With no early rounds and only one round to play for the day, most players decided to stay in and just take the rest day at the hotel. With no games to be played at all tomorrow, many players are looking forward to spend some time touring the Historical City of Melaka and perhaps, do a bit of shopping and enjoy the city's hospitality. There are also one or two foreign players who are contemplating to travel out of the city to visit Kuala Lumpur and other interesting township to learn more about Malaysia. But until tomorrow, there is Round 7 that the players have to deal with first...
Using White screen and projector to show pairing and images of players playing in the current rounds
On Table 1, sole leader and 1 point ahead of the rest of the pack, GM Attila Czebe of Hungary is facing GM Richard Bitoon of Philippines. In the earlier Campomanes Rapid event, the same match up with similar point difference between the two players happened towards the end of the event and Bitoon played well to overcome a tough challenge from Czebe, stopping the runaway win and he himself was later crowned as the Rapid champion. A win by Czebe should put a nail to the coffin for him to secure the first ever champion of the Historical Melaka International Chess Championship but a loss, may open the field wide open for everyone else to grab the top podium.
On Table 2, Spaniard GM Alfonso Romero Holmes faced GM Arun Prasad of India and a win by either player may put them closer within striking distance of the eventual leader of the event. Another interesting encounter happens on Table 3 between GM Adam Horvath of Hungary and Russian GM Alexander Fominyh, both with 4 points and within 1 1/2 points away from Czebe.
Other interesting encounter would be on Table 7 between GM Laxman and IM Mas Hafizul and Table 11 between Yeoh Li Tian and WGM Kruttika Nadig.
In the Challenger section, it is an interesting encounter on Table 1 between Ugandan Wakoko Enos, a first time entry to a local chess event, playing against Gatot Suyono of Indonesia - the sole leader in the event with a perfect 6 points out of 6 rounds. Gatot will definitely like to maintain his 100% score whilst Wakoko looking forward to stop the Indonesian from running away with the title.
It was a different story on Table 2 as Endang Andrian won by walkover due to the absence of Abdul Rahim who had to leave the event late yesterday evening. The organizing committee and the officials of the 750 Years Melaka International Chess Festival would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Abdul Rahim and his family on the passing of his mother yesterday.
On Table 3, Indonesian lass Suci Rohaya is paired against Pahang youngster, Muhd Aysraf Razman whilst on Table 4, Mohd Ezmi Mahmood storming back to the top of the pack but will have a strong challenge from his younger but formidable opponent, Yuranda Irawan of Indonesia. Top seed Eddy Fong is on Table 5 facing another Malaysian Henry Machin whilst Fairul Yusof going against Muhd Zuhairi Zainal on Table 6.
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| The Young and the Beautiful - It was not surprising to see enthusiast crowding around Table 11 to observe the game between young Malaysian Yeoh Li Tian up against WGM Kruttika Nadig |
Round 8 of the Historical Melaka International and Challenger Chess Championship will resume on Sunday at 3:00pm with the final Round 9 to be played on Monday at 9:00am followed by the Closing Ceremony at 2:00pm on the same day.
For more photos and news, visit our the Chess Malaysia Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chess-Malaysia/168231673260531
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| Local Melaka and National Woman Player, WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri |
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| A rising star - Camilia Johari |
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| Young Yeoh Li Tian playin against WGM Kruttika Nadig of India |
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| The battle on Table 1 between Ugandan Wakoko Enos and Gatot Suyono of Indonesia |
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| Mohd Ezmi Mahmood facing the young but formidable Yuranda Irawan |
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| Suci Rohaya of Indonesia |
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| Ladies battling it out on the Challenger section - Devi Oktania of Indonesia against Latifah Kaiyisah of Malaysia |
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| Four players, four countries - from left, Anasrullah of Indonesia, Praveen Kumar of India, Ahmad Fadzil Nayan of Malaysia and Rolando Nolte of Philippines |
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| IM Oliver Dimakling of Philippines going against FM Djuraev Sokhib of Takjikistan |
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| Officials Haslindah, Zuraihah and Greg (all in orange except for Nik - in bright RED!), having a light discussion at the Arbiter's table |
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| FA KK Chan walking about to make sure that everything is in order |
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| Arbiter Li JingFeng of China overlooking the Challenger section |
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| Support for their countryman - Wakoko Enos of Uganda under the watchful eyes of his compatriots who were at the hall to show moral support. |
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| GM Alexander Fominyh, pondering over his move whilst GM Arun Prasad of India and GM Alfonso Romero Holmes of Spain battling it out on Table 2 |
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| There was a bit more crowd today roaming around the tournament hall as they witness some of the best chess players around the region displaying their chess prowess |
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| Onlookers taking interest on the Challenger section game between Suci Rohaya of Indonesia and local Muhd Asyraf Razman |
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