Hairulov Chessmaniac

World Cup Fever !!!-Germany 2006

2006-06-10T09:33:00.000+08:00

The stage is set for football lovers for the biggest event in history of the game where teams from 32 countries are battling hard to prove their worth, for many players, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Word Cup is taking place in Germany, from June 9 to July 9, 2006 and football fans ( and chess fans?) will gathered there to watch the thrilling games .

The passion for football will certainly sweeping every one this time-including chess fans. As a football fan, I will root for England to be the 2006 Champion although I think Brazil still be the hot favourite. Brazil are everybody's candidates to win the World Cup . It is because they don’t feel the pressure and just enjoy playing. However, they won't have it easy because other teams are going to have that little bit of extra incentive when they're confronting the favourites. An the fact is only once (1962 host by Sweden which was won by Brazi)l that Europeans country failed to win the World Cup when it was held in European soil.

Tonight I will glued in front my tv set to watch England vs Paraguay and on the half time I will log in the Internet Chess Club for a quick chess blitz and lightning games. A good combination right :).

Malaysian Teams Performances In 2006 Olympiad Turin

2006-06-06T22:45:00.000+08:00

Malaysian men team finish 80th place in 2006 Olympiad Turin -3 place higher then their early seed (83 place). If we were told about this result before the tournament, I believe it will be a fair performance. It was quite disappointing to end in 80th place after achieving as high as 39th place at on time. Further more we managed to produce few surprises such as International Master (IM) Mashafizul win over former World “Vice” Champion Grandmaster (GM) Victor Korchnoi from Switzerland and GM Pascal Charbonneau from Canada. Fide Master (FM) Lim Yee Weng also produce an excellent performances by achieving his final IM norm. FM Mok Tze Meng performed quite good but not enough to achieve IM norm he badly need. National Master (NM) Jonathan Chuah achieved quite a modest result but the rookies FM Anas showed some promises by producing a respectable performances for a young boy and as a rookie in Olympiad. The women team produced a termendous result by finishing in 44th place- 14 place higher then their early seeded. Women Fide Master (WFM) Siti Zulaikha show the example by producing a great results and manage to achieve her final WIM Norm and required rating. While Wan Khye Theng and Roslina Marmono performed above expectations. Only WCM Shazwani performed below expectation.

Singapore men team managed to succeed us in overall standing by achieving 78th place but I think it is something they won’t be proud of when we consider their systematic coaching from many experience trainers ( experience GM,IM,FM) they have. I wonder what we can achieve if we have the same opportunity like our neighbors. ! Anyway Syabas to all Malaysia team for a good result and entertaining show you all give to us. They prove that they have the talent and can do the impossible . Malaysia Boleh!

Hashim Jusoh Win Terengganu Presiden Cup 2006!

2006-06-05T21:50:00.000+08:00

Photo : Hashim Jusoh winner of Terengganu Presiden Cup 2006 blitzing with runner –up Heng Aik Kiat after the tournaments end. The result is Hashim Jusoh 0 Heng Aik Kiat 4 !!!

Hi all,

The Terengganu Presiden Cup 2006 organised by Persatuan Catur Negeri Terengganu (PCNT) took place on 2nd -3rd June 2006 in Kuala Terengganu. 56 players take part on this tournament and among the fimilar names is Hashim Jusoh, Heng Aik Kiat, Norazmi Mohd Noor,Ruzenan A Bakar, Mohd Arshad (arbiter), Mohd Hafishelmi, Ahmad Rizal Othman, Ramli Setapa, Abd Kadir Jailani and Adnan Salleh. Hashim Jusoh won the event with 6.5/7, half a point clear of Heng Aik Kiat who lost surprisingly in second round to Sharil Sidek. Top seeded Norazmi Mohd Noor is 3rd with 5.5 points.The prizes is 1st RM 300, 2nd RM 200, 3rd RM 100, 4th RM 70, 5th RM 50,6th-10 RM 30 each.
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Photo : Yours truly in Marang beach.

I was in Terengganu on 3rd to 5th June for my brother in law wedding at Setiu, Terengganu. I arrived at Kuala Terengganu at about 5.30 pm on 3rd June and after checking-in Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kuala Terengganu I quickly went into the opposite building, Dewan Jabatan Laut where the tournament being held. At about 5.45 p.m the final round has just finished. I managed to have a chat with Hashim Jusoh, and Heng Aik Kiat and ask them why they don’t play in Kuala Lumpur anymore. I didn’t receive any answer but a smile from them. I think it maybe related with the increase of fuel price because it cost me about RM 200++ for fuel and tol only!(K.L-Terengganu-K.L) . I remember talking with another “former” chess player Cheah Eu Gene in Royal Selangor 2006 recently. I asked him why he who lived (or work) in Shah Alam never play tournaments in Kuala Lumpur anymore. He said to me that it is because of the fuel cost!!! So if people living in Shah Alam which is about 30 km to Kuala Lumpur giving fuel cost as an accuse how about people who lived in Terengganu which is about 500 km!!!

I would like to thank Mohd Arshad and Hafishelmi for giving me the final results as soon as the tournament finished which give me chance take a rest after 8 hours driving from Putrajaya. Thank you.

That’s the way ahak!ahak! I like it ahak!ahak!

2006-05-31T22:49:00.000+08:00

Malaysia Boleh! Malaysia team produced another miracle by beating Switzerland, (seeded number 29) 2.5-1.5 in round 9 last night. I think this Olympiad will be the greatest achievement ever by our country so far compare from previous Malaysian team and players. The win came from International Master (IM) Mashafizulhelmi who beat the legendary Grandmaster (or Grandfather!)Victor Korchnoi former “Vice World Champion” in 21 moves. Korchnoi is a four times USSR chess champion (1960, 1962-63, 1964-65, 1970), two times winner of the interzonal tournaments for world championship, winner of two Candidates Tournaments (1977, 1980) and five time European champion. Victor Korchnoi played three matches with Anatoly Karpov for the World Chess Championship (two official matches in 1978 and 1981, and the 1974 Candidates' Final which later won Karpov the title by forfeit against Bobby Fischer). He also became a six time Chess Olympiad winner as a member of the Soviet team.

FM Lim Yee Weng also produced a great result by drawing with Sicilian expert and many famous openings books GM Joe Gallegher . He is a British Chess International Grandmaster and former British Champion.He played for many years on the European chess circuit, before marrying and moving to Switzerland, taking Swiss nationality, being awarded the title of International Grandmaster, and then winning the British Chess Championship in 2001.Gallagher is a noted author on various aspects of chess opening theory, being an expert on the Kings Indian Defence as black and the King's Gambit as white
Fide Master (FM) Anas Nazreen prove that he is not a passenger by defeating IM Beat Zueger. I think he should be given chance to play in the next rounds because he has adopt well although this is his first Olympiad . FM Mok lost a difficult game against GM Yannick Pelletier . He tried his best to achieve a draw but playing with one piece down is a heavy task against a strong GM.

The Malaysian players have proved that they can beat team ( player) that have higher ratings. For all Malaysian, lets support them and wish them all the best.

Mashafizulhemi (2412) – Victor Korchnoi (2607) [C68]
Round 9 Olympiad 2006 , 30.05.2006

Analyze by Hairulov and Shredder

C68: Ruy Lopez: Exchange Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 The Exchange variation, Mas favourites variation in the Ruy Lopez. He has been playing it for quite a long time so he has a good understanding of the positions. 4...dxc6 5.0–0 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Ne7 8.Nc3 Ng6 9.d3 Bd6 [9...Bc5 may be is more active. In d6 the bishop looks quite passive.] 10.Ne2 c5?! Another dubious move. I think Korchnoi should complete his development first with 10...0–0 or 10...0–0–0. 11.Ng3 The knight is heading for the active square on f5 and h5. 11...0–0 12.Qg4 Kh8?! Perhaps Korchnoi should consider 12...Qh4 to exchange the queen and play for a draw but who want to draw with a player that have 200 elo point less than you!!! 13.Nf5 Rg8 14.h4! Ne7 15.g3 Qc8 [I think Krochnoi should plan to exchange black active knight with 15...Nxf5.] 16.Qf3 Qe6 17.h5 Rae8 [17...c4!?²] 18.h6± g5? [¹18...Qf6 19.hxg7+ Rxg7±] 19.Ng7+- Mas is clearly winning. [19.Nxd6?! is no comparison 19...cxd6 20.Qh5 g4³] 19...Qxh6? [19...g4 20.Qe3 Rxg7 21.hxg7+ Kxg7+-] 20.Nxe8 Rxe8 21.Qxf7 [21.Qxf7 Rg8 22.Kg2+-] 1–0 Korchnoi resign.. Bravo Mas!!!

“Bangi Night Fever”

2006-05-31T21:41:00.000+08:00

Last two night(29 Mei 2006), 7 chess players gather at Projet Pump Station , Seksyen 3, Bandar Baru Bangi for a double round robin blitz tournaments. This was the first step towards another “indie” chess tournament. The tournament start at about 11.00 p.m and finish about 2 a.m (p/s: you better have good excuses to tell your wife before you go home)

Mohd Saprin Sabri the top seed, Shamsul Bahrin -Puncak Alam Chess Club (PACC) Presiden, Shamsuddin Mat Isa, Hafishelmi, Zul, Izwan and your’s truly battle their minds in the heat of the night. The final result is Shamsul Bahrin -Puncak Alam Chess Club (PACC) Presiden emerge as the undisputed winner with 9 ½ points. 2nd runner-up goes to Mohd Saprin Sabri and Zul with 6 ½ . Third placing goes to Shamsuddin Mat Isa with 5 ½ point followed by Hafishelmi with 5 points. Your’s truly and Izwan “shared” 6th and 7th place (equivalent with last place!!!) with 4 points.

This double round robin tournament is another version of “night fever” that have been held successfully at Jayanti Restaurant, Shah Alam. (see my previous post about “Saturday Night Fever or”). The Friday night fever being held every Friday night because it give the players to spend their weekends with their family or playing in tournaments. But for the “Bangi Night Fever”, we “still” finding the justification to held a double round robin tournament late at night and the next day is a working day. But anyway, I believe that “if you are born as a chess player , you will always be a chess player”. For anybody who interested to play in this tournament, I will inform it as soon as I get confirmation by the organizer Mr. Shamsul Bahrin -Puncak Alam Chess Club (PACC) Presiden, so keep in touch!!!

Note: I forgot to bring my digital camera on that night. I have problem to transfer the Bangi Night Fever picture i take with my NOKIA mobile phone to the computer .

Olympiad 2006 Round 7: Malaysia 0 - Germany 4

2006-05-29T00:48:00.000+08:00

Malaysian team were crushed 4-0 by the mighty Germany who have 1077 elo rating higher than Malaysia . Germany proved too powerful for Malaysia that they even rest their first two board player GM Arkadij Naiditsch (2664 FIDE Rating) and Arthur Jussupow (2608 FIDE Rating-and former Candidate Semi-Finalist!!!)
Mas lost to GM Jan Gustafsson (2603 FIDE rating) without any real fight. Only Mok show some promise and he’s actually manage to get a slight advantage in the middlegame against GM Thomas Luther (2593 FIDE rating and German Champion in 1993, 2002, and 2006) but he failed to mantain his advantage and get a passive position. Although he have the bishop pairs, it was locked by their own pawn and Mok have to sacrifiece two pawns just to release them and later Mok blundered with 50..Be6 where as 50...Bb7 offer drawing chances.
FM Lim Yee Weng played a theoritical opening against Christopher Lutz (2608 Fide rating and German Champion in 1995 and 2001). He seems like he don’t have a plan in the middlegame and later he have to defend his isolated d pawn but to no avail. NM Jonathan Chuah lost easily to Alexander (Nenashev) Graf former Ubzekistan no. 1 player.

R7 Olympiad 2006 : Malaysia beat Canada 3.5- 0.5: Way to go Malaysia!!!

2006-05-28T09:44:00.000+08:00

Photo :GM Pascal Charbonneau will probably have a bad dream after losing to Mashafizul !!!

Yes! Malaysia beat Canada 3.5-0.5. Canada seeded no. 47 compare to Malaysia seeded no. 83.They beat a team that have 2 grandmaster (GM) and 2 International Master (IM) in a very convincing way. Mas (2412 FIDE rating) show that his still have the sting to bite some GM. He beat the Canadian born Pascal Charbonneau (2521 FIDE Rating ) who won the Canadian National Championship twice before the age of 20, finishing above experienced Grandmasters such as Alexander Leseige and Kevin Spragget .

Mok (2361 FIDE rating) draw with black over GM Mark Bluvshtein (2531 FIDE rating) , a Russian born Canadian chess player who became the youngest Canadian International Grandmaster ever. I think Mok have a very-very slight advantage in the middle game especially after he regain back his pawn that he sort of gambit it in the opening. But the position remain equal.

Fide Master (FM) Lim Yee Weng (2330 FIDE rating ) won over IM Igor Zugic (2466 FIDE rating) was another shocker. Yee Weng looks like he has a bad opening but manage to confuse mater and get the upper hand in the middle game with extra pawn . In the endgame Yee Weng manage to convert his extras pawn ( King + 2 rook versus King + rook). National Master (NM) Johanathan Chuah (2216 FIDE rating) also in excellent form by beating IM Livshits Ron (2364) with black.

They have show that they can beat team and player that have superior elo rating . That I think is what we want. Let support them and hope they can make another miracle in round 7 versus the mighty Germany!!!.

