tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56645362491596955642024-03-19T12:45:08.533-07:00The Chess ConnectionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-68926901956322736652019-08-13T23:37:00.001-07:002019-08-14T01:36:35.701-07:00The Race Is On Again .... And why I support Akhramsyah<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As of last week, the MCF AGM is a GO but of course, we still have to wait until the last MCF meeting which is expected to happen tonight, to decide and confirm if the AGM will proceed as plan. On the same note, MCF would also have to clarify and finalise the eligibility of each nominees before confirming their status to stand for office. And when all that concludes, there will be no turning back. And with that, I do not seen any reason why the AGM should not continue as I see no solid reason for it to be otherwise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The MCF meeting session tomorrow will also mark as the last official meeting for the current MCF office bearers </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">under the leadership of YB Dato Zahidi Zainul Abidin. Personally, it has been a chaotic but fantastic and memorable 6 months and 5 days for me, serving as the Assistant Secretary for the Federation. For this, I thanked my old friend of 30 years - IA Abd Hamid Abd Majid, for his believe that I am the right person to get the job done. And on the same, my sincere thanks to YB President who supported my inclusion in the Committee albeit it was a very short stint. While I feel and honestly believe that I have executed my duties the best way that I can - for the current committee, I am also hoping that I can continue to contribute my services with the new committee. Hence, for this upcoming AGM, I am keeping my fingers crossed and hope that I can convince the voters to support my nomination to be a part of the new MCF. But for now, my task at hand is to help promote and ensure that the right person will be voted and elected to helm the new MCF towards glory and accolades in the years to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But before that, with all sincerity and honesty, despite all the scandals and issues that have plagued MCF for the last 2 years, I truly believe that YB Dato Zahidi has done his part to contribute to the cause of Chess during his tenure as President. Despite the array of challenges and obstacles that he has faced, coupled with the diversities and differences that existed between the office bearers, YB Dato Zahidi has done an incredibly wonderful and exemplary job to manage the situation accordingly. In YB Dato Zahidi's tenure as President, he did manage to get RISDA to sponsor the 2017 edition of the Malaysian Chess Championship, and had also made a personal contribution towards helping IM Yeoh Li Tian to participate in the 2017 Zonal Chess Championship, and the many other contributions and donations that he has provided to MCF. My hats off to you YB Dato and I do hope that you and chess will cross path again sometime in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to the matter at hand.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the upcoming AGM lurking around the corner, it goes without saying that this will be the best opportunity for the chess community to select and elect a new breed of MCF officers to manage and shape the future of our beloved game. And for once, let's have a united MCF rather than a diversified team, and elect candidates who are qualified and genuinely passionate about improving chess in the country. Let's get those who understands and appreciate the pains and gains, challenges and obstables that the chess community has been facing to be reduced or eliminated, or avoided, and work towards improvement and development. Let us NOT have those who has personal vested interest to be in the committee, let us NOT have those who is only thinking about how they can make money when they are in MCF and let us NOT have those who tends to practice corruption and money laundering or swinddling in MCF. The President and the committee is supposed to think and formulate plans on how to ensure that chess continue to grow in Malaysia, and NOT to be overwhelmed by internal matters that are not supposed to exist in the first place. It would be sad if MCF continues to bicker about internal matters and issues (within the 15 committee members) when in reality, they should grow chess for the masses of chess lovers and followers in Malaysia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But to ensure that the committee moves forward towards the right direction, at the right pace and with the right plan, we MUST HAVE A STRONG LEADER at the helm, a charismatic and visionary president that can lead the pack towards development and improvement, a more structured management style, efficient, proactive and creative. And of course, that person must be someone that we can trust, someone who knows the chess community, someone who is not alien to the people on the ground, and someone who knows what the players (and parents, coaches, trainers, arbiters, officials, organisers, etc) need to make chess a respectable sport. And for me, the person to lead MCF into the future is none other than <b>Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Tan Sri Sanusi. </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihB9YS3V4t8pg5gLVWXE6nrKXeaIYKwLh_UwEbMCUiFdGsHTyqgsXknzqMQYeZNdUhzWKlq4ELIa3BcygzpHj0BJ9hlD8VXrkyUBnsEOus8oKiGOJLc_KIugx3zHaSX7XIFk63SQ7NE8/s1600/IMG_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihB9YS3V4t8pg5gLVWXE6nrKXeaIYKwLh_UwEbMCUiFdGsHTyqgsXknzqMQYeZNdUhzWKlq4ELIa3BcygzpHj0BJ9hlD8VXrkyUBnsEOus8oKiGOJLc_KIugx3zHaSX7XIFk63SQ7NE8/s320/IMG_0694.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Akhram with IM Yeoh Li Tian and IM Mok Tze Meng<br />having some light moments at the Malaysia Chess <br />Festival yesterday.