 25. a6 Qa5 26. Kb1 Kb8 27. axb7 Bxb7 28. Bxb7 Rxb7 29. Qd4 Ka8 30. Rf3 Rhb8 31. b3 f6 32. Rd1 Qb4 33. Qe3 Rb6 34. Rd4 Qe7 35. Qd3 R6b7 36. Re3 Re8 37. Rd6 e5 38. fxe5 fxe5 39. Re4 Qc7 40. Rd5 Qb8 41. Rc4 Rf8 42. Kb2 Qe8 43. Rdc5 Qe6 44. Qe4 Kb8 45. Rxe5 Qf6 46. Rc6 Qf7 47. Rf5 1-0

 

Rivalry renewed

Christmas is tomorrow. I hear the best time to visit Singapore is during Christmas. In this part of the world, the street decorations in this island republic are reputedly second to none and tourists from all over the world flock there to take in this experience.

Actually, Malaysians are in the best position to experience Singapore’s Christmas lights and they don’t have to be chess players. But if they happen to be one, then there is the added bonus of the Singapore international chess festival. 

This chess festival, now in its seventh year, starts on Sunday. Where previously the Singapore open chess tournament had been its main event, the organizers of the festival have introduced two new events this time.

The first one is the ASEAN open and women’s chess championships and the other is the Singapore open and girls’ international youth championships. 

The last I checked into the Singapore Chess Festival’s website earlier this week, there were at least 28 names in the ASEAN open, led by top-ranked Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem. 

The Vietnamese players are set to make a big impression on this event as it is not only Le that means business but also their other participating grandmasters: Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Cao Sang, Dao Thien Hai and Nguyen Anh Dung. Malaysian chess players know them only too well.

Throw in other familiar names like Susanto Megaranto, Richard Bitoon and Cerdas Barus, and this event actually becomes very competitive. There are lots of chances for hopefuls to gain their grandmaster and other international title norms and in fact, this is a main reason why our own Mas Hafizulhelmi and Edward Lee are playing in this event.

With the ASEAN open now taking top billing, the Singapore open has of course been pushed down the pecking list of importance. Nevertheless at the last count, I see at least 75 names in the participant’s list which includes seven Malaysians, among whom are Collin Madhaven, Lim Zhuo Ren, Lim Kian Hwa and Tan Li Ting. 

One other event that has been included into the chess festival is the annual match between Singapore and Malaysia. This match has a very long history, going back to 1985. This year, both sides are putting up 38-player teams and as always, it is a test of our relationship.

The focus will be on the six men and four women who prop up the team at the top. Then there are the 12 boys and 12 girls (from under-18 to under-8 age groups). Supporting them will be four veteran players (two above 50 years old and two above 45 years old).

Close friendly neighbours though we are, friendship takes a definite back seat when it comes to this match. We only want to be better than them. Naturally, they also only want to be better than us.

But seldom have I seen chess rivalry taken to such dizzying heights. In past editions of the match, I’ve heard of harsh opinions being exchanged, only to be regretted later. 

The heat of battle is always an anxious moment. Both sides are tallying the scores as the individual game results come in. There are smiles from one side of the causeway. Naturally, there are scowls from the other side. No surprise then that sometimes, emotions do spill over. 

When this happens, it’s normally not the players who over-react. No, players are too circumspect, even the junior ones. They always accept the results, win or lose. They know that it’s only a game. So it’s usually the non-players that go too far in venting their feelings. 

Of course, this shouldn’t be the case that all. Winners should be gracious and losers should be big enough to accept the results. After all, there’s always another year to take up cudgels again.

This year as the Malaysians make their way across the causeway, it is no secret that Singapore holds the upper hand in the 21 years that we’ve been playing this match. Will our friendly southern neighbours win again when the match starts on Dec 31 or will they “give chance” this time? We’ll know very soon.

Who’s the new women’s champ?  

As the women’s world chess championship ended only yesterday in Turkey, I’m not in a position to report on the results. However, I’m able to say (with unusual full confidence) that there is a new women’s chess champion and she is from China. 

You see, not only was the defending champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk, knocked out in one of the earlier rounds, all the other hopefuls other than Hou Yifan and Ruan Lufei were eliminated too.

This included one of the very top seeds, India’s Humpy Koneru. She was blown away in the semi-finals by the 16-year-old Hou. The Indian player had already lost a match once to the Chinese two years ago at the women’s world championship in Nalchik. At that time she also lost the first game of the semi-final match but succeeded to win the second game. This time, it was different. 

As I wrote this column earlier in the week, the four-game match between Hou and Ruan had yet to start. However with a difference of 111 ratings points, Hou is definitely the favourite to beat Ruan. I’ll be very surprised if she didn’t.

Up next  

Here’s a Christmas tournament for you: the Stonemaster 1Malaysia chess open, organized by Cerdik Chess Enterprise at the Datuk Arthur Tan Chess Centre in the Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. Seven-round Swiss event, 25-minute time control. Entry fees are RM25 (adult) and RM20 (school children). More dtails from Fadli (014.2312370, http://cerdikcatur.blogspot.com).

 

Friendly games? Are you serious?

HALFWAY THROUGH the first round of the Malaysia-Singapore chess match in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago, someone mentioned to me casually that we should not be taking the results of the match too seriously.

I could see what he meant. This wasn’t supposed to be a real serious match. Already, in his opening speech, Malaysian Chess Federation president Datuk Tan Chin Nam said he initiated the match 18 years ago to foster closer cooperation between the chess bodies of both countries.

So, the tone for this match has been set. Whatever the outcome, the real winner would be the continuing close ties between the MCF and its southern counterpart, the Singapore Chess Federation.

However, as you may already know, there is really no such thing as a friendly game, especially in chess.

With rivalry so keen, can you ever envision the Malaysians or the Singaporeans say to one another: let’s have a real friendly game of chess, let’s agree to a quick draw so that we can all go to celebrate our friendship with a drink somewhere.

Nooo … on the one hand, the MCF was trying to cling to its slim one-match lead over the SCF while on the other hand, the SCF was looking to level the overall score over 18 years.

Maybe by ‘friendly’, we mean that the players shouldn’t break out in fisticuffs. Okay, we are actually very civilized. We wouldn’t dream of inflicting any physical pain on our friends, would we? But we wouldn’t mind bleeding them mentally, testing them and torturing them. 

Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise that despite the warm words from the MCF president, the match turned into a determined battle of wits between the two countries. Witness for example, the second game between our Mas Hafizulhelmi and their Chan Peng Kong on the top board of the senior side.

In the morning, Mas Hafizul had scored a good win against his opponent. So, in the afternoon, I was not surprised to see that Chan was trying his utmost to even the score. But after about two hours of play, it was the Malaysian international master that was holding a tiny spatial advantage over the Singaporean international master.

Unfortunately, this space advantage was only illusory. It not enough to win. After four hours of mental torture on Chan, Mas Hafizul had to agree that there was nothing more he could do to win. But the fact that both players were willing to play until way past the pre-agreed time for the closing ceremony typically demonstrates how serious a friendly game of chess can turn out to be. 

For the record, the Singaporeans won yet again. The final score was 80.5 points to them and 59.5 points to us. They won and they tied the match at nine-all. Back to square one. Next year, we’ll be down in Singapore to start all over again.

Tomorrow, I shall be at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) to celebrate one of the state’s biggest sports event – Starwalk 2006. Though Starwalk itself will be held on Sunday, the actual festivities begin today with a charity concert.

Then, tomorrow will see the Penang Chess Association and Star Publications jointly organizing The Star international chess tournament, a one-day event that will be played over eight rounds. The registration for this event, I hear, has been very good but if you have been delaying entering yourself for it, I’m sorry to say that entries have now closed.

Nevertheless, you may still want to come down to the PISA to watch the event – there are other attractions in a Chinese chess competition, a futsal competition and a 3-on-3 basketball competition – and perhaps meet up with some old friends.

I’ll be seeing you!

UP NEXT

CAS fourth quarter tournament

The Chess Association of Selangor (CAS) will organise their fourth quarter allegro chess tournament at the Wilayah Complex in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 17. This event has two sections: Category One is meant for players with national ratings of above 1400 points while Category Two is for players with ratings below this level.

For the first category, the entry fees are RM15 for CAS members and RM25 for non-members while for the second category, the fees are RM10 and RM20 respectively.

To register, write to selangorchess@gmail.com before Dec 14, stating your name and category. Registrations after this date will incur a late administration fee of RM5.

USM (Engineering Campus) open

The Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Engineering will organise their first chess tournament at their Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal on Dec 23.

The entry fees are: RM10 for members of the USM (engineering campus) chess club, RM15 for other USM students, RM10 for members of the Penang Chess Association (PCA) aged below 18. RM15 for adult PCA members and non-members below 18 and RM20 for others. Entries will close on Dec 22.

For details, contact Chin Chee Boon (tel: 017.4879028), Cheah Wee Keat (tel: 012.4124824), Ong Yee Chien (tel; 017.7521032) or Chan Chee Weng (tel: 012.3640978).

Clearwater Sanctuary open

The Perak International Chess Association (PICA) will organise the Clearwater Sanctuary chess tournament at the Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort in Batu Gajah, Perak on Dec 24.  

Entry fees are RM10 for players under 12 years old, ladies and PICA members, and RM15 for all other players. For details, contact Yunus (tel: 013.3908129) or Hamisah (tel: 012.4313326).

Crunch time

ALL RIGHT. It is crunch time this weekend at the Cititel MidValley in Kuala Lumpur. 

Tomorrow, we shall be having the valiant fighters from the Malaysian chess Federation (MCF) facing the might of the Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) at the annual Malaysia-Singapore chess match. This year, we are the hosts.

The Singaporeans have been winning by big margins in this encounter for the past few years but as I mentioned a fortnight ago, I hope we can really close the gap between the two countries.

It is not impossible because in the past, we have won this encounter several times before. There were good years in the 1990s when it was an embarrassment for the Singaporeans to play this match. Although times have changed in the intervening years, I’m sure our players can rise to the occasion again.

Unfortunately, we always go into the match with a handicap. The toughest games are between the two countries’ senior boards and this is always where our players find themselves running against a brick wall. 

It is very puzzling why our men players – who are not short on talent or imagination – have consistently underperformed in this section. It is a problem which I believe the MCF has yet to find a solution. 

Since it is not going to be much different this year (correct me if I’m wrong; I shall love to be wrong about this), the objective for them then, if not to beat the Singaporeans in the section, will be to minimise the damage as much as possible.

If the Malaysian senior players are able to do this, the results will boil down to the side that is able to perform better in the junior sections. At least, in this section, we have a reasonable chance to excel. Many of our junior players do not know anything about glass ceilings and that is good. 

Talent aside, all they need to do is to learn how to approach each game as a new game against a faceless opponent. Forget about reputations and past results or even the fact that they are foreigners. My advice to our junior players is to play the board and not the person sitting in front of them.

During those years when we consistently out-shone the Singaporeans, our junior players never had the opportunity to undergo serious training under qualified trainers. Oh yes, we saw the need for proper chess development but we never knew how or where to begin.  

So, our junior players grew up on natural talent alone. If anyone showed promise, the only support that the MCF could offer was to sign the registration papers for the players to play in some regional events. No fund raising. It all depended on whether their parents could pay for their children to play.

I suppose it was much the same in Singapore. Anyone wishing in play in regional chess events would have to go through the SCF for the registration. Like us too, the Singaporeans saw the need to improve through proper training. 

But unlike us, there were people in Singapore who saw opportunities and were able to turn them into business activities. They brought in experienced chess players from overseas who became coaches and parents had to pay commercial rates for the coaches to teach their children. 

We always snigger whenever we label the Singaporeans as kiasu but to me, parents are the same everywhere. If they can afford it, they will want the best for their children. When it comes to developing a child’s mind, parents will not mind paying for chess coaching the same way as they pay for tuition. 

But Singapore had some advantages. 

First, it is a small island state with a good public transport system. Commuting from one end of the island to the other end is not a big problem. Malaysia is too diversified even within the Klang Valley and you know how the traffic is when it rains. 

Second, the buying power of the Singapore dollar is so much more than the Ringgit. How many Malaysian parents are able to pay the equivalent of what a qualified chess coach will get in Singapore?

These advantages notwithstanding, I am glad to see some recent serious effort to bring organized chess coaching into the country. It is good that some enterprising people are starting to do this. There will be challenges but if this business endeavour can succeed, perhaps within the next three years we can proudly see the results of the annual Malaysia-Singapore match overturned.