[Event "Olympiad 2006"]
[Date "2006.06.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mashafizul Helmi"]
[Black "Charbonneau Pascal"]
[ECO "B42"]

Analyze by Hairulov and Shredder

B42: Sicilian: Kan Variation: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Be7 (Among the great supporter of this line is GM Vladimir Epishin. 6... Ba7 {Is more usual in this line. ) 7. Qg4 Mas chose the aggressive
line. 7.0-0 d6 8. c4 followed by Nc3, f4, Kh1 is the simplest way to develop
according to GM John Nunn and GM Joe Gallagher in Beating The Sicilian 3}7... g6
8. f4 (8. Qe2 d6 9. O-O Nd7 10. Na3 was played by GM Alexander Motylev
against GM Vladimir Epishin in the 2004 57th Russian Championship .) 8... d6
9. O-O Nf6 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Nd4 Bd7 14. Rae1 b5 15. a3
Controls b4 Rab8 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Qh3 a5 (17... d5
is worth consideration 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 ) 18. f5 {
Mas have the initiative.} Qd7 0 19. Bh6 Rfe8 20. Bg5 Rf8 (20... Nh5
should be examined more closely 21. Be3 b4 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. axb4 Rxb4 )
21. Qh4 Qd8 {Clearly Mas is in control. 22. Rf3 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Rh3 (
24. Ne2 exf5 25. Rh3 ) 24... h5
Pascal have to defend and wait and see if Mas make a mistake. 25. Nd1 Rb7 26.
Rf1 Mas bring all his force. Kg7 (26... d5 27. e5 Ng4 28. fxg6 fxg6
29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Bxe7+ Qxe7 31. Bxg6 Qxh4 32. Rxh4 Nxe5 33. Bxh5 Kg7 ) 27.
Rg3 Be8 28. Ne3 Rh8 A bad move i think. Pascal should try to create
counter attack with move like 28..b3 and hope for the best. 29. Rgf3 29. fxg6
keeps an even firmer grip fxg6 30. e5 Nh7 31. Bxe7 Qxe7 ) 29...
gxf5 (29... Rf8 30. Qf4 Kh7 31. e5 dxe5 32. Qxe5 ) 30. exf5 e5 31. Be4 Rb5 (
31... Ra7 32. Bd5 Rh7 (32... Nxd5 33. f6+ Nxf6 34. Nf5+ (34. Rxf6
Rh7 ) (34. Bxf6+ Bxf6 35. Rxf6 Rd7 ) 34... Kf8 35. Nxe7 Rxe7 36.
Bxf6 (36. Rxf6 Qb6+ 37. Kh1 Ba4 ) 32. Nd5 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Bb5 34. Ra1
(34. R1f2 and White can already relax Be8 ) 34... Be2 (34... Nxd5 35. Bxe7
Qxe7 (35... Nxe7 36. f6+ Kf8 37. fxe7+ Qxe7 38. Qxb4 ) 36. Qxe7 Nxe7 37.
f6+ ) (34... Be2 35. Bxf6+ Bxf6 36. Qg3+ Kh6 37. Bxf7 Bg5 ) (34... Nxd5
35. Bxe7 Qxe7 (35... Nxe7 36. f6+ Kf8 37. fxe7+ Qxe7 38. Qxb4 ) 36. Qxe7
Nxe7 37. f6+ Kf8 38. fxe7+ Kxe7 ) 35. Bxf6+ Bxf6 36. Qg3+ Kh6 37. Rf2 Bg4
38. Ra8 (Inferior is 38. Bxf7 Bh4 39. Qe3+ Qg5 40. Qxg5+ Kxg5 ) 38... Qb6 39. Rxh8+ Bxh8 40. h3 (Worse is 40. Bxf7 b3 41. c3 Qa7 ) 40... Bxf5 41.
Kh1 Bh7 (41... Bg6 hoping against hope 42. Bxf7 d5 43. Bxd5 Bf6 ) 42. Rxf7
Bg6 (42... Qd4 {doesn't get the bull off the ice} 43. h4 Qg4 44. Qe3+ Kg6 )
43. Qf2 A nice move by Mas. He choose to reduce material and convert his
advantage in the endgame. (43. h4 Bg7 44. Be4 d5 45. Qg5+ Kh7 46. Qxe5 Qd4 47.
Qxd4 Kh8 48. Qxg7#) 43... Qxf2 $18 44. Rxf2 Kg5 45. g3 Bf5 (45... Kh6 46. Re2
) 46. Kg2 (46. h4+ might be the shorter path Kg6 47. Bc6 Be6 48. Be4+ Kg7
) 46... Bf6 (46... Bg7 47. h4+ Kg6 48. Bf7+ Kxf7 49. Rxf5+ Kg6 50. Rg5+ Kh6
51. g4 hxg4 52. Rxg4 ) 47. Bf7 (47. h4+ seems even better Kg6 48. Bf3
) 47... Bd8 (47... Be4+ 48. Kg1 Bd8 49. h4+ Kh6 ) 48. h4+ Kf6 49. Bxh5
Bb6 50. Rd2 (50. Rf1 it becomes clear that White will call all the shots
Ke6 51. Bf7+ Kxf7 52. Rxf5+ Ke6 ) 50... Ke6 51. Be2 d5 52. g4 Be4+ (52...
Bh7 53. Ba6 Bd4 54. Rxd4 exd4 ) 53. Bf3 Bxf3+ (53... Be3
doesn't improve anything 54. Re2 Bxf3+ 55. Kxf3 ) 54. Kxf3 e4+ (54... Bc7
is no salvation 55. Ke2 ) 55. Ke2 d4 56. b3 Pascal resign because his
connected passed pawns in the middle can easily being block while Mas
connected passed pawns in the king side is really strong. Bravo Mas!!!

I beat Norway National Chess Champion !!!

2006-05-27T21:09:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

After having a career and getting married, I no more have the luxury time to mingle with chess friends to play chess and play tournaments regularly. But fortunately, there is a technology call the internet which can lets us play at anytime with anyone all around the world in the comfort of our own house . Like others chess addict, I like to play chess especially blitz. On one fine day, I as usual logged in the Internet Chess Club (ICC) an Internet Chess Server and play a blitz game with anybody who like to play . My rating in ICC usually varied from 1800-2100 depends on my form, privacy (no interference from my two beloved kids and wife !) and others factor. Usually I will play with opponent that have equal or higher strength or elo rating from me. But on that particular day, one International Master from Norway accept my challenge to play a blitz game!

hairulov1976 (1973) – Labow (1979) (International Master) [C44]
ICC 2 20 Internet Chess Club, 19.04.2006

Analyze by Hairulov and Shredder 9

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 It's always nice to play this kind of gambit in blitz games. 4...Bc5 5.c3 d3 6.Qb3?! [6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 a6 8.0–0 Is the correct way to play.] 6...Qe7 7.Bxd3 d6 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Nbd2 0–0 10.h3 Bb6 [10...Re8 Is better.] 11.Re1 Be6 12.Qc2 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bd2 I think black have no problem and can start aiming for advantage. 16...Rad8 17.Rad1 17...Nc5 [17...Bxa2? doesn't solve anything 18.b3 Bxb3 19.Qxb3+ Kh8 20.Bc4+-] 18.Bf1 Bxa2 Black get a free pawn. 19.Be3 Be6 [19...Bb3 20.Bxc5 Bxc2 21.Bxe7 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Bxd1 23.Bxf8 Kxf8 24.Bd3–+ is line suggest by Shredder and black is clearly winning with two bishop and extra pawn. ] 20.c4 a5 21.Nh4 a4 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Nb3 24.c5?! Nxc5 25.Qc4+ Kh8 26.Rd5 [26.Be2 Nd7 27.Qxa4 Bxe3 28.fxe3 c6] 26...Rxd5 27.Qxd5 Rd8 28.Bxc5 Just trying to confuse matter in a lost position. 28...Bxc5 [28...Rxd5? may look interesting but has some grave disadvantages 29.Bxe7 c6 30.Re2+-] 29.Qxb7 h6 [29...Bb6!? 30.Qc6 Qb4–+] 30.Qc6 Rd2 31.Re2 Rd4 32.Rc2 Bb6 33.Be2 Rf4? This move is clearly a mistake and black almost lost all his advantage. [33...Qd7 34.Qxd7 Rxd7 35.Kf1] 34.Bh5 Dreaming some swindle idea. [34.Qa8+!? is an interesting idea 34...Kh7 35.Bh5=] 34...Rxf5?? What? is he serious. I really shocked by this move. He is not in time trouble, my time is worse than him. [34...Qd8] 35.Bg6+- Black resigns because he will be mate or lost material if he trying to prevent mate.[35.Bg6 Qd8 36.Bxf5+-] 1–0

Wow! i was so excited, happy and quickly after the game i curiously searched in the internet about this IM from Norway. To my amazement, I found that he has won four Norwegian Championship. What ? I beat a Norwegian Champion? A country which nowadays popular for their wonder kid Grand Master (GM) Magnus Carlsen and former Norway international footballer and still active chess player GM Simen Agdestein? A country that is in 35 rank in the world ranking? ( Malaysia-79th). But after taking a few deep breath, I look for further details about this guy. And here is the findings:-

Svein Johannessen, born October 17, 1937 is a Norwegian chess player. He became Norway's second International Master after Olaf Barda, in 1961. He has won four Norwegian chess championships, in 1959, 1962, 1970 and 1973.
According to ChessBase, Johannessen has a wide opening repertoire. He plays most of the regular opening moves with White with some regularity, 1.d4, 1.e4, 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. With Black against 1.e4 he frequently enters the "open" games with 1...e5, but often plays the Sicilian Defence as well. Against 1.d4 Johannessen also plays several things including the Old Indian Defense and Queen's Gambit Accepted.
Source:From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Below is some of his famous games.

[Event "Stockholm jub 6667"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1966.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "5"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Bent Larsen"]
[Black "Svein Johannessen"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Bb3 Na6 5.f4 exf4 6.e5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Qxe5+ 8.Nge2 d5
9.Bxf4 Qh5 10.O-O Bb4 11.Qd2 O-O 12.Rae1 Nc5 13.Ng3 Qg6 14.Bg5 Ng4 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Qxb4 Nxd3
17.cxd3 Qxg5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Rf3 a5 20.Qd4 Be6 21.Re5 Qh6 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.Rexf5 Rac8 24.Rg3 Rc6
25.Bxd5 Nxd5 26.Rxd5 b6 27.Rdg5 g6 28.Rb5 Qg7 29.Qe3 Qf6 30.Rf3 Qd6 31.Rf4 Rd8 32.Re5 Rd7
33.d4 Rc4 34.Ree4 Qc7 35.Rf1 Rc2 36.Re1 Kg7 37.b3 Qc6 38.a4 Re7 39.Qf3 Rxe4 40.Rxe4 Rc3
41.Qf4 Rxb3 42.Kh2 Rc3 43.Re3 Qc7 44.Qxc7 Rxc7 45.Rb3 Rc4 46.d5 Rb4 47.Rd3 Kf8 48.d6 Ke8
49.Re3+ Kd7 50.Re7+ Kxd6 51.Rxf7 Rxa4 52.Rxh7 Re4 53.Rg7 Re6 54.Ra7 Kc5 55.h4 Kb4 56.g4 a4
57.Kg3 b5 58.Kf4 a3 59.h5 gxh5 60.gxh5 Kb3 0-1

[Event "Havana"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1966.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Najdorf Miguel"]
[Black "Johannessen Sveinn"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.b3 Bg7
5.Bb2 O-O 6.Nf3 d6 7.O-O c6 8.c4 e5
9.dxe5 Ng4 10.Nbd2 Nxe5 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.Rad1 Qe7
13.Ba3 Nc5 14.b4 Ne6 15.b5 c5 16.e3 a6
17.Bc1 Nd7 18.a4 axb5 19.cxb5 d5 20.Nb3 Rxa4
21.Rxd5 Nb6 22.Rd2 Bd7 23.Rfd1 Bxb5 24.Rd6 Bc6
25.Ne1 Rc4 26.Qb1 Nd4 27.exd4 Qxd6 28.Bf4 Qe7
29.dxc5 Na4 30.Bd6 Qf7 31.Bxc6 bxc6 32.Na5 Nc3
33.Qc2 Re4 34.Bxf8 Nxd1 35.Qxd1 Bxf8 36.Nxc6 Qe6
37.Nf3 Qxc6 38.Ng5 Re7 39.Qb3+ Kg7 0-1

[Event "Marianske Lazne"]
[Site "Marianske Lazne"]
[Date "1961.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Johannessen Sveinn"]
[Black "Szabo Laszlo"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb7
5.a3 Be7 6.d5 d6 7.g3 e5 8.Bg2 O-O
9.e4 Nbd7 10.O-O Ne8 11.Ne1 Bf6 12.Nd3 Nc5
13.b4 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 a5 15.Be3 Bg5 16.f4 Bf6
17.f5 Bg5 18.Bf2 h5 19.h4 Bh6 20.Nb5 Ba6
21.bxa5 Bxb5 22.cxb5 Rxa5 23.Be1 Ra7 24.Bb4 Nf6
25.Bh3 Qd7 26.Kh2 Rfa8 27.Ra2 Qd8 28.Rc2 Nd7
29.Qf3 Nc5 30.Rff2 Qf6 31.Bg2 g6 32.Qe2 Qe7
33.Rc3 Nd7 34.Bh3 Nf6 35.fxg6 fxg6 36.Be6+ Kh8
37.Rcf3 Bg7 38.Kg2 Ra4 39.Qe3 Ng4 40.Bxg4 hxg4
41.Rf7 Qd8 42.Qe2 1-0

[Event "zt"]
[Site "Halle"]
[Date "1963.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "L Kavalek"]
[Black "S Johannessen"]
[ECO "C70"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5
5.Bb3 Na5 6.O-O d6 7.d4 Nxb3 8.axb3 f6
9.c4 b4 10.Be3 Bb7 11.d5 c5 12.dxc6 Bxc6
13.Nbd2 g6 14.Ne1 Bh6 15.Qe2 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Ne7
17.Nd3 a5 18.Qh6 Kf7 19.f4 Ng8 20.Qh3 Kg7
21.Rf2 Nh6 22.Raf1 Qe7 23.c5 dxc5 24.fxe5 fxe5
25.Rf6 Bb5 26.Re6 Qd7 27.Nxe5 Qd4+ 28.Rf2 Rhe8
29.Nef3+ Qxb2 30.Ng5 Qc1+ 31.Nf1 Qxg5 32.Rb6 Bxf1
33.Rxf1 Rxe4 34.Rb7+ Re7 35.Qf3 Re8 36.h4 Qe5
37.Rd1 Rxb7 38.Qxb7+ Re7 39.Qc8 Nf5 40.h5 Qe3+ 0-1

source: from www.chessgames.com

So the reality is i beat a player that i can call grandfather. Norwegian Champion on 1959,1962,1970 and 1973 all before i was ever born. So it was a rather an anti climax situation but anyway i’ll keep the record just in case if anybody ask me if i ever beat a International Master :).

