Of Melaka Chess Festival - Concluding Round 2

The battle for the top continues with GM Laxman sterling performance to out play current co leader GM Holmes to share the lead after the second round with 2 full points. Together with GM Alexander Fominyh - who triumphed over IM Kantholi of India, GM Attila Czebe, GM Deepan Chakkravathy, GM Richard Bitoon and IM Dimakiling, all 5 GM and the lone IM are leading the pack with 2 points each. 

Igor Kharitonov

GM Arun Prasad made a sensational comeback to beat Hendrik Maha - who had earlier upset WGM Nadig Kruttika to come within half a point of the pack together with GM Adam Horvath, IM Kartikheyan, IM Rolando Nolte and FM Hamdani Rudin. WGM Nadig Kruttika redeemed herself for the her loss in Round 1 by beating upstart Anasrullah who created a stir when he hold GM Arun Prasad to a draw in Round 1.

IM Mas Hafizul was not able to hold GM Deepan in a Sicilian Grand Prix Opening handling the white pieces and lost the Indian Master in 36 moves. On Table 8, young Li Tian succumbed again to IM Dimakiling in what seems to be a repeat of their Brunei encounter.

Andrian Endang

In the Challenger section, Eddy Fong's nightmare became a reality when he lost to Andrias Endang of Indonesia on Table 1 and similarly on Table 3 when Gatot Suyanto of Indonesia scored one up against Terengganu lad Fairul Yusoff.
 
At print time, there is still one more game being played in both section - Yit Ho playing against Igor Kharitinov in the International Section and Ezmi against Latifah Syamimi in the Challenger Section