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For many chess players and organizers, Akhram is not a stranger to chess and albeit his busy schedule pursuing his professional and political ambition, he can still makes time for chess. This had already started even when he was working with a global oil giant many years before - attending chess events for his kids and minggling with other chess parents, and getting to know the chess community. Hence, he has a good head start having to listen to the countless woes, dissatisfactions and challenges voiced by the parents, voiced by those who pursue chess as more than just a game, voiced by the overall chess community. And if the requirement of an MCF President must be someone that holds an important corporate position, Akhram is the Chairman of MARA Corp hence, what more of an advantage that we need to have in a President? And to top the icing on the cake, Akhram is also a member of the current ruling party as such, making his ways around Ministries, Government agencies, contributors and sponsors would be much easier and better in order for chess to earn valuable mileage towards recognition and assistance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By now, I believe everyone has already know who Akhram will be facing for the top position BUT..... while I have heard good (and also bad) things about the candidate, my main concerns are: 1) the distant between him and the community - since he is very new to the National chess scene although he maybe active in his home state, and 2) and the challenger being a member of the opposition party - which may further distant chess from the main stream. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aside from the publicised issue that is being talked about - which is beyond our jurisdiction as this is for the authorities to decide (but something for us to think and ponder), the 2 main concerns is enough for me to wonder how would he manoeuvre his way around the colourful and demanding chess community that is screaming for improvement? And in order to mitigate this setback, would he then bring in "advisors and enforcers" to help him manage the community that he has little knowledge of and create another "behind the scene generals"? And not knowing the community, would he be able to address sensitive and troubling issues correctly that has been plaguing MCF without outside help that may have vested interest on the course of action that needs to be taken? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1uLcrnOqSQAPx11TWpKqes9MN1JMh2VG9Mo6YqO9SIcOOW3Libb1ijHYaixCzZ_kWqZaxrSKcJ5K_JFHh7YS8WTPgkIk1voV_-9p0kUFPO-UooMB13N1GY-xGmy1bPtcp0HKjGekaQM/s1600/PHOTO-2019-08-05-12-07-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1uLcrnOqSQAPx11TWpKqes9MN1JMh2VG9Mo6YqO9SIcOOW3Libb1ijHYaixCzZ_kWqZaxrSKcJ5K_JFHh7YS8WTPgkIk1voV_-9p0kUFPO-UooMB13N1GY-xGmy1bPtcp0HKjGekaQM/s320/PHOTO-2019-08-05-12-07-28.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akhram at the recent MSSM event in <br />
Putrajaya. Pictured here with Abu Bakar<br />
Martin from Perak, who was the Chief<br />
Arbiter for the event.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For me, the issue is a very straightforward one.... The President must be able to adapt quickly and having a head start like what Akhram has, will definitely give us that short runaway to improve things quickly and effectively. And this my fellow chess friends, is what chess needs in this troubling times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On a personal note, I would love to be a part of this new exciting transformation era that MCF will go under the leadership of Akhramsyah. It will definitely be an interesting journey. Akhram himself has personally discussed matters with MOE and KBS on how MCF can work together with the ministries - and of course his own MARA Corp, on how they can help to elevate chess popularity and acceptance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Come 18th August 2019, we will vote for the new MCF... Let's make it correct this time around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#MCFrebrands</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#MCFtowards2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#MCFLet'sworktogether</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-41964060283064067872019-06-24T08:18:00.002-07:002019-06-24T08:31:15.721-07:00Akhram for MCF President - Deliver Growth<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>MCF Presidential candidate Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah TS Sanusi coming up with another message - this time in English, on his views and vision in driving MCF towards a better future. With a few more days before Election Day, Akhram is sharing more and more of his thoughts and direction on how he plans to steer MCF towards GROWTH and INTEGRITY. In the past, it has been very rare (almost unheard of) that the Presidential Candidates share their plans and what Akhram is doing here is definitely an eye opener, something new and very refreshing. The effort really shows that he cares about chess and that his heart is sincere in helping to lead the community. And if Akhram is willing to share his passion, vision, aspiration and determination on how to make chess great again, I am very confident that this is the kind of leadership that we need in MCF to help carry us forward. #AkhramforMCF</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read his statement - from his heart....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdwcV0_DlkLl2FnsS0v8mrp1UfPez8G1T0_p1NPvgqHNhUmMkUWe6LrAihXUJnAi-JgknXMgcO1e2PFfKfe_9Zw4-66xwPSL7DWa4fe7p8Hvh7U5VwHum1dHcVmtipNStI46lPTITN0A/s1600/Akhram+Speak.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="570" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdwcV0_DlkLl2FnsS0v8mrp1UfPez8G1T0_p1NPvgqHNhUmMkUWe6LrAihXUJnAi-JgknXMgcO1e2PFfKfe_9Zw4-66xwPSL7DWa4fe7p8Hvh7U5VwHum1dHcVmtipNStI46lPTITN0A/s320/Akhram+Speak.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Assalamualaikum and Good Day</span></b>. As Chess is an international sport, I choose to also share with you my vision for MCF in English.