Indonesia Chess History (Post War Era)-Part 3

2006-05-26T23:36:00.000+08:00

Baris Hutagalung versus GM Yury Averbach (Russia) in Jakarta 1956.

During the early post war era, Indonesia chess develop rapidly. More Grandmasters and International Masters came and play simultaneous games with the local players. Some local players manage to beat the GM and IM . Below are some of the games.

Averbach - Tampubolon [E00]
Jakarta Simul , 10.09.1956

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.e4 0–0 5.e5 Ne8 6.Bd3 f5 7.exf6 Bxf6 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0–0 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Bxh7+ Kxh7 12.Qxd4 Rf5 13.Ne4 Kg8 14.Ng3 Rf7 15.b3 d6 16.f4 Nf6 17.Bb2 b6 18.Rae1 Bd7 19.h3 a6 20.Rf2 Qf8 21.Rfe2 Re8 22.a4 Rfe7 23.Qd3 Qf7 24.Nf1 Nh5 25.g3 Rf8 26.Nd2 Ree8 27.Kh2 Bc8 28.Ne4 Qg6 29.Nf2 Qf7 30.Ng4 Bb7 31.Qc3 Qg6 32.Qc2 Rf5 33.Rg1? Bf3! 34.Re3 Bxg4 35.hxg4 Qxg4 36.Qe2 Nf6 37.Kg2 Rxf4 38.Qxg4 Rxg4 39.a5 bxa5 40.Ra1 Re4 41.Rxe4 Nxe4 42.Rxa5 Rb8 43.Ra3 Nc5 44.Bd4 Nxb3 45.Ba7 Rb4 0-1

Averbach - Wotulo [E73]
Jakarta Simul , 12.09.1956

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 c6 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 Nbd7 8.Rb1 e5 9.b4 Ne8 10.Qb3 exd4 11.Na4 c5 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bh4 b6 14.Nd2 g5 15.Bg3 Ne5 16.Nb2 Be6 17.Nd3 Qe7 18.f4 Nc6 19.b5 Na5 20.Qc2 Bf7 21.Bf3 Rd8 22.Rbe1 Qd7 23.h3 Nc7 24.Bg4 Be6 25.f5 Bf7 26.e5 dxe5 27.Nxe5! fxe5 28.f6 Be6 29.fxg7 Rxf1+ 30.Rxf1 Bxg4 31.hxg4 d3?! 32.Qc3 Ne6 33.Bxe5 Nf4 34.Ne4 Ne2+ 35.Kh1 Qe6 36.Qxd3 Qh6+ 37.Qh3 Qxh3+ 38.gxh3 Nxc4 39.Bf6 Rd3 40.Bxg5 Kxg7 41.Rf6 Ng3+ 42.Nxg3 Rxg3 43.Kh2 Rd3 44.Rc6 Nd6 45.a4 Ne8 46.Rc8 Kf7 47.Ra8 Rd7 48.Bf4 ½–½

source : Sejarah Catur Indonesia (Indonesia Chess History) by Ds. F.K.N. Harahap

Mok Slay The Dragon

2006-05-26T19:19:00.000+08:00

The most interesting game in Malaysia round 5, 3-1 win over Italy B is i think the game of the second board, Mok Tze Meng. His opponet failed to grab the advantage especially on move 12...that i think is the turning point.

Mok Tze Meng (2361) - Vocaturo,D (2402) [B77]
Olympiad 2006 Round 5, 25.05.2006
Analyze by Hairulov and Shredder 9

B77: Sicilian Dragon: Yugoslav Attack 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Bc4 Unusual move order. Usually White play Qd2 first. 8...Nc6 9.Qd2 Bd7 10.h4 Qa5 11.Nb3 Qc7 12.Bh6?! [12.0–0–0 i think should be consider and more consistent.] 12...Ne5? [Black failed to grab the chance with 12...Bxh6! 13.Qxh6 Nb4 14.Bd3 Nxd3+ 15.cxd3 And white king will have problem to find shelter.] 13.Be2 Be6 [¹13...Bxh6!? looks like a viable alternative 14.Qxh6 Nh5 15.0–0–0 (15.g4? Ng3) 15...Rac8] 14.h5± Nc4 15.Bxc4 Bxc4 16.0–0–0 Rac8 17.g4 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 b5 Black attack is too slow. 19.Rd2 [19.Nd4 Is interesting but too messy. Mok choose a wise plan that maintain his advantage with a safe position. 19...e6 20.b3 Qa5 (20...Bxb3 21.Ncxb5 Is a brutal line.) 21.hxg6 fxg6±] 19...e6 20.Rdh2 b4 21.Nd1 Bxb3 22.axb3 d5 [¹22...Qc5!? is better because the black queen will prevent white queen to go to g5 but white still have the upper hand.] 23.Qg5+- Black is going to lose. 23...Nd7 24.exd5 Ne5 25.Kb1 [25.hxg6!? fxg6 26.d6 Cutting the knight at e5 from being support by his queen in c7. 26...Nf7 27.Qxg6+ hxg6 28.dxc7 Rxc7+- White will have the better endgame.] 25...f6 26.Qe3 g5 27.f4 [27.dxe6?! Rfe8 28.Qe4 Rxe6±] 27...gxf4 28.Qxf4 exd5 29.Ne3 29...Qb7? [¹29...d4 30.Qxd4 Qa5+-] 30.Rd1 d4 31.Rxd4 a5 Black attack is clearly to late. 32.Rf2 Qh1+ [32...Rce8+-] 33.Rf1 Qc6 34.g5! Nd7? [34...Kh8+- Which also lost but i think will give white more resistant. 35.gxf6 Nf7] 35.Rd6 Qb5 In b5 the queen can't no longer help her king from being attack. [35...Qc7 what else? 36.gxf6 Rf7 37.Rg1+ Kh8+-] 36.gxf6 Kh8 37.f7 Rc7 38.Rxd7! Eliminates the defender of the f6 square.[38.Rxd7 Rxf7 39.Rd8+ Qe8 40.Rxe8+ Kg7 41.Qg5# A good performances by Mok Tze Meng.] 1–0

Saturday Night Fever! or......

2006-05-25T10:54:00.000+08:00

Photo from petak64 and Saturday night fever website

Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 movie starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to a New York discotheque . The movie significantly helped to popularize disco music around the world, and made Travolta a household name.
In Malaysian Chess we have our own “night fever” that is the “Friday Night Fever”. Almost every Friday night, a group of chess player will gather at Jayanti Restaurant at Seksyen 17, Shah Alam (near Shell pump-station) for a round robin tournament. The gathering held on Friday night because it will save the weekends for chess tournaments or family activity. The tournament use certain time control (eg. 15 minutes) depending on how many player turn-up during that particular night. Players that have played this tournament before is Kamaluddin Yusof, Mohd Saprin Sabri, Kamal Ariffin, Kamarul Ariffin,Shamsul Bahrin, Rusdi Sidi, Izz Shaifuddin, your’s truly and many familiar names in local circuit.

Usually the tournament will start at 9.00 p.m and last until late morning (2-3 p.m). The prize amount will depend on the total of participants. Every participant should pay RM 10 and the total amount will be given to the champion (winner take all!!!). But that’s not all, the champion must pay for every meal and drink order by the player during the tournament. But don’t worry, there is always extra money left after you settle the bill. I have won once and receive about RM 100 and after settling the bill I still have something like RM 50.00 . So it still worth it but the more important thing is we have a pleasant night doing thing that we like. So for anybody who like to feel the “Friday Night Fever” you’re welcome. (you can call Shamsul Bahrin, President of Puncak Alam Chess Club at 012-9363119 if you interested to play).

Malaysian Team Performances So far

2006-05-24T22:18:00.000+08:00

WFM Siti Zulaikha vs IM Petrenko Svetlana .Photo from gilachess blog and european championship

Hi all,

So far our general (men) and women team performances is like a rollercoaster. The women team performed a little bit better due to their performance in round 3 when they beat Maldova seeded number 30 compare to Malaysia seeded number 58 . In particular we should be proud of our Woman Fide Master Siti Zulaikha, especially for her win over International Master Petrenko Svetlana from Maldova.

General (men) team has nothing to be proud so far. They lost to player that have higher rating and beat opponent that have low rating then them. Simple mathematic ! no surprises! So for that reason, it is more interesting to watch the women play because they have more chances to beat stronger team, where as the general (men)team, we can predict the result even before the game start!

Anyway I hope the general (men) team will strike back especially after their engines has warm-up. I really hope they can make one or two surprises.

Below is the game between Woman Fide Master Siti Zulaikha versus International Master Petrenko Svetlana from Maldova analyze by me and Shredder 9.

Petrenko,S (2334) - Siti,Z (2169) [B07]
36th Olympiad w Turin ITA (3), 23.05.2006

Analyse by hairulov and Shredder 9

B07: Pirc Defence: 1.e4 d6 Siti favourite opening since child. 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3 c6 5.Be3 Qb6!? An interesting sideline and less explore move. 6.Qc1 [6.b3 Bg7 7.Qd2 Qa5 8.Nge2 0–0 9.0–0–0 b5 10.Kb1 Nbd7= Is equal according to John Nunn.] 6...Bg7 7.Bd3 h5!? From my reference, this is a novelty according to Shredder 9 and also in John Nunn book , The Complete Pirc. But this move looks like an interesting idea. Siti probaly feel confident that white will not castle queenside due to her queen position in c1. So this move is logical because if white choose to start the typical kingside assault with g4- h4-h5, white king will be too exposed. White probaly have two choise for her king. To stay in the center or to castle kingside that look more obvious to me. 8.Nge2 Qc7 This lost tempo move is not so important because black manage to prevent or at least delay white to choose the dangerous set-up with queenside castling. This kind of move usually seen in the Sicilian Qb6 variation where black force white to play defensive move Nd4-b3 and later the queen go to c7 and b8 if the queen being attack by white. 9.a4 b6 10.Bc4?! This look dubious to me. I think 10.0–0 is more consistent. 10...Nbd7 Shredder suggest 10...Ba6 and i can see the logic of the move. Black provoke white to play Bxa6 and lost 3 tempo with Bd3-Bc4-Bxa6. If white choose Ba2 Black Ba6 will make white king uncomfortable by attacking the a6-f1 diaganol. 11.0–0 Bb7 12.Qd2 a6 13.Ba2 e5 14.Nd1 [14.Rad1 0–0–0!?] 14...b5 [14...0–0 15.Nf2] 15.a5 Rd8 [15...c5 16.d5±] 16.c3 [16.dxe5 dxe5 17.c4 0–0‚] 16...c5 17.b4 0–0 18.d5 Nh7 19.Rc1 [19.c4 bxc4 20.Rc1!?] 19...c4 20.Bb1 Rde8 21.f4?! I think white should not open the position because it's only make his center shaky. 21...Bh6 22.f5 Bxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Ndf6 Black knight have good prospect in the kingside. 24.h3 Kg7 25.fxg6 [25.Rf3!?²] 25...fxg6= 26.Qg3 Rg8 [26...Bc8 27.Rf3 Qa7+ 28.Kh1³] 27.Ne3 Kh8 28.Kh1 Qg7 29.Ng1 [29.Rf3 Rgf8²] 29...Qh6 30.Rce1 [30.Rf3 Ng4!? is interesting.] 30...Bc8 31.h4 Ref8 32.Nh3?! This move looks like a passive move and give black the initiative. [32.Nf3!?= should be examined more closely] 32...Ng4µ The black knight is well posted. 33.Rxf8 Rxf8 34.Nf1 g5 35.Nh2?? the position was bad, and this mistake simply hastens the end [¹35.Kg1µ] 35...Nxh2 [¹35...gxh4 keeps an even firmer grip 36.Qxh4 Nxh2 37.Kxh2–+] 36.Kxh2 [36.Qxh2 doesn't get the cat off the tree 36...gxh4 37.Ng1–+] 36...g4 [¹36...gxh4 and Black has prevailed 37.Qxh4 Qd2–+] 37.Ng1µ Rf7 38.Qe3?? leads to further unpleasantness [¹38.Re2µ] 38...Qxe3–+ 39.Rxe3 Rf1 40.Bc2 Rc1 41.Re2 g3+ Bravo Siti!!!![41...g3+ 42.Kxg3 Rxg1–+] 0–1

Round 2 Olympiad 2006: Malaysia beat Honduras 4-0

2006-05-23T06:48:00.000+08:00

Ruky the mascot of Olympiad 2006 (Photo from official olympiad 2006 website)

Hi all,

Malaysia beat Honduras 4-0 in general team and the women team Malaysia beat Costa Rica 3-0.