UP NEXT

Penang chess camp

There will be a four-day, not-to-be-missed chess camp at the Wilayah Complex in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 27-30 and at the YMCA in Penang on Dec 4-7.

The organisers of this camp are bringing in some qualified Fide Trainers from the Asean Chess Academy in Singapore, led by Zimbabwean international master Robert Gwaze. These trainers will be conducting intensive chess courses over four days and participants will have a great opportunity to learn from the masters.

The camp concentrates on four levels of chess players from learners with an elementary understanding of the game to advanced players who wish to move themselves up to a new notch.

For details, contact to Gregory Lau in Kuala Lumpur (tel: 012.9020123 email: all4chess@hotmail.com) or Marcus Yeoh in Penang (tel: 012.4723873 email: marcusypl@yahoo.com).

11th GACC inter-varsity chess

The Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College (Second Residential College) of Universiti Malaya will organize the 11th edition of the Rakan Muda GACC world inter-varsity chess championship at the University on Dec 5-13.

This nine-round, Fide-rated annual event is open to all local and international universities, colleges and institutes of higher education. There will be both an individual and a team event. 

For inquiries, contact Jackson Toh (tel: 012.6702294 email: gacc11.director@gmail.com) or Belinda Lau (tel: 012.8812479 email: gacc11@yahoo.com), or you can visit http://www28.brinkster.com/gaccwivcc/

Sarawak open

The Sarawak Chess Association will hold their Sarawak open chess tournament at the Borneo Chess Academy premises in Jalan Song, Kuching, on Dec 8-11. This will be played over nine rounds.

Entry fees are RM10 for women and under-18 players and RM20 for others. A deposit of RM10 is required, which is refunded when you complete the tournament.

To register, contact Lim Kian Hwa (tel: 016.8603180, email: lkhwa@tm.net.my or limkh@sarawaknet.gov.my) before Dec 5

Ye olde chess debate

IT IS this time of the year again that the debate of who is better – Malaysia or Singapore – rages on. I know, I know … the debate over the chessboard is supposedly good-natured and never-ending but for the past few years, we have been at the receiving end of a painful chess lesson. 

Myself ever the optimist, my prediction this year is that we will prove to be very good hosts again and present our visitors with another opportunity to give us a chess lesson.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not being unpatriotic. Nothing hurts like the truth and the truth is, we shall still lose the annual Malaysia-Singapore chess match. However, my hope is that we can narrow the gap between the two countries. 

I believe this is a realistic hope if our team managers and strategy schemers can get their tactics right. 

The biggest challenge is whether our players can rise to the occasion. Can our players forget about past results and concentrate solely on playing? Remember, our Singaporean friends can make mistakes too. But can we make lesser mistakes than them?

Find out later this month at the Cititel MidValley on Nov 25. There will be two rounds in the morning and afternoon, with each round played over 70 boards.

On a related matter, the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) is finally making good their promise to hold the finals of this year’s national age group chess championships. 

If you remember, the championships that were organized last April were only the preliminaries and the top 10 in each of the age groups were required to play in the finals later on.

Well, the “later on” is now and the finals will be played at The Chess Network, Wilayah Complex in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 18-20. 

There will be separate events for the under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-20 boys and girls. That means a total of 12 events.

According to the MCF, the top three players in each section will be invited to play in the Malaysia-Singapore match. The winner of the preliminary events last April is an automatic qualifier for the match but if the player finishes within the top three positions in the finals, the fourth placed player will be selected for the match.

Moving on, I just want to say that for years, I have been contacted by parents of young children – readers of this chess column – through private email to enquire about people who can provide coaching lessons in chess to their children.

I do have a list of people – mostly in the Klang Valley but there are also a few from Penang – whom I know are chess coaches and if they have been occasionally contacted by these chess parents, they will know that they are in my radar screen.

I have nothing against these chess coaches actually, but I find that the value that each of them imparts to their young charges can be worlds apart. Earlier this year, I had brought up this matter and there was an interesting feedback on the quality of these coaches which you can still read online here: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/1/6/lifeliving/13024147&sec=lifeliving

Despite these misgivings, there is definitely a market for chess coaches in the country. There are parents who are willing to spend good money to teach their children how to think structurally and logically. Chess does help in this process.

Oh, by the way, parents reading this column may be interested to send thier kids to a four-day, not-to-be-missed chess camp at the Wilayah Complex in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 27-30.

This year, the organisers are bringing in some qualified Fide Trainers from the Asean Chess Academy in Singapore, led by Zimbabwean international master Robert Gwaze. These trainers will be conducting intensive chess courses over four days and participants will have a great opportunity to learn from the masters.

The camp concentrates on four levels of chess players. Obviously, the first camp is meant for those learners whose understanding of chess is elementary to the beginner stage. 

The second camp is meant for players up to the intermediate stage, while the third camp is applicable to those players who have reached the advanced level. Gwaze himself will be condition the fourth camp which is aimed at advanced players who wish to move themselves up to a new notch.

These trainers will also be making their way to Penang to conduct the Penang chess champ at the YMCA on Dec 4-7. Basically, the same structure as the KL chess camp will be followed.

Details of the two camps can be made to Gregory Lau in Kuala Lumpur (tel: 012.9020123 email: all4chess@hotmail.com) and Marcus Yeoh in Penang (tel: 012.4723873 email: marcusypl@yahoo.com). Take note of the registration deadlines: Nov 18 for both KL and Penang.

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Perak rapid open

The Perak International Chess Association (PICA) will organise their Perak closed tournament over two days at the Kolej Syuen in Jalan Kampar, Ipoh, on Nov 18-19. The event will be played over nine rounds and only players who stay, work or were born in Perak can take part. 

Entry fees are RM15 for players under 16 years old and PICA members, and RM20 for all other players. For details, contact Hamisah (tel: 012.4313326).before Nov 16.

RSC chess festival

The Royal Selangor Club is holding the RSC open chess festival on Nov 19 at the Bukit Kiara Sports Annexe. The event comprises a one-day rapidchess event over seven rounds.

There will be 10 main prizes, junior prizes for the top under-8, under-10, under-12 and under-14 players and special prizes for the top RSC and veteran players and a family prize.

Entry fees are RM35 for adults, RM30 for RSC members and secondary school children, and RM25 for primary school children. 

Sarawak open

The Sarawak Chess Association will hold their Sarawak open chess tournament at the Borneo Chess Academy premises in Jalan Song, Kuching, on Dec 8-11. This will be played over nine rounds.