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have many dreams and aspirations for Chess in Malaysia, but the issue is not whether any one leader can promise this or that to improve the game, but whether we can DELIVER on the GROWTH of Chess together. DELIVER GROWTH is hence my next Vision for MCF should I be chosen as MCF President.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This Vision also comprises of 2 axes, DELIVER and GROWTH, for which I consider the former to be something that we can certainly improve on. Rather than talk about DELIVERing by saying I am friends with this or that Minister or VVIP, I would rather speak of my track record.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How do I as a new candidate for a position in MCF have a track record in Chess? Now, I am not talking of my kids' performances as a Chess parent, but our efforts to send Myanmar and Asean Chess players to the 27th SEA Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The idea was brought to me by IM Mok Tze Min at the conclusion of the 2011 Sea Games. By 2012, with support from TS Ramli Ngah Talib who led MCF at the time, we began training a small group of kids, with local coaches like IM Jimmy Liew and also coaches from Myanmar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By early 2013, with assistance from the late TS Halil Abdul Mutalib, who was then VP of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), we attained agreement for an expansion of the Chess contingent with no additional budget from OCM, and a few players went to a pre-Sea Games tournament in Yanggon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some details of the heady early days of the contingent during the SEA Games itself are recorded here in my old Blog: http://thoughtsintangents.blogspot.com/2013/12/mencatur-kejayaan-di-myanmar.html</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ASEAN and Myanmar Chess players and entourage to the 27th SEA Games were all privately funded by the players and/or their parents and a few sponsors we managed to attract. This paid for coaching through to flights, accommodation and meals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have some fond memories of achievements of the contingent - the Malaysia Men's Myanmar Chess team won Bronze, the only SEA Games medal won by the Malaysian Chess contingent in 2013. My son Aqil, who was 10 then, drew with GM Eugene Toray in the Standard Myanmar Chess event! (The GM still remembers!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But in the context of this MCF Elections, I DELIVERed on the promise then to bring a larger Chess contingent to the SEA Games in Myanmar to play and contend for medals in Chess variants not usually<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>played by our players. Hence I believe with your support, MCF under my leadership can DELIVER on the axis GROWTH.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And what is the GROWTH that I mean here? I see GROWTH in Malaysian Chess to be over 4 elements:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 - GROWTH of player quality which is intimately linked with GROWTH of Coaching and FIDE Rated Tournaments in the country. Besides aspiring to have FIDE Rated Standard, Rapid and Blitz events in Sukma, we should aspire for more across our State Chess Associations' events, state level school tournaments and universities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am have already spoken to Syed Saddiq and Dr Maszlee Malik on this, and they are supportive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2 - GROWTH in the Support Structure for Chess, which includes support for Coaches, Arbiters and Tournament Organisers, especially in states where Chess is less developed. MCF should do more in this area and it will under my leadership.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3 - Linked to the above, GROWTH through better infrastructure for Chess, which I can begin DELIVERing as soon as I am elected MCF President. I aim to revive MCF's MOU with MARA, giving access to Halls in MARA institutions for use in tournaments and Chess activities. This will just be the beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4 - Finally, MCF under my leadership will revive another old association long forgotten; reminding Tun Dr Mahathir that he is the Patron of MCF, hence leveraging on his good name to DELIVER GROWTH to the game for benefit of the entire Chess Community in Malaysia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I look forward to your support and feedback on my Vision to DELIVER GROWTH, our second Vision with 2 new axes following the INTEGRITY TOGETHER vision shared before.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-28320851484321417412019-06-23T00:36:00.001-07:002019-06-23T00:37:53.249-07:00Akhram For MCF President - Integriti Bersama<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Assalamualaikum dan Salam Sejahtera. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pertama sekali, izinkan saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Persatuan2 Catur Negeri2 yang telah sudi mencalonkan saya ke jawatan Presiden MCF. Terima kasih juga kepada pemimpin serta para perwakilan negeri2 mahupun ahli2 AJK MCF yang sudi menyatakan sokongan awal kepada saya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tanpa adanya sokongan demikian, tak mungkin saya tersentuh hati untuk menerima pencalonan ke jawatan yang cukup bermakna bagi saya sebagai seorang lebih dikenali di dalam komuniti catur Malaysia sebagai seorang 'Chess Parent'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Di sini saya ingin memulakan perkongsian awal dan terbuka saya sebagai Calon Presiden. Kepimpinan MCF di bawah teraju saya jika tuan-puan sudi memilih akan berdasarkan beberapa paksi. Paksi pertama adalah INTEGRITI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Walau Catur semakin berkembang dan maju di Malaysia sekaligus dgn peningkatan prestasi di arena antarabangsa bagi para pemain kita, terlalu banyak isu Integriti yang timbul tempohari. Sebagai seorang yang anak2nya juga hampir