[Event "36th Olympiad"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mas,H"]
[Black "Zamora,R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2205"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "C69"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5
8. Nb3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Nc3 Bd6 12. Be3 b6 13. Nd5 Kf7 14.
g3 Rd8 15. Rd2 Ne7 16. Nf4 Bc4 17. Rad1 Rd7 18. Nc1 Rhd8 19. b3 Bb5 20. c4
Bc6 21. Ncd3 Ng6 22. Nxg6 Kxg6 23. Kf2 Kf7 24. h4 g6 25. Bf4 a5 26. a4 Bf8
27. Ke2 h6 28. Nf2 Bd6 29. Ng4 h5 30. Ne3 Ke7 31. Ng2 Ke6 32. Ke3 f5 33.
Bxd6 cxd6 34. Nf4+ Kf6 35. Nd5+ Bxd5 36. Rxd5 fxe4 37. fxe4 Ke6 38. R1d3
Ke7 39. Kf4 Kf6 40. Rxd6+ Rxd6 41. Rxd6+ Rxd6 42. e5+ Ke6 43. exd6 Kxd6 44.
Kg5 Ke5 45. Kxg6 Kd4 46. Kxh5 Kc3 47. g4 Kxb3 48. g5 1-0

[Event "36th Olympiad"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Medina,Ja"]
[Black "Mok Tze Meng"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2167"]
[BlackElo "2361"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "B06"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. h4 h5 5. Nf3 d5 6. e5 Bg4 7. Be2 Nd7 8. Ng5
Bxe2 9. Qxe2 e6 10. Be3 Nh6 11. f3 Nf5 12. Bf2 Bh6 13. f4 b5 14. g4 hxg4
15. Qxg4 Bxg5 16. fxg5 Qa5 17. Kd1 Qb4 18. a3 Qc4 19. Kd2 b4 20. axb4 Qxb4
21. Ra4 Qb7 22. b3 c5 23. dxc5 Nxe5 24. Qe2 Nd7 25. Qb5 Qc7 26. c6 Ne5 27.
Ra6 O-O 28. Ne2 Rfb8 29. Qa4 Rc8 30. h5 Nxc6 31. hxg6 fxg6 32. c3 d4 33.
Bxd4 Ncxd4 34. cxd4 Qc2+ 35. Ke1 Qb1+ 36. Kf2 Qxh1 37. Qd7 Qh4+ 0-1

[Event "36th Olympiad"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lim Yee Weng"]
[Black "Medina,Ri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2330"]
[BlackElo "2007"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "D46"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 e6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nbd2 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 h6 12. b3 Re8 13. Bb2 b6 14. Qd3
Bb7 15. Rfe1 Kf8 16. Rad1 a5 17. a3 Qe7 18. a4 Rad8 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5
Ng4 21. Re2 Qh4 22. h3 Nf6 23. Qe3 b5 24. Qe5 Qh5 25. Qxh5 Nxh5 26. g3 bxc4
27. bxc4 Ba6 28. Re5 Nf6 29. Bd3 Rb8 30. Ba3+ Kg8 31. Rxa5 Rb3 32. Bd6 Bb7
33. Ra7 Rd8 34. Bc5 Ba8 35. a5 Ne8 36. Be4 Rc3 37. Bb6 Rc8 38. c5 g6 39.
Ra1 Rc4 40. Rxa8 Rxa8 41. Bxc6 Rb8 42. a6 1-0

[Event "36th Olympiad"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ustariz,C"]
[Black "Chuah Jin Hai,Jonathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2050"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "E14"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 a6 11. Rc1 Bd6 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Ng5 g6 14. h3 h6
15. Nf3 Ne4 16. Nd2 f5 17. Nf3 g5 18. Ne2 Rac8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe5
21. Rfd1 c5 22. a4 Nd6 23. Ba3 g4 24. hxg4 fxg4 25. g3 Qg5 26. Nf4 Rf7 27.
Qe2 d4 28. Bxa6 Bf3 0-1

[Event "36th Olympiad w"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Da Bosco,C"]
[Black "Siti,Z"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2050"]
[BlackElo "2169"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "B07"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. Nge2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Bb3 e5 8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. Qe3 Qe7 14. a3
Nc5 15. Ba2 Ne6 16. Qf3 Nhf4 17. Rad1 Re8 18. Qe3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20.
Rxd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qe5 22. Qb4 a5 23. Qb6 Ra6 24. Qb3 Re7 25. a4 Be6 26.
Qa3 Bxa2 27. Qxa2 Rb6 28. Rd1 Re8 29. f3 Qe6 30. b3 Qe5 31. Bf2 Rb4 32. Qa1
Qxc3 33. Qxc3 Ne2+ 34. Kf1 Nxc3 35. Rd3 Nxa4 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. Bb6 Rc4 38.
Bxa5 Rxc2 39. Rd6 Ra8 0-1

[Event "36th Olympiad w"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wan Khye Theng"]
[Black "Garcia,Veronica"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1989"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "B26"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 e6 7. Qd2 Bd7 8.
Nge2 Nge7 9. Bh6 Bf6 10. O-O Ng8 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Nd1 Bg7 13. Nc1 Qc8 14. c3
Nc6 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nge7 17. Ne2 O-O 18. Bh6 e5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. d5
Nb8 21. Rc1 Qd8 22. f4 f6 23. Ne3 Na6 24. fxe5 fxe5 25. Rxf8 Qxf8 26. Rf1
Qc8 27. Nc3 Nc5 28. Kh1 Ng8 29. Nc4 Qc7 30. Qf2 b5 31. Qf7+ Kh8 32. Nxb5
Nb7 33. Nxc7 1-0

[Event "36th Olympiad w"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ramirez,Karla"]
[Black "Nur,N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2167"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[ECO "C14"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8.
Nf3 c5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O-O b5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.
Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qd3 Re8 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Qh5 Nd8 18. Qh8+ Ke7 19. Qxg7 Bb7 20.
Nh7 Qe3+ 21. Kb1 Qxf4 22. Rde1 Qf5 23. Rhf1 Qh5 24. g4 Qh4 25. g5 d4 26. g6
dxc3 27. gxf7 Rf8 28. Nxf8 Nxf8 29. Qg1 Qb4 30. Qg5+ Kd7 31. Rd1+ Bd5 32.
b3 Qa3 33. Qc1 Qxc1+ 34. Kxc1 Ke7 35. Rd3 Nxf7 36. Rxc3 Nxe5 37. Re3 Nfg6
38. h4 Rh8 39. c4 bxc4 40. bxc4 Nxc4 41. Rh3 0-1

Round 2 Olympiad 2006 and Bill Murray robbing a bank dressed in a clown suit !

2006-05-22T21:45:00.000+08:00

Photo of me abandoned the hopeless PC to watch Quick Change

Hi all,

Tonight is another failed attempt by me to watch online the Malaysia versus Honduras Round 2 game in the official Olympiad 2006 website. Actually I managed to watch the replay of the first round game after download the JAVA (thanks to Fairin for the advice) but for round 2 games the page show Error - Timed out waiting for gateway.

Being so frustrated and fed-up , I decided to watch the tv instead. I turn on channel 41 ASTRO Cinemax and watched Quick Change a movie starring by Bill Murray robbing a bank dressed in a clown suit and try to escape and fool the New York Police. It was a hilarious movie and it managed to cool me a little bit after being so frustrated with the Olympiad server failure.

Round 1 Olympiad Turin 2006 : Malaysian Games (update analysis)

2006-05-22T20:35:00.000+08:00

FM Mok Tze Meng try his best but fail to GM Martines

Hi all,

Below is Malaysian games in Round 1 Olympiad Turin 2006 . I will update the games with analysis later. Actually I have problem to watch the game live last night but after some advice from Fairin Zakaria I hope i can watch the second round tonight.

(1) Vallejo Pons (2666) - Mashafizulhelmi (2412) [B20]
Olympiad 2006 Turin (1), 21.05.2006
1.e4 c5 2.Ne2 d6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 g6 5.b3 Bg7 6.d4 Qc7 7.0–0 0–0 8.a4 a6 9.Na3 Re8 10.h3 Ra7 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Nf4 e6 13.Be3 b6 14.Nc4 Bb7 15.Qd6 Qxd6 16.Nxd6 Rd8 17.Nxb7 Rxb7 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bg5 Re8 21.Bxd5 Rd7 22.Bc4 Rxe5 23.Bf4 Re8 24.Rad1 Rb7 25.Rfe1 Rc8 26.Rd6 Bf8 27.Bd5 Ra7 28.Rxb6 Nd7 29.Rb7 1–0

(2) Mok Tze Meng (2361) - Arizmendi Martinez Julen (2540) [B87]
Olympiad 2006 Turin (1), 21.05.2006
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Qe2 b5 8.Bb3 Be7 9.g4 b4 10.Na4 d5 11.e5 Ne4 12.Be3 0–0 13.0–0–0 Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Nf5 Bxe3+ 16.Qxe3 Bd7 17.Nd6 a5 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Nc6 20.f4 f6 21.h4 fxe5 22.fxe5 Rb8 23.Rhf1 Qxh4 24.Bc2 Rxf1 25.Rxf1 Qh2 0–1

(3) San Segundo Carrillo Pabl (2525) - Lim Yee Weng (2330) [E14]
Olympiad 2006 Turin (1), 21.05.2006
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 c5 6.b3 Nc6 7.Bb2 cxd4 8.exd4 b6 9.Rc1 Bb7 10.Bd3 Rc8 11.0–0 Be7 12.Re1 0–0 13.a3 Re8 14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.bxc4 Qd7 17.Qe2 Qb7 18.d5 Bd7 19.d6 Bxd6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ne4 Be5 22.Qf3 Kf8 23.Nxf6 Qxf3 24.Nxd7+ Ke7 25.gxf3 Bf4 26.Ne5 Rc5 27.Ng4 Rg8 28.Kf1 Bxc1 29.Rxc1 Rh8 1–0

(4) Jonathan Chuah (2216) - Narciso Dublan Marc (2510) [C01]
Olympiad Turin, 2006 - 21.05.2006

Analysis by Hairulov and Shredder 9
C01: French: Exchange Variation 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 The Exchange variation. May be Chuah is playing for a draw because it's hard to play for a win in this variation especially against a Grandmaster! 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Be7 6.0–0 Bg4 7.Re1 0–0 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 So far so theory!!! 9...c5 I could not find any reference for this move. Maybe a new move but i didn't like it because after 10. dxc5 Bxc5 black has isolated d pawn as a potential weakness. [9...Nc6 10.c3 Nh5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nbd2 Nf4 13.Bf1 Neg6 Kacheishvili-Lputian,1993 is unclear according to Lev Psakhis in his book French Advance and Other Anti - French Variations] 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 I prefer 11...Nbd2 planning Nb3 and perhaps c3 to use d4 as the strong base for white knights. 11...g5 12.Bg3 Nc6 13.h3 I did not like this move because it give black chance to attack with g4 later. 13...Bh5 14.Bf5 [14.h4 Nd4 15.hxg5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 hxg5±] 14...Nd4 [14...Ne7] 15.Bg4 Nxg4 16.Nxd4 A comfortable square for the white knight [Inferior is 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.Na4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qf6] 16...Nf6 17.Qd2?! [17.Qd3!? has some apparent merit 17...Bg6 18.Nf5 Kh7 19.Be5 Ne4 20.Nxe4 Bxf5 21.Qxd5 Qxd5 22.Nf6+ Kg6 23.Nxd5] 17...Ne4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Nb3?! [19.c3 f5] 19...Qxd2 Now black have the advantage. 20.Nxd2 f5 21.Nb3 Bb6 22.Be5 Rfd8 23.c3 Consolidates d4 23...Rd5 24.Bd4 Chuah manage to build a strong post in the center. 24...Bc7 25.Nc5 I think 25. g4!? is an interesting try because if 25...fxg4 26.hxg4 Bxg4 27. Rxe4 black advantage on the kingside will be reduce. 25...Bf7 26.Re2?! [26.Red1 Rad8] 26...b6 27.Na6 Bd6 28.a3? [28.Ree1!?] 28...Rxd4!–+ Clearance to allow f7-c4. Black is in full control after this move. 29.cxd4 Bc4 30.Nc7 Rc8 [30...Bxc7 is clearly worse 31.Rc2 Rc8 32.a4± (32.Rxc4? looks interesting, but 32...Bh2+ 33.Kxh2 Rxc4–+) ] 31.Rc2 Rxc7 32.Rac1 b5 33.b3 Bf4 [33...Bxa3?! is much worse 34.Ra1 Bc5 35.dxc5 Bxb3 36.Rd2=] 34.Rb1 [34.d5 is not the saving move 34...Bxc1 35.Rxc1 Kf7–+] 34...Bd5 35.Rc5 Rxc5 36.dxc5 Kf7 37.b4 Ke6 38.Rd1 [38.g4 cannot undo what has already been done 38...Bd2 39.gxf5+ Kxf5–+] 38...Be5 39.Rd2 [39.Rc1 doesn't improve anything 39...f4–+] 39...f4 40.Re2 Bd4 Black prepares e3 41.Kh2 [41.Rd2 doesn't get the bull off the ice 41...Ke5 42.Rc2 Bc4–+] 41...e3 42.fxe3 fxe3 [42...fxe3 43.Re1 Kf5–+] 0–1

Round 1 Olympiad Turin 2006 : Malaysia 0- Spain 4

2006-05-22T06:28:00.000+08:00

Round 1 on 2006/05/21 at 15:00
Spain (ESP)- Malaysia (MAS)

Malaysian team were trashed by the mighty Spain 4-0 in the 1st round. I will updated the game and comment later. Second round Malaysia were paired against Honduras.