Entry fees are RM10 for women and under-18 players and RM20 for others. A deposit of RM10 is required, which is refunded when you complete the tournament.

To register, contact Lim Kian Hwa (tel: 016.8603180, email: lkhwa@tm.net.my or limkh@sarawaknet.gov.my) before Dec 5

11th GACC inter-varsity chess

The Tuanku Bahiyah Residential College (Second Residential College) of Universiti Malaya will organize the 11th edition of the Rakan Muda GACC world inter-varsity chess championship at the University on Dec 5-13.

This nine-round, Fide-rated annual event is open to all local and international universities, colleges and institutes of higher education. There will be both an individual and a team event. 

For inquiries, contact Jackson Toh (tel: 012.6702294 email: gacc11.director@gmail.com) or Belinda Lau (tel: 012.8812479 email: gacc11@yahoo.com), or you can visit http://www28.brinkster.com/gaccwivcc/

We need training

 IT WAS not a very pleasant Christmas for Malaysian chess. Down across the causeway where our southern neighbour was hosting last year’s annual match between the two countries, Malaysia was once again bleeding.

Despite not fielding their best line-ups, our Singapore host proved that they were once again the better of the two sides. 

This year, the score stood at 89.5-50.5. The match was played over two matches with 70 boards per match, encompassing the full spectrum of ages from veterans to under-eight year olds. 

I really cannot recall the last time that Malaysia had beaten Singapore in this annually arranged chess match that is hosted in alternative years by the Malaysian Chess Federation and the Singapore Chess Federation. It must have been at least four or five years ago. 

But I do remember writing here five years ago, when we were still regularly on top of the Singaporeans, that we were getting much too smug with our successes. Based on the results in several junior-level chess events in the Asean region, I could see that we were slowly but surely being overtaken by the Singaporean junior players.

The main reason for the Singaporean success with their juniors is their decision to commercialise their chess training. Treat it like a business and bring in chess trainers to train the young. Not any chess trainer, mind you, but strong competent ones who play chess competitively and professionally.

So that is why you see registered business units like the Singapore Chess Academy who employed and brought into Singapore grandmasters and international masters from neighbouring Philippines, Vietnam and elsewhere. 

Once the parents saw that this business of chess coaching was being done seriously and with the results to show, they did not mind paying to provide their children with the best chess coaches.

Now, my questions for Malaysian chess are: are we prepared to be serious with our training? Are we prepared to bring in the professional trainers from overseas? Are we prepared to pay good money for good results? In short, are we prepared to emulate the Singaporeans? 

It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Addressing this problem of a slow chess progress among our youths will not be achieved overnight. It is a long-term process and unless we are ready to begin now, it looks very unlikely that we can reverse the trend in the annual chess match within the next five years. They shall continue to show us their hospitality and then wallop us over the board.

If we are prepared to take the first step to commercialise the chess training process and treat it as a business, this must be done outside the Malaysian Chess Federation by people who are full-time into chess training and possess the business acumen and determination to succeed.

By separating chess administration which is voluntary and commercialised chess training, I believe this is the right way to move forward for Malaysian chess. 

As usual, after this latest debacle, there were a lot of soul-searching on our part. A lot was said in the chess-malaysia mailing list but unfortunately, I saw no one grasping the root of the problem. But there was a particular email commenting on the quality of our local coaches that caught my eye and it would seem appropriate to produce it here.

In Anthony Liong’s view, he identified six groups of local chess trainers. Firstly, those rated less than 1975 whom he deemed as amateurs. Secondly, those rated 1976 to 2050 are also not good enough as coaches because some are giving the wrong advice. 

Thirdly, those rated 2051 to 2299 are able to give lessons but they are still not good enough in terms of coaching experience. Next, those with ratings of above 2300 are qualified to coach players but they charge a fee equivalent to their standard.

Then there are the unrated players who play like rated players. They can coach young children well but that is the extent of their abilities. Some would just give tactical positions for the kids to ponder over for half an hour. “Pity the kid,” he wrote, adding that they could just as easily learn from any chess software with more than 20,000 positions.

Finally, there are the unrated players who play like unrated players and yet are coaching. This group, he said, was just like crabs teaching baby crabs to walk straight. 

I could not help smiling reading about what he wrote but you do get the picture of what he wanted to say. It was close enough.

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Pesta catur USM 

The 12th Universiti Sains Malaysia chess festival kicks off next year with an eight-round individual tournament on Jan 14-15 and a seven-round team tournament on Jan 21-22. 

There will be eight main cash prizes on offer for each event and a long list of consolation prizes. The winner of the individual tournament will get RM250, while the winning team will receive RM500.

Entry fees for the individual event are RM10 for under-12 players, RM12 for under-18 players, RM14 for university and college players and RM20 for others. Members of the Penang Chess Association will be charged RM8, RM10, RM12 and RM15 respectively.

For the team event, entry fees are RM40 for under-12 teams, RM50 for university and school teams, RM65 for family teams and RM80 for all other teams.

Details: Ooi Chee Khoon (012.4287262), Chan Jun Jie (012.6150071), Lam Siew Zi (012.5344202) or Lim Kah Bee (012.4485546).

No answers

WHEN I was down in Kuala Lumpur last weekend for this year’s annual Malaysia-Singapore chess challenge, I was reminded of a book that I read in the late 1970s. 

It was a relatively thin book by William Hartston, one of Britain’s celebrated international masters. But unlike most of his other chess books, this one, with a tongue-in-cheek title of How to Cheat at Chess, took a light-hearted and irreverent look at this ageless game.

For example, the fourth chapter of this 95-page book was the shortest you would ever find written: just a page long. And its contents were even shorter. This chapter was called Friendly Games, and its single paragraph – single sentence, actually – simply read: There is no such thing as a friendly game of chess.

How apt a description for the chess match between South-east Asia’s two closest neighbours! Though both sides went to great pains to emphasise on this friendly tradition and de-emphasise the results, what went on on the chess board was anything but friendly.

Everybody knew that the Singaporean players were here for our blood. Though Malaysia held a comfortable 9-to-6 lead going into this year’s match, the Malaysian grip had been loosening in the past three years. 

There was a time when the Malaysian youngsters, boys and girls, were consistently far ahead of their Singaporean counterparts in all the age groups contested in the annual matches. We could depend on our youths to score the points and bring home the bacon for Malaysia. But we became complacent in the process. 