terkandas di Panjin 2 tahun lepas atas sebab ini, integriti dlm pengurusan catur amatlah dekat di hati saya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Namun pada saya Integriti bukan tugas Presiden MCF mahupun AJK MCF semata2, tetapi haruslah dititik-beratkan oleh Komuniti Catur kita secara keseluruhan. Oleh itu, paksi kedua kepimpinan MCF jika tuan-puan sudi memilih saya adalah sifat BERSAMA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Makanya INTEGRITI BERSAMA seharusnya menjadi visi MCF bagi membangun komuniti catur Malaysia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Apakah ciri-ciri Integriti Bersama. Pertama sekali, saya mengesyorkan semua perwakilan ke AGM MCF untuk memilih calon2 yang berwibawa terutama berintegriti. Mungkin susah memilih antara yang baik, tetapi setidak2nya janganlah memilih yang diragui integritinya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seiring dgn visi INTEGRITI BERSAMA ini, MCF bawah pimpinan saya juga akan memperkenalkan:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1) Suatu Majlis Penasihat Presiden yang berahlikan semua Pengerusi2 Persatuan Catur Negeri2 dalam MCF untuk menasihati saya dalam lantikan2, bermula dgn lantikan Setiausaha Agung, Penolong Setiausaha Agung dan Bendahari Kehormat MCF.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2) Saya juga merancang untuk mengadakan forum terbuka dengan komuniti catur Malaysia sebagai sebahagian aktiviti mengiringi kejohanan catur utama anjuran MCF atau Persatuan2 Catur Negeri2 seperti Langkawi Open, Johor Open, Penang Open, Malaysia Chess Championship atau National Youth Chess Championship. Ini akan menggalakkan keterbukaan dan integriti dapat dipupuk bersama.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3) Jawatankuasa2 penting dalam MCF seperti Pemilihan Pemain untuk kejohanan utama antarabangsa dan Audit juga akan dimantapkan keahliannya dan diperkasakan. Majlis Penasihat Presiden juga akan dirujuk untuk membantu kepimpinan MCF dalam perkara ini.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Saya akan sambung lagi dengan Paksi serta Visi lain dan mengalu2kan maklum-balas tentang INTEGRITI BERSAMA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ikhlas,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Bin TS Sanusi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Calon Presiden MCF 2019</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-3347668235608543032019-06-14T08:09:00.001-07:002019-06-15T04:45:01.901-07:00Of Going Into Nomination Day - Who Do We Want?<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With only a few more hours to go before nomination closes, there is still a handful of affiliates that have not handed in the names of their delegates nor the nominees for the upcoming AGM. While the campaigning seems to have taken up pace - with states and individuals starting to find their alliance and common friends (and enemies), the main bargaining chip seems to focus on whether or not a seat will be given to a state rep if their "horse" wins. With 14 positions up for grab and 14 states available in total, the most ideal way is to give each state a seat, but reality may differ and at the end of it all, some state (or individual) may end up empty handed and disappointed, or even cheated. In some cases, one or two states may not want any seat in MCF at all as they may not be able to commit to the travelling and correspondenes required, not to mention the responsiblity. After all, being in the committee is more like providing charity work since there is no allowances for any of its council members simply because MCF is not a "cash rich" association like FAM or BAM. In the usual case, based on personal experiene, those in MCF may end up having to fork up their own money (and time) in order to be active and to contribute hence, the idea of becoming an MCF Council may not seem "sexy" to those who may feel the pinch. For those coming into MCF in view that they can make money, I sincerely believe that the "era of money making" is about to be over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From a personal standpoint, there is no harm to have everyone and anyone in MCF. After all, as the saying goes, "the more the merrier". But, while affiliates and delegates are demanding for a rep in the council, there is a serious need to evaluate and understand if the request to be in the council is because the person wants to contribute and help chess to improve, or because the person wants it for their own personal benefit and "glamour"? For now, I want to believe that many want to be in because they want to contribute, and hopefully, what I belief and what will happen, is the same thing. Whether or not I am in MCF, with the believe and trust that those who are in there are those that want to contribute, I am confident that MCF should be able to take care of the welfare, progress and development of chess, and from then on, chess will continue to flourish and improve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those who are supporting Akhram's presidency, the game plan is very simple - just make sure Akhram wins. And the idea is to allow as many deserving candidates to fill up the posts. The believe is that if Akhram becomes President, he will be able to steer MCF into a new and successful era. If MCF has an outstanding leader, everything else will definitely fall in place, and that is the message being sent to the community. Further, with Akhram already being part of the chess community, and he is active going to events and being seen to contribute towards chess, the chess community will only damage their future if they elect someone who has just appear, or is appearing for other reasons to help catapult their "personal" career. Let chess be handled by chess people - not some one who appears at the last minute and not knowing anything about chess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But let us look at the other posts that are up for grabs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the VP posts - there are 3 positions to be contested