1. GM Vallejo Pons Francisco – IM Mas Hafizulhelmi 1-0

2. GMArizmendi Martinez Julen – FM Mok Tze Meng 1-0

3. GM San Segundo Carrillo Pablo - FM Lim Yee Weng 1-0

4. GM Narciso Dublan Marc - NM Chuah Jin Hai Jonathan 1-0

Topalov Win M-Tel 2006 for second year in a row!

2006-05-21T23:32:00.000+08:00

What a comeback! After a slow start, Topalov came from behind to win the M-Tel 2006 with a win over Bacrot in the final round to repeat his success in the same tournament last year. Gata Kamsky who were leading almost for the whole tournament take second place with 6 point. Anand take the 3rd place with 5.5 point . Anyway for Gata this probably his best performance so far since his serious comeback. He surely will get many elo points from this tournament and I think he will climb back to the top ten in the near future. Congratulation to Topalov and Gata for a great tournament.

Final Ranking

1 Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) 6.5
2 Gata Kamsky (USA) 6.0
3 Viswanathan Anand (India) 5.5
4 PeterSvidler (Russia) 5.0
5 Ruslan Ponomariov ( Ukraine) 3.5
6 Etienne Bacrot (France) 3.5

Veselin Topalov (2804) - Eteine Bacrot (2708) [D15]
M-Tel Master 2006 (10), 21.05.2006

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 e5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Na4 Nxe5 12.Bc3 f6 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Nxc8 Rxc8 15.g3 Qd7 16.h4 Qf7 17.Bh3 Nd7 18.b4 Rd8 19.f4 Be7 20.h5 g6 21.Qb3 Rg8 22.e4 gxh5 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Kf2 h4 25.Bxd7+ Rxd7 26.Rxh4 d4 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7 28.Bd2 Rg7 29.Rh5 Bf8 30.c6 bxc6 31.Rxc6 d3 32.Rxa6 Kg8 33.Rh1 Rde7 34.Kf3 Re2 35.Rd1 h5 36.Rxf6 h4 37.gxh4 Rgg2 38.Be3 Be7 39.Ra6 Rxa2 40.b5 Rab2 41.Rxd3 Bxh4 42.Rd7 1–0

R1 Turin Olympiad 2006: Malaysia Versus Spain!!!

2006-05-21T21:07:00.000+08:00

Mas will face Vallejo in the 1st board!

Olympiad Turin, 2006 1st round pairing has been announced and Malaysia as seeded number 83 were paired against the mighty Spain seeded number 12. In board 1, IM Mas will face GM Vallejo Pons, a regular face in international tournaments especially the Super GM Linarers. A very heavy task for a warm-up but Malaysia Boleh!!!

Spain vs Malaysia

GM Vallejo Pons Francisco (2666) - IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (2412)

GM Arizmendi Martinez Julen (2540) - FM Mok Tze Meng (2361) #

GM San Segundo Carrillo Pablo(2525) - FM Lim Yee Weng (2330)*

GM Narciso Dublan Marc (2510) - Jonathan Chuah (2216)

The 37th Chess Olympiad Malaysian Team Coverage

2006-05-21T12:16:00.000+08:00

Photo from The 37th Chess Olympiad website and www.petak64.com

Hi all,

I’m glad to inform that I will make the coverage [from my house surely :)] for the Malaysian team performance in The 37th Chess Olympiad that will be held from 20th May - 4th June 2006 in Torino, Italy. I will try to show the current Malaysia games with analysis and hopefully news about the teams. Malaysian team line-up :-

Men team

1. International Master (IM) Mas Hafizulhelmi
2. Fide Master (FM) Mok Tze Meng
3. FM Lim Yee Weng
4. NM Johanthan Chua
5. FM Anas Nazreen Bakri

Captain : Ibrahim Abu Bakar

Women team

1. Women Fide Master (WFM) Siti Zulaikha
2. Wan Khye Theng
3. Women Candidate Master (WCM)Nur Shazwani Zullkafli
4. National Women Master (NWM) Roslina Marmono

Captain : Megat Muhammad Nizam

It’s interesting to see how Mas Hafizul will perform in this tournament after being inactive in local and international tournament for quite some time. Don’t miss the excitement!!!!

Emergency! Emergency! Father I neeeeed you!!!

2006-05-20T23:00:00.000+08:00

Rustam Kamsky, father of Gata Kamsky

Round 9 MTel-2006 : Gata Kamsky lost to Topalov today and have to share the leader position with him. Going into the last round, things will be more hotter when every result will determined who will be the champion. For Gata Kamsky, I think may be he need his father help badly!!!

For anyone who don't know how close the relation between both father and son, read the statement below made by Rustam Kamsky quotes from Inside Chess Magazine during the FIDE World Championship Final between Anatoly Karpov and Gata Kamsky in Elista, Kalmykia 1996.

RUSTAM’S PLAN

“My son will be a normal person with good profession, interesting work, family, children, a house with garden and a dog…Gata is going to study six to eight years to become one of the ten best professionals in the medical field.

Here in Kalmkyia, in Russia, I would like to find a girl friend for my son…We find a clever, modest, stay-at-home girl from a good family, 13 or 14 years old. The nationality does not matter….take her with us to America where she, along with Gata will study in an American university…The girl will get education at our expense. If Gata and she fall in love during these years, I won’t mind. I want to avoid accidental and bad encounters….

….I guarantee…when she become 21, she can become independent. But we have to work very hard with this girl during these six to seven years. And then, Gata and this girl will be free”

KESAS chess training

2006-05-20T22:03:00.000+08:00

Yours truly conducting the chess class and please ignore the belly :)

Konsortiun Expressway Shah Alam Selangor (KESAS) held a chess training session today at their headquarters. They were coach by your's truly :) and i have trained them since 2004 . This is part of their preparation for Sukan Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) that will held on Julai 2006 in Kedah.
This year we planned to improved 2004 performance where KESAS got 4th placing. Wish us all the best :)

Round 7 M-Tel 2006 : World Champion beat Deputy World Champion

2006-05-19T19:48:00.000+08:00

“maybe I should play black every games to be champion”

Round 7 saw an interesting battle on all boards that I can't wait and have to go to bed at around 12 midnight because none of the game finish yet . The highlight of the round is of course between world champion Veselin Topalov (2804 fide) and “Deputy World Champion” Visy Anand (2803 fide). The champion beat his deputy with black to “equalize” the score. (Topalov lost to Anand with white in round 2). Anand have lost two game with white and didn’t lost a single game with black!

Anand,V (2803) - Topalov,V (2804) [B80]
Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (7), 18.05.2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 b5 8.Qd2 b4 9.Na4 Nbd7 10.c4 A novelty that didn't show any advantage for white later. 10...bxc3 11.Nxc3 Bb7 12.Be2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.0–0 Qb8 16.Nf5 Qe5 17.Ng3 Bb4 18.Qxb4 Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Rb8 20.Qd6 Rb6 21.Qc7 Rc6 22.Qb7 Rc2 23.Qxa6 0–0 Black is in the driver seat and Anand could only hope for his connected passed pawn for compensation. 24.b3 Ne5 25.Rae1 Qd2 26.Rd1 Qf4 27.Bb5 h5 28.Ne2 Qe3 29.a4 Rb2 30.Qd6 Rc8 31.Rde1 Nxf3 32.gxf3 Bxf3+ 33.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kf1 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 Qxb3 37.Qe5 Rd8 38.Qc3 Qxc3 39.Nxc3 h4 40.Re4 Rb3 41.Ne2 g5 Black pawn armada on the kingside give Topalov a huge advantage. 42.Re5 Rd5 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Bc6 Ra3 45.Nd4 Kg7 46.Bxd5 Rd3 47.Nf5+ Kf6 48.Be4 Rd1+ 49.Kg2 Rd2+ 50.Kf3 [50.Kg1? Ke5 51.Bb1 Rd1+ will lose a piece and the game.] 50...Rxh2 51.Ne3 Ra2 52.Bc6 Ra3 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.Bd7 Ke5 55.Kf3 Ra3 56.Kf2 Ke4 57.Bc6+ Kf4 58.Ng2+ Ke5 59.Ne3 Ra2+ 60.Kf3 f5 61.Bd7 h3 0–1

Bum Of The Month - GM Tony Miles

2006-05-18T20:40:00.000+08:00

The answer for bum of the month post by me yesterday is the late Tony Miles.

Tony Miles Britian's first chess grand Master died in 2001. The late GM Tony Miles has been sorely missed within the chess world.Viktor Korchnoi told a story in CHESS magazines August 2003 about Tony who compete together with him, Wolfgang Unzicker and Antony Lein in 1979 Oude Meester Grand Prix in South Africa :-

Korchnoi was allocated a hotel room adjacent to Tony and his new wife Jana. At breakfast after a few rounds Korchnoi announced " I don't have to ask the result of Tony's Game. If he lost there is heated row, if he draws there is silence but if he wins they make love all night"

R6: Kamsky win , Topalov down by Svidler.

2006-05-18T03:58:00.000+08:00

Who is this guy?

Kamsky leading back the tournament after a convincing win against Ponamariov but the highlight of the tournament is i think the defeat of Topalov to Svidler. It seems that Topalov will have difficult time to retain his title this year. On the other hand, Kamsky have already proved my statement before that he will comeback to place where he should belong: (the top ten or top 5 maybe?). I think his rating and ranking will increase in nearest time. Kamsky no. 33 in the world rank (2671) has beat no.2 in the world rank Anand (2803), no.4 in the world Svidler (2743) and no.6 in the world Ponamariov (2738)!!!. His father Rustam Kamsky would really be proud of his son achievement so far.

[M-Tel 2006]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov"]
[Black "Svidler "]
[ECO "D87"]
[Annotator-Hairulov]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. d5 Na5 14. Bd3 b5 15. Rb1 a6 16. c4 {A novelty. But my chess program doesn't show any advantage for this move.} e6 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Qd2 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4 {Already black position look promising. White d-pawn doesn't look too attractive.} 20. d6 Bb7 21. Qe3 f6 22. Bh4 g5 23.Bg3 f5 {I think here black already have the advantage.} 24. Qxg5 Bxe4 25. Rb6 Qd8 26. Qxd8 Raxd8 27. Rd1 Rd7 {The d7 is safely blocked.} 28. f3 Bc2 29. Re1 Bd3 30. Rxa6 c3 31. Ra3 Bxe2 32. Rxe2 Rb8 33. Rb3 Rxb3 34. axb3 Kf7 35. Kf1 Rb7 36. Ra2 Bf6 37. Ke2 c4 38. b4 Rxb4 39. Ra7+ Kg6 40. Rc7 c2 {Topalov is really in bad position.} 41. Kd2 f4 42. Be1 Rb1 43. Rxc4 Rd1+ 44. Kxc2 Rxe1 {Time to resign Topalov!} 45. Rxf4 Re2+ {45...Re5 straight away is more accurate.} 46. Kd3 Re5 47. Rg4+ Kf7 48. Ra4 Rd5+ 49. Ke3 Rxd6 50. Ra7+ Kg6 51. Kf4 Rd4+ 52. Kg3 Bh4+ 53. Kh3 Bf2 54. g3 Rh4+ 55.Kxh4 Bxa7 56. Kh3 Kf5 57. Kg2 Be3 58. Kh3 Ke5 59. Kg4 Bg1 60. h4 Bf2 61. h5 h6
0-1

I was watching European Cup final live in ASTRO while posting this blog. Arsenal lost 1-2 Barcelona after brilliantly take the lead 1-0 with 10 men after Jen Lemmens being red card for foul play against Barca striker Semueal Eto. The referee decision to sent off the goal keeper was arguable.

p/s: The guy on the top is of course Gata Kamsky long time ago :)

Bum of the Month!!!

2006-05-17T19:33:00.000+08:00

Who is the camera-shy chessplayer/footballer ?

Clues: the picture was taken in London.

Kasparov Wrong Prediction!?

2006-05-16T22:53:00.000+08:00

Gary Kasparov former world chess champion from 1985-2000 is well known for his calculating chess move ability. But I noticed that in terms of his prediction about certain things in chess, he was not as good as his calculating or predicting chess move ability. See two Kasparov views on computer strength and Fischer comeback quotes from the book Chess Explorations by Edward Winter.

Kasparov on computers

Kasparov comments on chess computers in an interview with Thierry Paunin on pages 4-5 of issue 55 of Jeux & Strate’gie:

‘Question:…Two top Grandmasters have gone down to chess computers: Portisch against “Leornado” and Larsen against “Deep Thought”. It is well known that you have strong views in this subject. Will a computer be World Champion, one day…?

Kasparov : Ridiculous! A machine will always remain a machine, that is to say a tool to help the player work and prepare. Never shall I be beaten by a machine! Never will a program be invented which surpasses human intelligence , I also mean intuition and imagination. Can you see a machine writing novel or poetry? Better still, can you imagine a machine conducting this interview instead of you? With me replying to its questions?

p/s: As we know Kasparov lost to Deeper Blue in a match in 1997!!!

Kasparov on Fischer

Kasparov was interviewed by Thierry Paunin in L’Equipe magazine of 24 January 1987. here are the relevant exchanges:

Thierry Paunin: Do you think Fischer will play again one day and would you like to meet him?