In those few short years, what did Singapore do? They knew that if they needed to improve on the results, not only in this annual match but also when their players play on the regional and world stage, they had to begin a coaching programme to train their players from young.

Bringing in the foreign masters and grandmasters and having a structured training programme in place were, however, only part of their game plan. The other game plan which was not so obvious was a decision to commercialise the training and coaching, which had to be self-sustaining to succeed in the medium term. 

Of course, commercialisation can only be successful if there is enough buying power and parents are ready to pay for their children’s training. But as we have seen thus far from the Singapore experience, parents there are willing to fork out princely sums to ensure their kids would get the best training. (I am sure Malaysian parents will also do the same.)

Put this down to their perceived kiasu attitude if you like, but it is very clear that they are reaping good dividends. Singapore’s young players are now generally out-performing Malaysians on the regional stage at youth tournaments. Both our countries have our young stars but when it comes to the ability to draw on a wider talent pool of resources, this is where we have fallen behind.

As far as I can see, only the Klang Valley has a sustained annual programme to nurture players from young. Penang used to be successful in this several years ago, but I do not see new emerging talents that are impressionable enough. Perak are starting to create more playing opportunities for their youths, which is good for the long term, but I do not hear of any similar programme elsewhere in the country.

The other day, right after the end of the first day’s play which saw Singapore winning the 70-board match by a lop-sided 42-28 margin (note: the Singaporeans also won the second day’s match by this same score), the Malaysian officials were already openly in post-mortem mode, talking about how to arrest this slide.

Despite all the “what if’s” and “what should be done”, we are unfortunately no closer to an answer.

Should we also emulate Singapore and bring in foreign coaches? Would they be effective? What if they do not perform and are here only to enjoy themselves? And the most ludicrous question of all: would they not threaten the livelihood of our own local coaches? Questions were obviously aplenty.

In the midst of the impromptu post-mortem, unfortunately, we tend to forget that the Malaysian Chess Federation has a development sub-committee that can play a big role here. This sub-committee is supposed to draw up development plans but to be honest, I do not know absolutely what is developing or at what stage their proposals may have reached.

But what I do know is that we cannot afford to wait for long. I started this week’s column with a quotation from a book. Let me end with another quotation, this time from one of my favourite authors, Professor C Northcote Parkinson. 

I will not bore you with the details but he suggested with remarkable accuracy in one of his books that: Delay is the deadliest form of denial.

What this simply means is that the more we delay in doing anything, be it starting a project or making a decision, it is as good as denying the opportunity to do it at all.

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Brunei open

The Brunei Chess Federation (BCF) will be organising an open chess tournament on Jan 14-20. According to the federation, the total cash prizes have been increased to more than US$5000. 

In addition, the first 10 grandmasters or woman grandmasters to register before the end of this year will be provided with full board and lodging. The first 10 international master or woman international master will be given twin room sharing and breakfast.

More information is available from the BCF website at http://www.bruneichess.org.bn. 

Annual match to cement ties

COME NEXT week, the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) will host the annual Malaysian versus Singapore chess match which will close all of this year’s activities in our local chess calendar.

This match for the Dato Tan Kim Yeow challenge trophy, which is the 16th in a long series that alternates yearly between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, will be played at the Stanford Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 25 and 26.

Malaysia had won nine times in this match previously but Singapore with their six victories, are fast catching up. 

They have always proven to be traditionally stronger in the men’s senior section but lately, in the past four or five years, their junior players through a concerted coaching effort involving imported coaches of grandmaster and international master caliber are starting to exert themselves over our more naturally-talented youngsters.

But the results of this friendly rivalry between the two countries are always secondary. Throughout the years, the annual chess match is always an occasion for the players from both countries and the officials from the MCF and the Singapore Chess Federation to cement their close bonds and friendship.

This year, the match will be played over 70 boards simultaneously on each of the two days. The highlight will be the contest between the two countries’ national teams comprising six men and four women.

In addition, there will be games between four veteran players from both sides, and four games each between their boys and girls in the under-20, under-18, under-16, under-14, under-12, under-10 and under-8 age-groups.

According the MCF, for the junior boards, the top four from the national age-group chess championships earlier this year have been called to play in the match.

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Clearwater Sanctuary chess

The Perak International Chess Association (PICA) will organise the Clearwater Sanctuary international chess tournament at the Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort this Sunday.

Entry fees are RM10 for PICA members, ladies and under-12 players, and RM15 for all others. For enquiries, contact Yunus Sharif (05-545 8453 or 013-390-8129) or Abu Bakar Martin (019-512 1888).

CAS 4th quarter chess

The Chess Association of Selangor will hold their last event of the year, the CAS fourth quarter open, at The Chess Network, Wilayah Complex in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 19.

Due to space constraints, only the first 50 entries will be accepted. Players with a national rating of 1400 and above, as well as adult players without national ratings, will participate in a Category One event. Those rated below 1400 as well as under-18 players will play in a Category Two event.

Entry fees for the Category One event are RM15 for CAS members and RM25 for non-members. For the second event, the entry fees are RM10 for CAS members and RM20 for others.

To register, send your email to chessmate@cas.com.kg.. 

Brunei open

The Brunei Chess Federation (BCF) will be organising an open chess tournament on Jan 14-20. According to the federation, the total cash prizes have been increased to more than US$5000. 

In addition, the first 10 grandmasters or woman grandmasters to register before the end of this year will be provided with full board and lodging. The first 10 international master or woman international master will be given twin room sharing and breakfast.

More information is available from the BCF website at http://www.bruneichess.org.bn. 

Painful loss for us

 

A friendly rivalry

THE annual match between the chess players of Malaysia and Singapore is always an eagerly awaited occasion; this year, it was the Malaysians' turn to troop across the border to our southern neighbour.

The match was hosted by the Singapore Chess Federation last month at the Parkway Parade shopping centre. The two-day match was played over 40 boards with the players separated into veterans, seniors and juniors.

The first day of the match was dominated by the Malaysians who scored a resounding 26.5-13.5 win over the Singaporeans. However, the Singaporeans came back much stronger on the second day and they managed to reduce the Malaysian winning margin to a slim 22-18 score. Overall, the score was 48.5-31.5 in Malaysia's favour.