and 1 appointed, the one point that should be looked at is the fact that IA Lim Tse Pin - a long standing MCF Council member, has decided that it is time for him to step down as he has been in MCF for almost two decades. Perhaps, the seat that Tse Pin has left vacant can be offered to one of the Northern or Eastern states like Kedah since Akhram himself is from Kedah. And the other VP seat can be maintained by a Central candidate. On the same matter, current VP for East Malaysia - Muammar Julkarnain, has already agreed to rotate the the seat with his East </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Malaysia counter part Abang Mohd Reduan from Sarawak. Muammar has been in the Council since 2013 and similar to Tse Pin, Muammar feels that he has been too long in MCF as well and that a fresh new blood should take his place in the Council. While I am not too sure if Rahim Shah will continue his pursuit to vie for the Presidents post, it is only right that his VP position for Women's affair, to be given to a woman. And with only a few women active in the state association, it would not be too difficult to find a suitable candidate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By far, the five (5) committee posts will be the most interesting positions contested by the candidates and almost everyone that I have met, agree that the seats should be openly contested by everyone and anyone who feels that they can contribute. A "free for all" contest based on who the AGM quorum prefers to be elected into the committee. If "balance" is the golden word for the new MCF committee, then perhaps the committee members should be made from a variety of candidates - old and new, young and experienced, the professionals and entrepreneurs, and from all the five corners of Malaysia. I mean, let us be fair about those elected, and those to be appointed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But, while being fair and just are important, we also need to ensure that we have the right person in the Committee - be it the President, the Deputy, the VPs or the Committees. We do not want to vote a person in simply because of their "ego", or becuase we want their vote, but we also want them to be in there because we know they can contribute and make a difference to chess. The state of Chess in Malaysia has not improved for the past 30 years and there should not be anymore delay for us to start making things better. If the newly elected MCF cannot ensure our improvement and progress in the next 2 years, it means that Chess in Malaysia will suffer another set back in going into Malaysia 2020. So much damaged has been done to Malaysian Chess in the last decade, it should not continue to go to waste.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am confident that Akhramsyah will be able to lead, and that the new committee will be very vibrant, energetic and geared for improvement - be it who ever in the committee. Having a good leader like Akhram, he will definitely be able to gel the team together and to ensure that the team can function well - regardless whose side of the fence the committee will be made of. Further, the most important thing that we need to remember, the President should come from the community, is close with the community, understands the beat and the pulse of the community, and knows what the community needs to thrive towards improvement. Else, we may go backward instead of forward and at the end of the day, its chess that will lose the game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vote well everyone!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-90541393120270156812019-06-10T08:20:00.004-07:002019-06-10T08:20:38.220-07:00Of Another Presidential Election - Here We Go Again!<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
In 2016, when Tan Sri Ramli decided that it was time for him to say goodbye to chess, the candidates vying for the post were two newcomers to chess; YB Dato Zahidi, an MP from Perlis, and Dato Nazifuddin Mohd Najib, the son of the then Prime Minister Mohd Najib Razak. While I was out of action from chess at that point of time, I understood that the position was tightly contested but in the end, YB Dato Zahidi emerged victorious and has history put it, became the next MCF President to succeed Tan Sri Ramli.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Three (3) years on, here we are again at the same juncture to face another election to vote for a president that will lead us into the Wawasan Year of 2020. This year's election will be somewhat similar to that of 2016 as the current President - YB Dato Zahidi, has voiced his intention to not contest the 2019/21 MCF Presidential race, just like what Tan Sri Ramli did in 2016. And with him almost out of it, MCF will need to look for a new and capable leader to helm the Federation. But who do we have lined up for the post? And who will be the favorite to win it all?<o:p></o:p></div>
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For many, Akhramsyah Muamar Ubaidah Sanusi is the current front runner and next in line to fill up the hot Presidential seat. The son of former Menteri Besar of Kedah - the late Tan Sri Dato Seri Sanusi Junid, Akhramsyah is no stranger to the chess community. With his children actively playing the game, Akhram can be seen accompanying his children at weekend events in the local circuits and even at regional level events. Akhram is also well know for his generosity and his desire to help the community as he once aided the Malaysian squad to settle a "dispute" when the National Team was stranded abroad. From my point of view, once elected, Akhramsyah will be the first MCF President in more than a decade who rises to the top post from being a part of the community - the last being the late Dato Tan himself. No disrespect to the previous Presidents but Tan Sri Ramli does not play chess and YB Zahidi, although he plays a bit of chess, he was not a part of the community prior to becoming a President and only surfaced when he was vying for the top post. In both ocassions, neither Tan Sri nor YB Dato was a member of the community or were well known within the chess community except during the election period.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; text-align: start;">Akhramsyah has the right formula to bring MCF back to the correct path</span></td></tr>