Kasparov: No. I don’t think there is the slightest chance that Fischer will ever play chess again. The return of Fischer is a myth; in any case, it provides good suspense for people who nothing about chess. Fischer is the chess past. He left because he didn’t want to play anymore. Endless talk about his return is just day-dreaming.

Thierry Paunin: Haven’t you ever tried to make contact with him? It is said that some grandmasters keep in touch with him…

Kasparov: I don’t believe a word of it. I want proof. It is also said that he still plays. Well, let him play, let him enter a tournament and let him play! For me Fischer is no longer anything. He has gone into history. That is very interesting from the historical point of view, but Fischer means nothing more at all today!’

p/s: Fischer play Spassky in a “World Championship” Match in 1992.

Topalov Slow Down Kamsky.

2006-05-16T19:12:00.000+08:00

Veselin Topalov minus beard and moustache.

So far , M-Tel 2006 have produced interesting result each round to make it difficult to guest who will win this tournament. Although Kamsky and Anand lead with 3.5 point from 5 round, all player has suffered defeat. Topalov beat Kamsky in Round 5 last night in a one-sided game especially after Topalov 26.e6 …27. Rxe6 exchange sacrifice.

Topalov (2804) - ,Kamsky (2671) [D15]
M-Tel 2006 (5), 15.05.2006
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6 8.Rc1 g6 9.h3 Qc7 10.g3 Bg7 11.Bf4 Qd8 12.Bg2 Nh5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bd2 0–0 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nhf6 17.Nc3 Re8 18.0–0 Nf8 19.Qb3 Ne6 20.Be3 Nc7 21.Ne5 Nfd5 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Bd2 Bxe5 24.dxe5 h5 25.Rfe1 Qc7 26.e6 An interesting pawn sacrifice which promises white plenty of compensation. Bxe6 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Re1 Qd7 29.Qd3 Kh7 30.Re5 Nf6 31.Qe3 Kg7 32.Be4 Kf7 [32...Nxe4 33.Rxe4 and after Bc3 black will have weakness in a1–h8 diagonal and e6.] 33.Bc2 Rad8? Better is 34...Rg8 which help Black king to go to queenside to find shelter. Black have a lost position after this move. 34.Qh6 Rg8 35.Ba5 Qd4 36.Bc3 Qc4 37.Bb3 Qd3 38.Bxe6+ Ke8 39.Kg2 Rf8 40.Qg7 Rd5 Kamsky try to confuse matter but to no avail. 41.Bf5 Rf7 42.Rxe7+ Kamsky resign. 1–0

Indonesia Chess History-Part 2

2006-05-15T19:34:00.000+08:00

Alexander Alekhine make a trip around the world in 1930’s. He visit Asia, America and Europe to play simultaneous games with people all around the world. He came to Indonesia in 1930 and 1933. Below is two of his simultaneous game there.

Alekhine - Wertheim [D31]
Simul .Surabaya, Indonesia, 1930
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 h6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 c5 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nf6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Be2 0–0 11.0–0 Qa5 12.Qb3 Ne4 13.Bb2 Qb6 14.Qc2 Nf6 15.a4 Rd8 16.Rfd1 Bd7 17.Ba3 cxd4 18.cxd4 Be8 19.Bb2 Rac8 20.Bc3 Qc7 21.a5 Qf4 22.Rab1 Rc7 23.Bd2 Qe4 24.Bd3 Qg4 25.h3 Qh5 26.Bf4 Rcd7 27.Rb5 Nxd4 28.Nxd4 Qxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Rxd4 30.Rd5 R8xd5 31.cxd5 Rxf4 32.dxe6 fxe6 33.Qb3 Bc6 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.a6 Ng8 36.Qc8 Rb4 37.Bf5 1–0

Wertheim is probably a mix indo-dutch because Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch in 18th and 19th century.

Alekhine - The Hong Oe [B20]
Simul .Jogjakrta, Indonesia, 03.03.1933
1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 bxa3 4.Bxa3 d6 5.d4 g6 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.c3 Nf6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 b6 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.0–0 0–0 12.c4 Qc7 13.Rfe1 Nh5 14.Qe3 e5 15.Bf1 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nc5 17.Rac1 Rfe8 18.f3 Be5 19.g3 Qe7 20.Bg2 Bg7 21.g4 Nf4 22.Bf1 Be5 23.Nb5 a6 24.Nc3 Qh4 25.Qf2 Qxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Ncd3+ 0–1
A win for the local player!!!

source : Indonesia Chess History ( Sejarah Catur Indonesia) by Ds.F.K.N. Harahap

Kamsky Demolish Svidler!!!

2006-05-14T23:40:00.000+08:00

Peter Sloan with Gata Kamsky. Peter Aravena Sloan son wearing tan jacket is standing left. Gata Kamsky wearing purple shirt is standing right. In the center is Fedor Khrapatin, Captain of the Brooklyn College Chess Team. Behind Peter is Kamsky's blue car, a very expensive car which shows that Kamsky is doing well financially. This photo was taken just outside the campus of Brooklyn College in the Summer of 2003. (see http://www.ishipress.com/kamsky.htm)

After his win over Anand (2nd in world ranking), Kamsky continue his excellent form by beating Svidler (no.4 in world ranking) today. Svidler choose his favourite Kan Variation in Sicilian Defense and look fine in the opening until he played 15….Nd7? which Kamsky replied with the brilliant sacrifice 16.Nd5!! and later followed by another sacrifice 21.Rxf6 and dominate black square around black king. The game only last 24 move. With this win Kamsky confirm his comeback into the chess elite club!. I wonder what Kasparov would comment about Kamsky performance so far?

Kamsky - Svidler [B83]
M-Tel 2006 Round 4
14.05.2006

Analysed by Shredder 9

B83: Sicilian Scheveningen 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0–0 Be7 8.Be3 0–0 9.f4 e5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Kh1 exf4 12.Bxf4 Be6 13.Bf3 (13.Qd4 and Qe1 is an alternative.) 13...Qb6 14.b3 Secures c4 14...Rfd8 [14...Rad8 15.Qe1=] 15.Qe1 Nd7?? [¹15...d5= the rescuing straw] 16.Nd5+- A double attack 16...cxd5 [16...Bxd5 17.exd5 Discovered attack] 17.exd5 Discovered attack. 17...Bg4 [17...Bf5 18.Qxe7 Nf8+-] 18.Qxe7 [18.Bxg4?! Bf6 19.Rd1 Be5+-] 18...Bxf3 19.Rxf3 [19.gxf3?! Nf8+-] 19...Nf6 [19...Qa6 20.Bh6! Demolition of pawn structure 20...Ne5 21.Qg5+- Ng6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Qe6+ Kh8 (26...Kg7 27.Rf7+ Kh6 28.Qe3+ Kh5 29.Rf5+ Kg4 30.Qh3#) 27.Rf7] 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Rxf6 gxf6 22.Qxf6 Re8 [22...Qxd5?? the pawn is safe and cannot be captured without dire consequences 23.Bd4 Qxd4 24.Qxd4+-] 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Bd2 White wins[24.Bd2 Qd8 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Bc3+-] 1–0

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

2006-05-14T13:57:00.000+08:00

left : my mother Siti Rofmah and right my wife : Hidahyuwati

Happy Mother's Day for two most important women in my life !!!!

Liverpool Win F.A Cup Final 2006!!!!

2006-05-14T01:44:00.000+08:00

Liverpool Win F.A Cup Final 2006!!!!

Hi all!

Sorry, out of topic but i’m proudly announced that Liverpool is the F.A Cup Champion for 2006.

For all Liverpool supporters among chess player…You’ll Never Walk Alone!!!!!

Kamsky beat Anand with Black!!!!

2006-05-14T00:22:00.000+08:00

Anand - Kamsky Round 3
photo from M-Tel official Website

Amazing!!! After 2 perfect point with black Anand lost with white to Kamsky. For the record Anand lost to Kamsky earlier this year in Wijk An Zee. Anand must be wondering how can he lost to a guy that has not playing for about 8 years? Furthermore he lost in a very embarrassing way. I think 41.b3 is the decisive mistake because after that the pawn on c3 is problematic and Anand have to bring his rook to protect it and he got a very defensive and passive position.

It was a very enjoyable night for me. I simultaneously watching F.A Cup Final between my favorite club ever Liverpool versus West Ham United on ASTRO and Round 3 M-Tel 2006 live in the Internet Chess Club (ICC). Liverpool produce another magnificent comeback after trailing 0-2 and 2-3 to equalize in 91 minutes to bring into the extra time and win on penalty 3-1 at the end. They repeat last year story when they won the European Cup after trailing 0-3 at one time to A.C Milan in the final!!!! You'll Never Walk Alone!!!!!

[Date "2006.05.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Kamsky_"]
[ECO "C88"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nbd2 Nd8 12. c3 Ne6 13. d4 Rad8 14. d5 Nf4 15. Nf1
Ng6 16. Ng3 c6 17. Bg5 cxd5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Bxd5 Nf4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qc2 g6
22. Rad1 d5 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Qxd5 25. Rd1 Qe6 26. Qe4 Rb8 27. Ne2 Nxe2+
28. Qxe2 Re8 29. Qe4 h6 30. g4 Bg5 31. Nxg5 hxg5 32. Qd5 Kg7 33. Qxe6 Rxe6 34.
Rd7 Kf6 35. Kf1 Rc6 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. Rd8 e4 38. f3 exf3+ 39. Kxf3 Rd6 40. Re8+
Kd5 41. b3 Rf6+ 42. Kg2 Rc6 43. Re3 f5 44. gxf5 gxf5 45. Rg3 Ke4 46. a4 bxa4
47. bxa4 Kf4 48. Rf3+ Ke5 49. Re3+ Kf6 50. Rd3 f4 51. Kf3 Ke5 52. Kg4 Rd6 53.
Rxd6 Kxd6 54. h4 gxh4 55. Kxh4 Kd5 56. Kh3 Ke4 57. Kg2 * 0-1

Indonesia Chess History

2006-05-13T21:21:00.000+08:00

Dr. Max Euwe playing simul in Indonesia in 1930. Situmbuk 3rd from left manage to draw with the former World Champion.
Hi all,

I would like to share with all Malaysian chess community the history of Chess in Indonesia . Recently an unknown and unrated Indonesian Tjin Hau win Royal Selangor Open 2006 beating top Malaysian and National Olympiad team FM Lim Yee Weng, FM Anas Nazreen and WFM Siti Zulaikha. I wonder what happen if we meet Indonesia Olympiad team in Turin.

From my readings, chess in Indonesia have exist since the 1st century brought by Hindu missionary from India and later by Arab trader . The chess set and pieces was different though at that time. They are variety set of chess pieces and the quantity of the pieces varied (36 piece, 48 piece etc.) Indonesian played the game for betting, trading and for fun.

The earlier record for the royal chess being played in Indonesia is the game between Indonesian top player at that time Si Narsar (Batak Champion) and Saffier in January 1917 at Jakarta (Batavia).

source : Buku Sejarah Catur Indonesia oleh Ds.F.K.N. Harahap (Indonesia Chess History)

Saffier - Narsar
French Winawer [C15]
Jakarta, January1917

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 exd5 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Bd3 Bf5 8.0–0 0–0 9.Rb1 b6 10.Re1 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Ng6 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Rxe8+ Qxe8 14.Re1 Qd7 15.Qf5 c5 16.Qh5 Na6 17.Bc1 Nc7 18.Ng5 h6 19.Nf3 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.h3 Qe4 22.Be3 Ne6 23.dxc5 bxc5 24.g3 d4 25.cxd4 cxd4 26.Bd2 Qxc2 27.Qd5 Qa4 28.Kg2 a6 29.Qb7 Qb5 30.Qa8+ Kh7 31.h4 Qa4 32.Qe4 Qb5 33.a4 Qh5 34.Qa8 Qf5 35.Qxa6 Qe4 0–1

In 1930, Dr. Max Euwe, former Dutch World Champion visited Indonesia for training preparation . Below is his simultaneous game with one local player call Si Tumbuk.

Si Tumbuk - Dr. Max Euwe
King Indian Defense [E61]
Medan, Indonesia, August 1930
1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.a3 d6 6.b3 e5 7.d5 e4 8.Bb2 Qe7 9.Nge2 Nbd7 10.Nd4 Ne5 11.Qc2 c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Rb8 15.Qc2 c5 16.Nb5 Bf5 17.Qd1 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Bxb2 19.Ra2 Bg7 20.Rd2 a6 21.Nxd6 Bc3 22.Nxf5 gxf5 23.Qc2 Qf6 24.Bd3 Rfd8 25.Ke2 Bxd2 26.Kxd2 Rd6 27.Rg1+ Kf8 28.Qc3 f4 29.Qxf6 fxe3+ 30.Kxe3 Rxf6 31.Bc2 Re8+ 32.Be4 Rb6 33.Rg5 Rxb3+ 34.Kf4 Rxa3 35.Rxc5 h6 36.Bd5 Ra2 37.Rc6 h5 38.h4 a5 39.Ra6 a4 40.Kg5 Ke7 41.c5 Rc2 42.Ra7+ Kd8 43.Ra8+ Ke7 ½–½

Anand demolish Topalov in Round 2 !!!

2006-05-13T00:58:00.000+08:00

The second round of the Mtel Masters took place on Friday 12th May 2006.