The Singapore team was strongest in the veterans and men's senior sections where they had a lot of experienced players. Our veteran players were completely overshadowed during the two days and they suffered greatly. In both rounds, they lost by identical 0-2 scores.

Malaysia's men's senior players were also generally outclassed by their Singapore counterparts. Other than Tan Wei Sin who beat Tan Chor Chuan and drew with Teo Kok Seong, Ooi Chern Ee who picked up two draws with Koh Kum Hong and Chan Peng Kong, Ismail Ahmad who won against Jopie Massie and Julian Navaratnam who drew with Tan Chor Chuan, the other men's senior players lost their games. On the first day, the Singaporeans won by 3.5-2.5 but the second day saw the Malaysians losing further ground with a 1.5-4.5 result.

At least the contest between the women's senior players was closer. On the first day, both sides were tied at 2-2, but on the second day, the Malaysians won by 3-1.

The boy's section saw the Malaysians beating their Singaporean counterparts by 12-6 on the first day and 10-8 on the second day. But it was in the girl's section that the Malaysians really shone. A 9-1 win on the first day was followed by an 8.5-1.5 score on the next day.

The next friendly match between the two countries will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Chess Federation next year. Tentatively, the match will be played on the first weekend of Feb 2000.

An Asian chess challenge

This year's Grand Asian Chess Challenge will be the fourth such event organised by Universiti Malaya's Second Residential College in as many years.

What started out as a team competition among the institutions of higher learning in the country in 1996 has evolved into an ambitious project aimed at attracting universities in Asia to take part.

Last year's competition was limited only to the universities in the Asean region. However, the response was not very encouraging because of the lingering effects of the Asian economic slowdown.

This year, the organisers are extending invitations directly to the foreign universities instead of channelling them through the national chess federations, and they are hopeful that many universities will reply.

According to the organisers, confirmation of participation has already been received from several foreign universities in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Iran, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam and India.

The competition will be played from Oct 23 to 30. The first eight rounds will be held at UM's Engineering Faculty. For the final round and the closing ceremony, the venue is the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

The tournament will be conducted as an individual Swiss event and the accumulated results of the best four players from the same university, inclusive of a women's player, will be used to compute the team results.

Each university is allowed to register up to six players for its team. The entry fee is US$260 (RM1,000) for a team of six, US$220 (RM846) for a five-player team and US$180 (RM692) if the team has four players. The entry fee for individual players will be US$50 (RM192) each.

Trophies and medals will be given away to the top three teams. In addition, the winning team will receive a cash prize of RM1,000 while the second-placed team will get RM500 and the third-placed team RM250.

The individual prizes will consist of RM1,000 as the first prize, RM500 as the second, and RM250 as the third prize. The best women's player will receive RM100. Also, all these winners will each receive a trophy.

The main sponsor for the tournament is the PWTC. Malaysia Airlines, as the official airline, will provide discounts to participating teams from various points in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Royal Selangor is sponsoring the trophies, Nestle is sponsoring the refreshments for the event, and Kodak is the official image sponsor. The official website is hosted by MyWeb at (http://wowsites.com/gacc).

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National Allegro, Perak leg

THE year-long national allegro chess circuit, a project of the Malaysian Chess Federation, continues this Sunday with the Perak leg which will be played at the Dewan Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Ipoh at 9am. The registration of players begins at 7.30am.

Eleven of the legs have already been organised in various cities and towns around the country. There will be one more leg in Malacca before the Grand Final next month.

Each leg consists of six rounds and has a total cash prize of RM1,500. The bulk of this prize money will go to the main winners, while RM500 is set aside for the minor winners. The winner of each leg will qualify for the Grand Final in Kuala Lumpur.

Entry fees are RM10 for members of the Perak International Chess Association, Bank Pertanian employees, girls under 12 and veteran players, and RM15 for all other participants. As entries will close tomorrow, anyone interested in taking part should contact either Wong Weng Kong ( 05-366 1692) or Hamisah Ramli ( 05-313 3809) as soon as possible.

Penang Grand Prix

The third leg of the Penang Chess Association's Grand Prix chess circuit will be played at the clubhouse of the Bayan Baru Residents' Association on Oct 3 starting at 8am.

The main prizes range from RM200 for the winner to RM30 for the eighth place. In addition, consolation prizes will be given to the best under-15 boy and girl.

The closing date for entries is Oct 1. Entry fee is RM10 per player. For details, contact Goh Yoon Wah ( 04-644 5687 evenings only) or Ooi Kiem Boo ( 04-657 4596 office hours only).

Obituary:

Death of an icon

Garry Koshnitsky, one of Australia's oldest chess icons who had been reported to be ill for the past few months, died last weekend. He passed away in his Malvern, South Australian, home on Sept 17 at the age of 91, leaving behind his wife, Evelyn, who herself is an active administrator of women's chess in Australia.

Koshnitsky was many times the Australian champion and a vice-president of the World Chess Federation's Zone 10 from 1960 to 1966. His later chess career was entirely administrative and organisational. He was the secretary of the Australian Chess Federation and represented the federation as a delegate at International Chess Federation meetings.

I first got to know Koshnitsky and his wife in the mid-70s when they led a team of girl chess players from Australia on a tour of Malaysia. Although we remained in contact occasionally over the years, the last time I met them was in Manila seven years ago.

Malaysia tops Singapore

ONE popular fixture in the local chess calendar is certainly the annual match between Malaysia and Singapore. This social gathering of chess players from the two countries dated back to 1985 when the first match was hosted in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Chess Federation.

At that time, the match was played over only 20 boards. The victor was the Singaporean team which notched a 21 1/2-18 1/2 win over their Malaysian counterpart. In the second match two years later in Singapore, it was the Malaysian team's win with a 9 1/2-6 1/2 score over the Singaporeans.

In 1990, the third match was again played in Singapore, this time over 26 boards and four rounds, and the score was a flattering 62 1/2-41 1/2 in the Singaporeans' favour.

While the early matches were conducted on a biennial or triennial basis, it was then decided by the MCF and the Singapore Chess Federation that beginning with the 1993 match, it should be contested annually to cement the close ties between the two countries.

The 1993 annual match was played in Kuala Lumpur and the homesters chalked an impressive 33-19 win over the visitors. This marked the first of three consecutive wins by the Malaysians as they also won the 1994 and 1995 matches. In 1994, the Malaysians won by 71-33 in Singapore and in 1995, while playing on home turf, the score was 36-24.