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For many who are involved in the Malaysian Chess Community, the traditional belief is that the President must be a person who is able to find money, and if he is able to do so, he is then a "good" President. For me, while it is good to have a rich President who can dig deep into his pocket - like Dato Tan, I find the logic very disturbing and apalling, that money is the main criteria to be voted into office. In all honesty, that sounds more like a Hindi or Malay drama plot which is so cliche and very unimaginative. Agree that money helps but, money is not everything. At this juncture, we need to find a President that can steer us into progress, development and improvement. We need a person with the right vision that can help catapult chess to become the sports of choice, and to be known for all the right reasons and not because of the many scandals, controversies and its lack of directions. While Akhram may not be as rich as Dato Tan and he is not a member of the Parliament like Tan Sri or Dato YB, Akhram still packs the capability to obtain resources for support in his capacity as a Council member of Bersatu - one of the country's leading political party, and as the newly minted Chairman of Mara Corp. But more importantly, as an experience corporate leader, Akhram should be able to shape the Federation and the chess community to become more respected, organized and developed through his visions and capability to lead. From what we have gathered, Akhram has already started his networking to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sports on how to help chess gain visibility and recognition. And that is already a good start.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, who else is there in the running for the top post?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rumours have it that the challengers going against Akhram are no other than the current MCF VP Rahim Shah Husin Shah and long time chess entreprenuer Mohd Fadli Zakaria. While Rahim Shah may be the current VP in MCF, he is still a new figure in the chess scene and is still learning the trick of the trade in managing the day to day running of the Federation. Prior to his appointment, not many in the chess community has heard off Rahim Shah or is aware of any contributions that he has made to chess. For Mohd Fadli Zakaria, although he is a well known chess entreprenuer, Fadli lacks the track record of managing the corporate world as he has always been involve in chess from as far as many can remember. For me, MCF is similar to a corporate set up and in its current situation, MCF needs a strong leader that can help to steer the Federation towards the right course. Fadli is more like the Sales or Marketing person in the Organization Chart but his Management or Leadership capability is questionable and unproven. No disrespect to Rahim or Fadli but, I sincerely believe that they need to convince the community better if they were to run for the Presidential post. But of course, both can probably put up a good fight against Akhram's camp.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of late, words are abuzz that another candidate will be entering the Presidential race and while the candidacy is yet to be confirmed, it is believed that the candidate is a Member of Parliament who is involved as an advisor for one of the state chess association. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In all honesty, while the MP maybe a popular figure in his state - and perhaps with excellent track records as a politician, I sincerely feel that the chess community must think twice ( long and hard) before voting him in as he is rather alien and new to the community, and would not know what is wrong (or right) with the Federation. For all purposes, the President (or the candidate to be President) should know the pulse and the beat of the players and organizers within the community, has been minggling long enough with the community to understanding and feel what the community wants, and the ability to address concern and issues faced by the federation and its members. Candidates who comes in from outside the community (and appear only days before the election), may find themselves too dependent on the advice and views of the existing officials around him rather than making decisions based on his own understanding that is just and right for the community. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But all in all, no disrespect to any of the candidates but as a member of the chess community since the late 80's, the progress and development of chess has been very stagnant as such, there is a need to revive the situation to make it better and more progressive. And I believe with Akhram at the helm - and being someone familiar with the community, he should be able to fit into the position well and help steer Chess into a new golden era because he knows and have seen what the community needs</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: start;">Akhramsyah Muamar Ubaidah Sanusi - Our soon to be MCF President? Hopefully so...</span></td></tr>
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In any case, based on recent news from the grapevine, the "Akhramsyah for President" movement has already secured support from a few states that have expressed their support for him. But of course, nothing is confirmed until "the ballots are counted".</div>
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But all should be fair and square for all the candidates - be it those that are vying for the critical post, or those for the supporting role, and for me, while I would like to see Akhram at the helm, at the end of the day, be it Akhramsyah or someone else holding the position, we want to see improvement and development being paved for the community. </div>