Topalov,V (2804) - Anand,V (2803) [C88]
(Round 2), 12.05.2006
C88: Closed Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall Systems
Analysed by Shredder

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 I really amaze by Anand wide repertoire. He has played almost all defense to 1.e4. He play The French Defense, Sicilian Defense, Carro Kann, Petroff and the Ruy Lopez. Even Kasparov have limited repertoire facing 1.e4.
5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 Re8 10.c3 h6 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a3 d6 13.Ba2 Nb8 14.b4 [14.Nh4 Nbd7±] 14...c5 15.Nb3 Nc6 16.Rb1 Bc8 17.Be3 Be6 Black prepares c4 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Qb2 c4 20.dxc4 Bxc4 21.Nbd2 Bxa2 22.Qxa2 d5 23.Rbd1 d4 24.cxd4 exd4 25.Nb3 Nxe4 26.Bxd4 [26.Qb2!?= is an interesting idea] 26...Nxd4µ 27.Rxd4 Ng5 this is really a stong move !28.Ne5 Nxh3+! Demolishes the pawn shield 29.gxh3 [29.Kf1 Qg5 30.Nf3 Qf5 31.Rxe8 Rxe8µ] 29...Qg5+ A double attack 30.Kh2 [30.Rg4 Rxe5 31.Rxg5 Rxe1+ 32.Kg2 hxg5 33.Qd2–+; ¹30.Rg4 Rxe5 31.Rxg5 Rxe1+ 32.Kh2 hxg5 33.Nd4–+] 30...Qf5+- [30...Rxe5?! 31.f4 Qg6 32.Rxe5 Rc2+ 33.Qxc2 Qxc2+ 34.Nd2–+; 30...Qf5 31.Qd2 Rxe5 32.Rxe5 Qxe5+ 33.f4 Qf6–+; 30...Rxe5?! 31.f4 Qg6 32.Rxe5 (32.fxe5? Rc2+ 33.Qxc2 Qxc2+ 34.Nd2 Qc3–+) 32...Rc2+ 33.Qxc2 Qxc2+ 34.Nd2–+] 31.Rde4 Rxe5! it's all over 32.Rxe5 Decoy theme: e5 [32.Nd4 Rxe4 33.Nxf5 Rxe1–+] 32...Bd6 A pinning theme 33.Nc5 Bxe5+ 34.Kg2 Rc6 35.Qb3 [35.Ne4 Qg6+ 36.Kf1 Bc3–+] 35...Rg6+ 36.Kf1 Bg3 [36...Bg3 37.Ne4 Qxh3+ 38.Ke2 Re6–+; 36...Rg3 might be the shorter path 37.Re3 Qxh3+ 38.Ke2 Qh5+ 39.Rf3–+] 0–1

Anand has a perfect score so far with two points so far and he done it with black. I wonder what he can do when playing white!!!

M-Tel 2005 Revisited -Kramnik blunder blues!!!

2006-05-12T23:42:00.000+08:00

Anand-Kramnik Round 7 , the screen showed Kramnik position after Anand 20. Re5 move that threaten to win Na5 and Bf5.

Hi all!

M-Tel 2005 will be remembered for Topalov brilliance performance and stepping stone towards more great performance in 2005 and 2006. Although he shared first place with Kasparov in Linares 2005, it was overshadowed by Kasparov retired announcement. For me, Kramnik poor performance is at least as interesting as Topalov brilliance result. I witnessed how he play badly and even blundered horribly in two games
( Kramnik –Topalov Round10 and Anand- Kramnik Round 7) I witness both games in ASTRO.

Kramnik,V (2753) - Topalov,V (2778) [B80]
Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (10), 22.05.2005
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 [8.g4 Kramnik - Topalov Wijk aan Zee (2) 2005 0-1 20 where Kramnik lost another short game to the same guy ] 8...b4 9.Nce2 e5 10.Nb3 Nc6 11.c4 Be7 12.Ng3 g6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Qf2 a5 16.0-0 a4 17.Nc1 17...Nc5 18.Bb1 Qc7 19.Nce2 Be6 20.Bh6 Rfe8 21.Nf5 Bxc4 22.Ne3 Ba6 23.f4 exf4 24.Bxf4 Ne5 25.Nd5 Qa7 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Kh1 27...Bg5 28.Nxb4 Bc4 Very handily covering f7 29.Rfe1 Qb7 Topalov offers a draw with this move but Kramnik declined and choose to fights on . 30.Nd5

30...Qxb2?? this is a pure blunder . 31.Nc7?!? Kramnik only took about 2 second to play this move. Actually he can win a piece with 31.Qxc5 Rec8 (31...Bxe2 32.Qf2 Winning the bishop and the game) 32.Qf2 is just winning ] 31...Ne6 With a pawn and very active pieces Black is at least equal and his position is easier to play 32.Nxe8 Rxe8 33.Rf1 Rf8

34.Nc1?? Kramnik took about 40 seconds to made this blunder. He actually have about 6 minutes to reach the first time control.[34.Ng3 a3 35.Qxb2 (35.Bd3 Qxf2 36.Rxf2 Rd8 37.Bc2 Rxd1+ 38.Bxd1 Nd4 and Black wins. The threat is Be3 and Nf1 provides no relief 39.Nf1 Bc1-+ With ...Bb2 and ...Bxa2 to follow and in necessary ...f5) 35...axb2 36.Rf2 Rb8 is better for Black but White has chances to give back the exchange and try and eliminate the b2 pawn 37.Rc2 Ba6 38.Ne2-/+;]34...Qxb1 Topalov took about 13 seconds to made this move and Kramnik probably has realized that he has blunder resign immediately.35.Nb3 Qxe4 will conclude the game 0-1

quoting from Dirk Jan Ten Geuzendam in what happen after the game in New In Chess 5/2005

“……Some 20 minutes later Wijk aan Zee director Jeroen van den Berg and I happen to run into him (Kramnik) in one of the hotel’s long corridors. He gives us a friendly nod and neither of us dares ask him if he already knows…..Then Kramnik suddenly stops turns around and say- ‘ Do you know that I could have won a piece? Incredible’ He had gone to his room and briefly lain down on his bed to rethink the finish of the game. Then it had dawned on him. He looks at a loss for words and we don’t know what to say either after all the misery he’s gone through in the second half of the tournament. He shakes his head and walks on.”….

Anand,V (2785) - Kramnik,V (2753) [C42]
MTel Masters Sofia, Bulgaria (7), 19.05.2005

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.Qc1N

A novelty from Anand. But I think just a normal novelty. Not all novelty is brilliant move but Kramnik looks like he don’t have any concrete plan to face it.
16...Na5 17.c4 Qe4?? Blunder. Kramnik took only 3 minutes to play this move and he look confidence and he indeed stand up and moved from his table. Anand puzzle by the move took about 8 minutes to reply 18.Bd1 Qd3 19.Re3 Qxc4 20.Re5 after making this move Anand walk around and left Kramnik pondering at the board for about 15 minutes before resigning. black l will lose a piece (Na5 or Bf5) 1-0

"Enter The Sicilian Dragon"

2006-05-12T13:53:00.000+08:00

What the best move for black?[

This is one of my game about ten years ago. I'm playing black and facing Mark Weng Yee ( season player in local tournament at that time) and during that time Sicilian Dragon is my main weapon to 1.e4. Nowadays i don't play it anymore because everybody usually will not play the main line espicially in local tournament. They play nonsense such as Bb5+ or g3 or whatsoever just to side step the main line Dragon so i think it is a waste of time studying and memorizing the main line .But sometimes i have the oppurtunity to play the main line..with the help of my opponent.

Event "5th Kolej, Universiti Malaya Open 1996"]
[Site "Kuala Lumpur"]
[Date "1996.12.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mark Weng Yee"]
[Black "Hairul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[EventDate "1996.12.15"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "MAS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. h4 h5 11. O-O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Ne5 13. Bg5 Rc5 14. g4 hxg4 15.
f4 Nc4 16. Qd3 Qc8 17. Nde2 b5 18. e5 Bf5 19. Qg3 Nh5 20. Qg1 can u guess my next move?

My Chess Second

2006-05-12T12:19:00.000+08:00

GM Ilhan Mansiz and WGM Balqis Batrisyha during training session.

Since married, i'm no more rely on chess books, magazines and chess programme such as Fritz, Chessmaster, Shredder, Junior, Chessbase whatsoever...now i have two full time trainer, seconder, and they will "help" me without asking during my training, analysis and games. Some of their move are really strong that even Fritz can't understand it !!!

Their rates are quite reasonable...ribena berry and ice-cream will do...

My Family

2006-05-11T23:38:00.000+08:00

left to right :Hairul(me), Ilhan Mansiz My son),Ayu (my wife), Balqis (my daughter)

M-Tel Masters starts today!!!!!!!

2006-05-11T21:41:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

Topalov, Anand, Svidler, Ponomariov, Bacrot and Kamsky, will compete in a category 20 double round robin tournament from May 11–21 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Last year events was a very exciting for me. I watched many of the games live on ASTRO (box Office event). Sadly for this year ASTRO doesn't broadcast the events anymore. But we can still watch it on Internet Chess Club and i'm doing it right now.

Cheers

MCF send the unity proposal letter to Bessel KOK!

2006-05-11T12:11:00.000+08:00

(picture from Indochess.)

Hi all,

Mr. Hamid Majid ,Secretary of Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF)
went to Jakarta on 6th May 2006 to present an open letter on behalf of Dato Tan Chin Nam and to Bessel Kok (candidate for Fide Presidency) . The letter urge for a viable alternative for the FIDE election by suggesting a joint Ilyumzhinov-Kok presidency. I back to differ with this letter though but I respect the decision made by Dato Tan Chin Nam and MCF.

I think it is impossible to have two person leading such a huge organization, everybody have different view about things, how decision have to be made if both president have different view and there will be no progress. May be what Dato’ Tan want is for both personality work together to strengthen FIDE but certainly one of them have to accept lower position .

Searching For Julian Navaratnam!

2006-04-17T12:16:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

Still remember Julian Navaratnam? Season chess player in local tournaments (Malaysia) during the 90’s . He is a strong player and win or at least in top ten in every local tournaments he played. But he disappear from chess scene a couple years before for unknown reason. Perhaps somebody know what his doing right now and i hope to hear about him soon. For anyone who doesn’t know him, he looks like Anand (with extras kilo - a lot of kilo actually).

During his active year he play almost all tournaments in the country like professional chess player. I don’t know how he earn the living but i know that he wrote text book for school (Sasbadi Publishing if not mistaken) but it can’t be his sole income i think.

I played him once in National Blitz Championship in the 90’s (1996 if i’m not mistaken ) and win the game. Unfortunately i can’t remember the full game but i remember i play black using Philidor Defense . I was down in material ( 1 pieces ) in the middle game but had two passed pawn as compensation. Julian try to attack my king side to deliver mate but i managed to defend it and then i managed to convert my passed pawn for full point. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t pretend that i’m superior than him because i still think he’s much better than me only that in that particular game i somehow manage to swindle the position by god’s will.

Julian is really a strong player and i think he can at least achieve International Master if he still play seriously. If anybody know about him i’m glad to hear about it. Below is his game against another season local chess player Jax ThamTick Hong.

Julian Navaratnam - Tham Tick Hong [B22]
Merdeka Open 1994 31.08.1994

Analysis by Shredder 9

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 e6 7.0–0 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Qd8 10.Be3 Be7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Ne5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 0–0 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.Na4 Nd5 A valuable piece 17.Nc5 Bxc5 [17...Qc7 18.Rc4=] 18.Rxc5 Menacing 18...Rfc8 19.Rac1 Attacks the isolani on c6 19...h6 Prevents intrusion on g5 [19...Rab8 20.b3] 20.Qf3 [20.Qg4 Kh7±] 20...Kf8 [20...Rab8 21.b3] 21.Qe4 Rab8 [21...Kg8 22.Qg4 Nxe3 23.fxe3±] 22.b3 [22.Qh7 Nxe3 23.fxe3 f6±] 22...Rb6 [22...Kg8 23.Qg4 Kf8 24.Bd2] 23.Ra5 [23.Qh7 Nxe3 24.fxe3 f6+-] 23...Rd8 [23...Rb5!? is an interesting alternative 24.Ra4 Kg8] 24.Qh7± f5 25.Bxh6 [25.Bd2+-] 25...Nf6?? [25...gxh6 this is the best bet to save the position 26.Qh8+ Kf7 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Qh7+ Kf8=] 26.Qg6 [26.Qh8+ and White can already relax 26...Ng8 27.Bf4 Kf7 28.Qh5+ Kf8+-] 26...Qf7 [26...Nd5 27.Bg5 Rdb8 28.h4+-] 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7 28.Rxa7+ Rd7 29.Rxd7+ Nxd7 30.Be3 Ra6 31.a4 Ke7 32.Rc4 Kd6 33.Kf1 Nb6 [33...Rb6 hardly improves anything 34.Rc3+-] 34.Rb4 g6 35.Bf4+ Kd5 36.Bc7 Nd7 37.Ke2 Ra7 38.Bb6 [38.Bf4 might be the shorter path 38...e5 39.dxe5 Ra8+-] 38...Rb7 39.a5 e5 [39...Rb8 doesn't get the bull off the ice 40.f4+-] 40.dxe5 c5 [40...f4 doesn't get the cat off the tree 41.Rxf4 Nxb6 42.Rb4+-] 41.Bxc5 Rc7 [41...Rxb4 is no salvation 42.Bxb4 Kxe5 43.a6+-] 42.Rd4+ Kxe5 [42...Ke6 doesn't change the outcome of the game 43.Bd6 Ra7 44.b4 Nxe5 45.Bc5+-] 43.Bd6+ [43.f4+ keeps an even firmer grip 43...Kf6 44.Rd6+ Kf7+-] 43...Kxd4 44.Bxc7 Kc5 45.Kf3 Kc6 46.Bd8 1–0

Tribute to Agus Salim and Foong Chee Leng (Corrected Version)

2006-04-16T22:35:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

I would like to share with all of you about two chess player that have add colors in Malaysian chess with their games and personality. They are the late Agus Salim and Foong Chee Leng. For anyone who doesn’t know both of them especially the new generation, Agus Salim is among the strongest chess player in Malaysia during the 90’s. His nationality is not clear to me, some said that he has permanent residence (PR) status but I don’t really care much because his contribution to chess in Malaysia is more worth it to be remembered.

