Of Melaka Chess Festival - Going Into Round 7

With his win in the last round, Hungarian GM Attila Czebe steers clear of the pack, 1 point clear of his nearest rivals, countryman GM Adam Horvath and GM Richard Bitoon of Philippines. The mouth watering encounter on Table 1 in Round 7 between GM Czebe and GM Bitoon will be a repeat of their earlier encounter in the Rapid event when the latter beat the former and later, ended as the Rapid Champion. Will history repeat itself or will we see blood on the board?

GM Alfonso Romero Holmes - 1 point behind leader

Current sole leader with 5 1/2 points - GM Attila Czebe

 In Table 2, GM Arun Prasad will face Spaniard GM Romero Holmes and the following Table 3, GM Adam Horvath playing against GM Alexander Fominyh. It has been a roller coaster ride for GM Arun Prasad since the start of the event and for GM Holmes, it was sheer determination to slowly creep back into the top of the group.

Other notable encounters would be on Table 7 between GM Laxman and local IM Mas Hafizulhelmi and on Table 11, young Yeoh Li Tian up against WGM Kruttika Nadig.

In the Challenger section, Indonesian Gatot Suyono who has amassed a perfect 6 points will face off against Ugandan Wakoko Enos, who managed to climb back into the ranks with the latest scalping of Eddy Fong in Round 6. Abdul Rahim Ramli dropped to Table 2 and will face another Indonesian in Endang Andrian.  Indonesian lass Suci Rohaya will be playing on Table 3 against Muhd Asyraf Razman and compatriot Yuranda Irawan will be playing against early favorite Mohd Ezmi Mahmood on Table 4.


The full pairing for the Challenger section as follows:

 
More news tomorrow