The popularity of this match was such that in 1995, there were even two matches played. The second such match in 1995 was played in Singapore and it was won by the Singaporeans with a very close 30 1/2-29 1/2 result. This herculean effort by the Singaporeans, however, marked the last time that they would win the annual match.

In 1996, the match went Malaysia's way by a 40-20 result. The next year, Malaysia won the match with a 74-46 drubbing of their southern neighbours.

This brings us to the present where the 1998 annual match was played two weeks ago at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The match was contested over 34 boards and it covered a wide spectrum of players of all ages.

The Malaysians scored a 20-14 win in the first round with crucial ties like Foong Chee Leng against Chan Tat Wong (veterans), Ismail Ahmad against Chia Chee Seng, Ng Ee Vern against Mark Chan, and Ng Tse Han against Tan Chor Chuan (men's), Dion Moh against Ang Jia Jun (boy's under-16), Wong Tze Chuang against Luke Leong, and Jonathan Chuah against Jerald Tan (boy's under-12), Ooi Ching Chung against Bryan Hooi and Eric Ng against Amos Chan (boy's under-10) all going Malaysia's way.

In the women's section, valuable points were contributed by Eliza Hanum against Charlotte Ng, and Chai Hwei Meen against Zerlinda Tan (women's), Ng Ee Laine against Ng Yuk Ching (girl's under-20), Marina Soh against Sangeeta Vadev (girl's under-16), Effalini Farid against Janice Ong (girl's under-14), Hazuin Husin against Dawn Hui (girl's under-12), and Effaliana Farid against Lin Ailin (girl's under-10).

In the second round, the Malaysians' won with a wide 24 1/2-9 1/2 result. Jimmy Liew won against Malcolm Tan, Ismail Ahmad against Chia Chee Seng again, and Julian Navaratnam against Ignatius Leong (men's), Ng Ee Vern against Lau Keng Boon, and Lim Cheng Teik against Chua Han Wei (boy's under-20), Ng Tze Han against Goh Wei Ming, and Wong Zi Jing against Navin Sawalani (boy's under-18), Law Tze Kang against Mark Kay, and Aaron Yee against Clement Chia (boy's under-16), Hasrul Hussain against Desmond Oh, and Gerald Soh against B. Sriram (boy's under-14), Jonathan Chuah against Jerald Tan (boy's under-12), and Eric Ng against Bryan Hooi (boy's under-10).

The women players also fared well. Nurul Huda shrugged off a loss in the first round to beat Charlottee Ng, Nor Fatitah won against Ng Yuk Ching, and Haslinda beat Tan Ming Ju (women's). Other wins included Chai Hwei Meen against Zerlinda Tan (girl's under-20), Mardiana against Sangeetha Vadev (girl's under-16), Hsyamira Ismail against Felicia Tan (girl's under-14), Hazuin Hussain against Janice Ong, and Effaliani Farid against Lin Ailin (firl's under-12), and Effaliana Farid against Liu Yang (girl's under-10).

Bayview League

In the fourth round of the eighth Bayview Chess League last Sunday, Penang Free School 'A' extended their lead in the Premier Division after beating Chung Ling High School 'A' 3 1/2-1/2.

Of their nearest rivals, the Old Frees Association 'A' beat Chung Ling High School 'B' 3-1 while the Chung Ling Old Boys Association drew 2-2 with Pessca. In other matches, Methodist Boys School 'A' beat the MSSPP Juniors 4-0, and Universiti Sains Malaysia drew 2-2 with the Old Frees Association 'B'.

The Division One results saw Penang Free School 'B' beating Union High School 3-1 to retain their overall lead. Chung Ling High School 'C' beat St Xavier's Institution 'A' 2 1/2-1 1/2, Penang Development Corporation were inspired in their 4-0 win over Penang Free School 'C', Chung Ling High School 'D' beat the Penang Chess Association Novices 2 1/2-1 1/2, and Chung Hwa Confucian 'A' went down 0-4 to Hewlett-Packard.

In Division Two, the MSSPP Girls lead has been whittled down following a 1-3 loss to Penang Free School 'D'. Chung Hwa Confucian School 'B' scored a 3 1/2-1/2 win over Penang Chinese Girls High School. The Police suffered their first loss of the tournament to St Xavier's Institution 'B' with a 1 1/2-2 1/2 result, while Chung Ling High School 'E' narrowly beat Dynacraft 2 1/2-1 1/2. Westlands Secondary School suffered their third 0-4 loss to Methodist Boys School 'B'.

The final standings are:

Premier Division: PFS A (14 points); OFA A (12); CLOBA (10 1/2); CLHS A (10); MBS A (8 1/2); Pessca (6 1/2); MSSPP Juniors (5 1/2); OFA B (5); USM (4 1/2); CLHS B (3 1/2).

Division One: PFS B (14 1/2); CLHS C (12); SXI A (11 1/2); PDC (11); CLHS D (7 1/2); Hewlett-Packard (7 1/2); PCA Novices (6); PFS C (4); Chung Hwa A (3); Union (3).

Division Two: MSSPP Girls (12); Chung Hwa B (11); Police (10 1/2); PFS D (10 1/2); SXI B (10); MBS B (9); CLHS E (8 1/2); Dynacraft (4 1/2); PCGHS (2 1/2); Westlands (1 1/2).

The fifth round of the chess league will be played this Sunday beginning 10am at The City Bayview Hotel's revolving restaurant. The hotel is sponsoring the use of their premises for the weekly games.

 

National events galore

THIS year's annual Malaysia-Singapore match will be played tomorrow at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur. According to Malaysian Chess Federation secretary Hamid Majid, there will be one round in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Previously, the annual match had been contested over four rounds but to reduce costs, the match has been trimmed to only one day. The morning games start at 9.30am and the afternoon games at 2.30pm.

The players who are expected to turn out for the Malaysian team are Mas Hafizulhelmi, Jimmy Liew, Mok Tze Meng, Ismail Ahmad, Ghalam Sani, Azhaari Mohd noor, Julian Navaratnam, Ahmad Maliki, Lim Cheng Teik, Tan Wei Sin, Mak Weng Yee, Ng Tze Han, Ng Ee Vern, Lim Yee Weng, Wong Zi Jing, Lim Chuin Hoong, Gerald Soh, Wong Zi Chuang, Jonathan Chuah and Ooi Ching Chung. The veterans will be represented by Choo Min Wang, Ghazali Che Cob, Foong Chee Leng and Mohd Jamil Yahya.