He dominated chess tournaments in Malaysia and won many tournaments during that period. He beat IM Jimmy Liew of Malaysia at least two times. I also witness his triumph over IM Nasib Ginting from Indonesia during their casual play.( betting of course). As an Indonesian living in Malaysia, he really show local player that we are still far away in chess strength from neighboring countries especially when player like Agus who don’t have any title or FIDE rating can dominated them. Agus died because of brain cancer. That what I heard from my fellow friends.

The next personality is the late Foong Chee Leng. Although his chess ability is not at par compare to Agus or other top local players but his personality really made his presence felt by chess community in Malaysia. Apart from playing chess, he also involve in chess coaching and organize chess tournaments. I still remembered watching him as assistant arbiter in Asian Cities Chess Championship in Genting Highlands, Malaysia in 1994. The young Rustam Kasimdhanov, former FIDE World Champion play on that tournament and suffered defeat to one of Arab player.

Below are two of my games with both personality.

Hairul Abdul Hamid - Foong Chee Leng[A45]
Royal Selangor 1996 (6), 04.07.1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 The Trompowsky attack. My favourite opening in the past. Just want to avoid main line opening. 2...c6 3.Nc3 3...h6?! Black don't mine to have double pawn and hope that his bishop pairs can give him advantage. 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.e4 [5.e3 d5=] 5...b5 Too omptimistic. [5...Bb4!? is worthy of consideration 6.Bd3 d5= according to my chess program Shredder 9. But I think 5...Qb6 is more consistent and after 6.b3 than white has some weakness in dark square.] 6.Bd3 a5 7.Nf3 Ba6 [7...Be7!?±] 8.0–0 b4 9.Ne2 c5 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.d5 [11.Ng3!? cxd4 12.e5 Be7 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Re1+ Kf8+-] 11...Bd6 12.Nd2 Qc7 13.h3 [13.Nc4!? Bxh2+ 14.Kh1±] 13...c4 14.b3 [14.c3 0–0] 14...Be5 15.Rb1 cxb3 16.cxb3 [Instead of 16.Rxb3 0–0µ; Inferior is 16.Nxb3 0–0] 16...Rc8 [16...0–0 17.Rc1 Nc5 18.Kh1] 17.Nc4 0–0 18.f4 Qa7+ [18...Bc3!?±] 19.Kh1 Bc7 20.Nd4 Kh8? [20...Rce8 21.Nf5 Nc5+-] 21.Nf5 Nc5 [21...Kh7 22.Qh5 Nc5 23.e5+-] 22.Qf3 [22.Qg4 and White wins 22...Rg8 23.e5+-] 22...Rce8 23.Rbe1 White intends e5 23...Kh7 24.e5 g6 [24...Qa6 25.Rc1 Nb7 26.d6+-] 25.Nfd6 Re7?? an oversight. But Black was lost anyway. [25...Bxd6 26.Nxd6 Ra8+-] 26.Nb5 [26.exf6?! is a weaker possibility 26...Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Bxd6 28.Nxd6 Qb6±] 26...Qb7 27.Nxc7 fxe5?! Black just want to complicate matters. [27...Kg8 doesn't change anything anymore 28.d6 Qxf3 29.Rxf3+-] 28.d6 e4 [28...Re6 is no salvation 29.Qxb7 Nxb7 30.fxe5+-] 29.Qe3 Re6 30.Qxc5 Rc8 31.Qb6 [31.f5 and White takes home the point 31...Rf8 32.fxe6 Qc8+-] 31...Rxc7 32.Qxc7 [32.dxc7?! Rxb6 33.Nxb6 Qxc7] 32...Qb5 33.Qxa5 [33.Ne5 keeps an even firmer grip 33...Kg7 34.Nxd7+-] 33...Qc6 34.Qxb4 [34.f5 gxf5 35.Qxf5+ Rg6 36.Rxe4 Qxe4 37.Qxe4 Kg8 38.Qe8+ Kh7 39.Rxf7+ Rg7 40.Qxd7 h5 41.Rxg7+ Kh8 42.Rh7+ Kg8 43.Qf7#] 34...f5 35.a4 [35.Qb8!? might be the shorter path 35...Kg7 36.Qd8 Rf6+-] 35...Qa8 36.Ne5 Qd8 37.Rc1 g5 38.Rc7 Rxe5 39.fxe5 Kg6 40.Qc4 g4 [40...e3 doesn't get the bull off the ice 41.Rc8 Qxc8 42.Qxc8 e2 43.Qg8+ Kh5 44.Re1 g4 45.g3 gxh3 46.Kh2 f4 47.Kxh3 f3 48.Qg4#] 41.Rc8 Qb6 [41...Qf6 is not the saving move 42.exf6 Kg5 43.Qg8+ Kh4 44.Rxf5 h5 45.Kh2 e3 46.g3#] 42.Qg8+ [42.Qg8+ Kh5 43.Rxf5+ Kh4 44.Qxg4#] 1–0

Hairul Abdul Hamid - Agus Salim [A45]
Royal Selangor 2006 Personal (8), 05.07.1996

A45: Trompowsky Attack 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 h6 5.Bxf6 [5.exf6 hxg5 6.fxg7 Bxg7 Black will have the bishop pairs; 5.Bh4 g5 6.Bg3 Ne4 Is an alternative. 7.Nd2] 5...gxf6 6.exf6 Qxf6 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.Bd3 I sac a pawn for initiative. A dubious sacrifiece though. [8.Qxd4 Qxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6µ And white is better due to his bishop pairs.] 8...Nc6 9.0–0 d5 10.c3 Bd7 11.cxd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Nc3 [13.Na3–+] 13...h5 [13...0–0–0–+; 13...0–0–0 14.Rc1 Kb8 15.Qe2–+] 14.Nb5 Qb6 [14...Qxb2?? capturing this pawn is a mistake 15.Nc7+ Kd8 16.Nxa8+-] 15.Qe2 a6?? After the game i found that this move is really a serious mistake. [15...Rc8] 16.Nc3?? throws away a nice position [16.Qe5 and White could have gained the advantage 16...axb5 17.Qxh8+- (17.Qxh8) ] 16...0–0–0µ 17.Rfc1 Kb8 18.a4 [18.Qe5+ Bd6 19.Qf6–+] 18...Bd6 19.a5 Qd4 20.Bxa6 [20.Rc2 Rhg8–+] 20...Rdg8 [20...bxa6!? and Black can already relax 21.Qxa6 Bc5 22.Rc2–+] 21.Bb5 Bxb5?? Black lets it slip away [21...Qf4 22.g3 h4 23.Nxd5 exd5 24.Bxd7 hxg3 25.fxg3 Rxh2 26.Rc8+ Rxc8 27.gxf4 Rxe2 28.Bxc8 Kxc8–+] 22.Nxb5 [22.Qxb5 Is better according to Shredder. 22...Bc5 23.Rc2±] 22...Qe5µ 23.Qxe5 Bxe5 24.Re1 Rg5 [Less advisable is 24...Bxb2 25.Rab1 Bg7 26.Nd6±] 25.Ra4 From this stage i really play badly. My endgame knowledge is the area that i should improve more. During my younger age, it's all tactic, sacrifiece and mate. 25...Rf5 26.Nd4 [26.g3 Rg8= (26...Bxb2? would be great except for 27.Rb1 Be5 28.f4+-) ] 26...Bxd4 27.Rxd4 Rc8 28.Rd2 [28.f3!?] 28...Rc4µ 29.Ra1 d4 [29...Rff4 30.g3 Ra4 31.Rc1–+] 30.f3 Ka7 31.Kf2 Ka6 32.Kg3 [32.h4 f6] 32...Rd5 [32...Rb4 33.Ra2] 33.Ra3 Rcc5 a5 seems the pivot of the position 34.b4 [34.Kf4!?] 34...Rc7 35.Rb3 And i lost this endgame. Now getting older and wiser i knew that in endgame, rook activity is usually more important then others factor. 0–1

Anand-The magician from Madras!!!

2006-04-16T15:34:00.000+08:00

Karjakin,Sergey (2660) - Anand,V (2792)
[B90]Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (1), 14.01.2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4 a5 15.f5 a4 16.Nbd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 b3 18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Nxc2 Bb3 20.axb3 axb3 21.Na3 Ne5 22.h4 Ra5 23.Qc3N A novelty from Karjakin but maybe not a good one.. Karjakin tried to improve the game between Leko-Vallejo in Monte Carlo 2005, where 23.Qe2 being played and the game ended in a draw but Anand was prepared 23...Qa8 24.Bg2.

24...Nc7! Marvelous move. I watch this game live in Internet Chess Club (ICC) and was surprises by Anand immediate reply . At first glance I thought Anand has just made a mistake . Amazingly my chess programe show -ve evaluation for black but turn to +++ after a few more moves!!! 25.Qxc7 Force Move! If the queen make other moves, the black knight will joint the armada with Nb5. 25...Rc8 Another spectacular move by Anand but now I start to understand his plan . 26.Qxe7 Force move. White hope that his attack will create something but black attack is stronger although he’s down two piece. 26...Nc4

27.g6 Kasparov who watched this game on Playchess server, suggest 27.Bc5!? 27...Nxa3+ 28.bxa3 (28.Bxa3 Rxa3 29.bxa3 Qxa3 30.Rd2 b2 wins for Black) 28...Rxa3 29.Qxd6 Ra1+ 30.Kb2 Ra2+ 31.Kb1 Rxg2 32.Ba7 Re8 33.Qd7 Ra2 34.g6 and black is better but white can hope for a draw with 27...Raxc5 28.Rxd6 Re8 29.e5 Qc8 30.Qxe8+ Qxe8 31.Nxc4 Rxc4 32.Rhd1 Rc8 33.Bc6 unfortunately for white that with best moves black can win with 27...Rxa3! 28.bxa3 Rxc5 threatening 29...Nxa3+ and mate next. 27...hxg6 28.fxg6 Nxa3+ 29.bxa3 Rxa3

30.gxf7+ Kh7 31.f8N+ Rxf8 32.Qxf8 Ra1+ 33.Kb2 Ra2+ 34.Kc3 (34...Qa5+ 35.Kd3 Qb5+ 36.Kd4 Ra4+ 37.Kc3 Qc4+ and with 38.Kd2 Ra2+ 39.Ke1 Qe2# to follow: 0-1

Freestyle Tournament 2006

2006-04-16T10:10:00.000+08:00

Zor_champ win the 2nd Freestyle Tournament 2006. The team was driven by the program Hydra, which runs on multi-processor speical-purpose hardware. Hydra crush Super GM, Mickey Adams in a famous man versus computer match last year. See link http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2476 for further story.

Freestyle tournament is a tournament with very flexible rules. People can use any assistance such as chess programs, book or human (GM,IM,FM...) to help them.

Read http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3046

Topalov - Kramnik World Championship 2006!!!!

2006-04-16T09:51:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has announce that the World Championship match Topalov vs Kramnik will be held 21 September - 13 October 2006 in Elista, Kalmykia. Hope this will be real cause it really can decide the true champion in post Kasparov era. Bet Topalaov as the favourite due to the Kramnik inconsistent performances recently and his illness. But Topalov is inexperienced in match tournament or a one to one play as he admit himself. It will be an Interisting encounter!!! see link http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=978

Anand-Topalov Brilliancies!!!

2006-04-16T01:17:00.000+08:00

This is the most intertaining games in the tournament. I watch it "live" on ASTRO!!!!

Anand,V (2785) - Topalov,V (2778) [B80]Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (1), 12.05.2005
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.g4 h6 9.Qd2 b4 10.Na4 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.b3 Bd7 13.Nb2 d5 14.Bf4 Nxf3 15.Nxf3 Nxe4 16.Qd4 f6 17.Bd3!? Bc5 18.Bxe4 Bxd4 19.Bg6+ Kf8 20.Rxd4 a5 21.Re1 Be8 22.Nh4 e5 23.Rd2 a4 24.bxa4 Kg8 25.Bg3 d4 26.Rd3 h5 27.Bxe8 Qxe8 28.g5 Rc8 29.g6 Rh6 30.Rxd4 Rxg6 31.Nxg6 Qxg6 32.Rd2 Rc3 33.Red1 Kh7 34.Kb1 Qf5 35.Be1 Ra3 36.Rd6 Rh3 37.a5 Rxh2 38.Rc1 Qe4 39.a6 Qa8 40.Bxb4 h4 41.Bc5 h3 42.Nd3 Rd2 43.Rb6 h2 44.Nf2 Qd5 45.Be3 Re2 46.Rb3 f5 47.a7 Rxe3 48.Rxe3 Qb7+ 49.Rb3 Qxa7 50.Nh1 f4 51.c4 e4 52.c5 e3 53.c6 e2 54.c7 Qxc7 55.Rxc7 e1Q+ 56.Rc1 Qe4+ 57.Ka1 Qd4+ 58.Kb1 Qe4+ 59.Ka1 Qd4+ 60.Kb1 Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

Welcome tu hairulov Chessmaniac Blogspot!!!

2006-04-16T00:55:00.000+08:00

Hi all!
Please welcome to my personal blogspot...
not really good in IT but will try to make this blog as interesting as possible :)