The women's team is expected to be made up of Nurul Huda Wahiduddin, Eliza Hanum Ibrahim, Eliza Hanim Ibrahim, Roslina Marmono, Samantha Lee, Hasanthy Loganathan, Lee Su Ann, Nor Asikin Mansor, Lim Jeannie, Nor Idani Saranon, Hazuin Hussain, Effalini Farid and Effaliana Farid.

The PWTC will also be the venue for this year's national age-group chess championship on July 4 and 5. There are five categories of play for the two-day event: the under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 age sections. There will be seven rounds in each category, and a time control of one hour per player for each game will be used.

Entry fee is RM10 per player. Although there are no cash prizes, the winners of the various age-groups will get the chance to be considered for selection to the world age-group championships in Oporesa del Mar Castellon, Spain, this October.

Those interested in playing in this event should be in the PWTC foyer by 8am on July 4. Unless a player has registered earlier for the championship, those turning up at the PWTC on this day will only be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. For more details, contact Malaysian Chess Federation secretary Hamid Majid at 03-421 9576.

Meanwhile, the third Royal Selangor under-15 chess grand prix gets under way with the first leg on July 6. This event, organised by the Chess Association of Selangor (CAS), will be played at Sunway College in Petaling Jaya.

The grand prix event consists of four legs. The second leg will be held on July 12, the third leg on July 19 and the final leg on July 25 and 26. Each leg will be played over six rounds and a time control of 30 minutes per game for each player will be adopted.

Game points won by each player in each of these legs will be accumulated and the results of a player's best three legs will be used to determine the overall grand prix winner. The top four winners will each receive discount vouchers for a digital chess clock from the CAS. The two top winners will also be given free participation in a chess workshop conducted by the CAS and free entry to a CAS chess camp in November.

Entry fees for each leg are RM10 for junior CAS members and RM20 for non-members. For more information, contact Jackie Wong at 03-703 8237 or Lim Tse Pin at 03-733 0927.

Bayview Chess League results

IN the third round of the eighth Bayview Chess League last Sunday, Penang Free School A beat the Old Frees Association B 3-1 to retain their lead in the Premier Division.

Of their nearest rivals, Chung Ling High School A beat the MSSPP Juniors 3 1/2-1/2, while the Old Frees Association A beat Methodist Boys School 3 1/2-1/2. The Chung Ling Old Boys Association beat Chung Ling High School B 2 1/2-1 1/2, and Universiti Sains Malaysia drew 2-2 with Pessca.

The Division One results saw Penang Free School B whitewashing Chung Hwa Confucian A 4-0. The Penang Free School C-Union High School, the Penang Development Corporation-Penang Chess Association Novices and the St Xavier's Institution A-Chung Ling High School D matches all ended with similar 3-1 scores, while Chung Ling High School C beat Hewlett-Packard 2 1/2-1 1/2.

In Division Two, the MSSPP Girls set a blazing trail by scoring their second 4-0 win over Penang Chinese Girls High School. On the other hand, Westlands Secondary School suffered their second 0-4 loss, this time at the hands of Penang Free School D. Chung Hwa Confucian School B went down 1 1/2-2 1/2 to St Xavier's Institution B, while the Police beat Dynacraft 3-1. Chung Ling High School E drew 2-2 with Methodist Boys School B.

Premier Division: PFS A (10 1/2 pts); CLHS A, OFA A (9 pts each); CLOBA (8 1/2); MSSPP Juniors (5 1/2); MBS A, Pessca (4 1/2 each); USM (3); OFA B, CLHS B (2 1/2 each).

Division One: PFS B (11 1/2); SXI A (10); CLHS C (9 1/2); PDC (7); CLHS D (5); PCA Novices (4 1/2); PFS C (4); Hewlett-Packard (3 1/2); Chung Hwa A (3); Union (2).

Division Two: MSSPP Girls (11); Police (9); Chung Hwa B, SXI B, PFS D (7 1/2 each); CLHS E (6); MBS B (5); Dynacraft (3); PCGHS (2); Westlands (1 1/2).

The Bayview Chess League takes a week-long break; the fourth round will only be played on July 5 at The City Bayview Hotel's revolving restaurant. The hotel is sponsoring the use of its premises for the weekly games.

The break will be used by the Penang Chess Association (PCA) to organise the first leg of its second Penang grand prix chess circuit. This event will be held this Sunday at the Bayan Baru Residents Association clubhouse. Only paid-up members of the PCA are allowed to take part in this circuit.

The circuit is divided into four preliminary legs and a final. Each of the preliminary legs will be a six-round event using a 30-minute time control.

For these legs, the prizes include RM200 for the winner, RM120 for the runners-up and RM80 for the third-placed. There are five other minor cash prizes, and also prizes for the best junior and woman players. The entry fee is RM10 per player.

Besides the cash prizes, the top players from each leg will be awarded GP points. Ten finalists are selected according to the total GP points accumulated by the players from their best three legs. Entry to the final will be by qualification only. The final will be a round-robin tournament with a one-hour time control. The winner will receive RM400 and a challenge trophy, the second-prize is RM200, third RM100, and fourth and fifth RM50 each.

Further details of this grand prix chess circuit and also the results of the Bayview Chess League can be obtained from the PCA homepage at www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Stadium/2379/

World chess chief eyes Russian presidency

ACCORDING to an Associated Press report from Moscow last week, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the president of the World Chess Federation and the southern Kalmykia republic in Russia, has said that he will seek the Russian presidency in the year 2000.

Ilyumzhinov made the announcement when interviewed on the Russian television programme Obozrevatel .

The AP report quoted Ilyumzhinov as saying that he would either form his own party, "relying on the regions and young people," or align himself with an existing party such as the Communists or the Agrarians.

One of his first tasks will be to raise his profile outside Kalmykia, a resource-rich region on the steppes of southern Russia.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin has repeatedly said he plans to step down after the end of his current term, but Yeltsin's aides have also been hinting that the 67-year-old leader might run again.

Other potential candidates include former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov and former national security chief Alexander Lebed.

Kalmykia played host to the World Chess Federation championships in 1996, and is set to organise the Chess Olympiad in October.

 

A lopsided match with Singapore

 

Compromise and intrigue, When neighbours meet