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Gens Una Sumus - We Are One Family<o:p></o:p></div>
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Can't wait for 29th June 2019!!<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-3549680211387269722019-06-06T03:46:00.002-07:002019-06-06T03:55:29.668-07:00Of Another MCF Election Happening Soon....<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now that the 2019 Malaysian Chess Championship is over, the next big thing on the chess calendar is the MCF Election to be held during its AGM within the next 23 days – just slightly over 3 weeks to go. Based on a circular given to all MCF affiliates before the start of the fasting month, all nominations must be submitted to MCF Secretary (with copies to Assistant Secretary and President) before 11:59pm on 15</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">June 2019. From then on, all nominees will have approximately 2 weeks to campaign to secure their post in the committee before election time at the AGM which will be held at MidValley Hotel on Saturday, 29</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">June 2019 at 10:30am. MCF AGM usually lasts between 2 to 3 hours as such, we should know the new MCF Exco Team by lunch time on the same day. This is really REALLY exciting!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MCF prior to 2008<br />with the late Dato Tan as its President</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Newly elected MCF officials in 2008<br />with YBhg Tan Sri Dato Seri Ramli Ngah Talib as its President</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is interesting to note that MCF did not hold any AGM during the tenure of the current committee although the requirement is clearly stated in in its Constitution – para 12: Annual General Meeting. While I am not too sure how that will work legally – although I am certain that the committee must have informed COS about this peculiarity, let us not talk about what was before in the past as we need to move on and look forward towards the future. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">While the notice for AGM was sent more than a month ago – the constitution only requires the notice to be sent no later than twenty (21) days in advance, only a single nomination has been received so far as of today. With so much time before the actual closing date for the nominees to be named, many are taking their time to ponder as to who will be suitable and for which post in the new committee. Further, with the closing date only a week away after Hari Raya, it is quite obvious that everyone has decided to get the Raya celebration over and done with before starting any serious discussions and talks about the AGM and the upcoming election. With the Malaysian Chess Championship 2019 being held just two (2) weeks before the nominations are closed, it is quite obvious that certain discussion have already begun to take place. In fact, news from the chess grapevine and several reliable sources, a few names have surfaces with a few pacts identified. There was also a supposed chess entrepreneur who has circulated a video of him volunteering himself as a candidate with promises of change if elected. I am not sure how that has developed but, let us see the other possible candidates before our final evaluation and judgement and from then on, for us to pick the most suitable candidate to lead us into the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">YBhg Tan Sri Dato Seri Ramli Ngah Talib in his second term as President from 2010 to early 2013<br />Zuhri (seated right) contested for the Presidential post in the 2013 <br />but lost in a recount after a tie in the first round voting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dmaTeqq-DvdATEM3UIzfmNDITZeZWLbOWdpScFv2hT1PnETyQHWamzffwYm-dXlmvT65jXz87NwDWx9zw6451jwkcbfzNkD7NKLpmo4EzRNyX5QlDbnU5Z1hSGNm-G49qM7NwlMOZoQ/s1600/MCF+2013+2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="1103" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dmaTeqq-DvdATEM3UIzfmNDITZeZWLbOWdpScFv2hT1PnETyQHWamzffwYm-dXlmvT65jXz87NwDWx9zw6451jwkcbfzNkD7NKLpmo4EzRNyX5QlDbnU5Z1hSGNm-G49qM7NwlMOZoQ/s320/MCF+2013+2016.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">YBhg Tan Sri Dato Seri Ramli Ngah Talib's 3rd and final term as MCF President from 2013 to late 2016<br />During this time, MCF had the most number of Tresurers (5 persons were appointed but each left)<br />until Haslindah became the permanent Treasurer towards the middle of 2016.</span></td></tr>
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With another week to go before the nominations close, I am quite sure that events will develop rather quickly within the next week or so, and by Sunday next week, we should be able to know who is in and who is not. The community – especially the affiliates and exco members, are already making calls and inquiries on the possible candidacy of several names for key positions in the Committee but, I am pretty sure that everyone will definitely be eyeing on the most important position of all – the President’s post. While it is clear that YB Dato Zahidi has mentioned that he will not contest to continue filling up the post, stranger happenings have happened before and things can still develop unexpectedly.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Personally, while I am considered as part and parcel of the current team by many, I still feel slightly detached as I was only appointed as Assistant Secretary in February 2019 after the previous one went MIA. And prior to the appointment, I did mention jokingly to Hamid – the current Secretary, that I (and Emran – the Treasurer who was also appointed at the same time as me due to the previous Treasurer’s resignation) would be the shortest serving Assistant Secretary in MCF history. While I would like to maintain my presence in the committee, it will be up to the delegates to nominate me for a post, and up to the voters to vote me in. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">In the early 90’s, during the reign of Dato’ Seri Sabaruddin Chik (now Tan Sri) as MCF President, he did tell me that I cannot be nominated nor can I run for a post in MCF because I am not politically inclined. It does make sense because like it or not, in order to be voted in, a candidate needs to “be presentable”, able to “make promises”, “popular” and “knows who to team up with” in order to be liked and to be voted in. In other words, he told me that no one would vote for me because I am a worker who does things to make it happen, and I am not willing to associate myself with anyone – more like a lone ranger who fights his own war. Further, he also told me that I am a person who does NOT like to please other people just to be popular in order to get voted in because, according to his observation, I continously argue even with him on petty matters. Well Tan Sri, that was almost 25 years ago... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnKVCDICTsATTjBzA8EBMYfB3DGq2XtI7XKkFoF7OBXhARfx9fDdxlFC7z-m2OVxB_ds_c06ZbXl0vlKGkJsGie2NeOFDHvezVp0h9s6zs3NID-gZFNHre4ju71ugUYspXsA1fOcTuTs/s1600/MCF+2016+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnKVCDICTsATTjBzA8EBMYfB3DGq2XtI7XKkFoF7OBXhARfx9fDdxlFC7z-m2OVxB_ds_c06ZbXl0vlKGkJsGie2NeOFDHvezVp0h9s6zs3NID-gZFNHre4ju71ugUYspXsA1fOcTuTs/s1600/MCF+2016+2019.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">MCF Committee 2016 to 2019 after winning the election with YB Zahidi Zainul Abidin as its President.<br />Since then, Secretary Gregory was replaced by Peter Long (2017), replaced by Sophian (2018) and Hamid Majid (2018). AndTresurer Haslindah Ruslan was replaced by Emran Mohd Tamil (2019).</span></td></tr>
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I am not sure if this has changed over the years – age makes you wiser (or did it not?) because in essence, I would like people to judge me based on the work that I have done, not so much of the “popularity” and the “candy coating” that I can do. Nonetheless, let see how things develop. Even if I am not going to be part and parcel of the new team, I will and can still contribute in my own ways. There are many things to do and not being in the committee should not deter my desire to help. But if I am not needed, I can always take a break again from chess, do the things I like, and continue by blog and writing – on personal happenings and events in my daily life, or as a chess critic who wants to see the game to develop and to progress towards a better future.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So, mark your calendar – nominations closed on 15<sup>th</sup>June, and D-Day on 29<sup>th</sup>June 2019. Let the best persons and teams win!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Let’s hope for an awesome change in MCF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-45307089870973488942019-06-03T08:29:00.000-07:002019-06-03T08:34:08.012-07:00Of Running Another Malaysian Chess Championship 2019 - And the winner is......<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After 5 days and 9 rounds of gruelling chess using the standard 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment, two National Champions have emerged - one for the Open section and the other for the Women section. One is a first time winner and the other, an old time winner.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another "work" completed!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Either my math is getting worse, or I am just daydreaming.... Someone pointed out that if NM Kamal Abdullah last won the title in 1989, it should be a 30 year gap and not 20 years as per what I have wrote earlier. Kind of embarassing that I was not able to do such an easy math but regardless, it was an incredible feat by NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah - who holds aloft the National Champion for the 3rd time, after a 30 year gap. Interesting to note that when he first won it in 1989, he was the youngest Malaysian Champion and now, he is the oldest National Champion. But his fight to the top was not easy - not only was he fasting, he also had to take care of some of his students that were with him for the championship as well. And along the way, Kamal produced some of the best chess of his life en route to an almost perfect score of 8 points from 9 rounds - no losses and with 2 drawn games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was also interesting to note that despite being a fasting month, the fight for the top were challenged by those who were fasting - Abdullah Che Hassan on Board 2 (at 6 points going against Yeap Eng Chiam who has 7 points), and Mohd Saprin (at 6 1/2 points) against Mohd Kamal (at 7 points) on Board 1. Agreed that it was a fasting month and while it was a herculean feat to manage through the 9 rounds, it was also interesting to note that these players had overcome their obstacles and challenges to provide their best. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1vLmYUX_wcm8mFSq4_6fqgNkHamaRCIyeMdHaoQn238EeJ9ePBrolkxhPlrtD2i8iFQm_8g0h7VrfWIx9kEfqxmbecI-YMuazb5P7lv02vO8jgR_Mz9PBil-XWzxdRKleHguGHM8NvY/s1600/With+Officials+and+VIPs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="960" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1vLmYUX_wcm8mFSq4_6fqgNkHamaRCIyeMdHaoQn238EeJ9ePBrolkxhPlrtD2i8iFQm_8g0h7VrfWIx9kEfqxmbecI-YMuazb5P7lv02vO8jgR_Mz9PBil-XWzxdRKleHguGHM8NvY/s200/With+Officials+and+VIPs.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard working officials!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the game between Abdullah and Eng Chiam, the former had the advantage at one point during the game but somehow lost it as the game progresses and eventually, losing the game as well. On Board 1, it was an interesting match up between the two friends and Mohd Saprin for all purposes, did not expect that he will end up challenging for the top position. In all honesty, he was there at the National Championship to accompany his son Ghaazi but ended up playing so well that - after so many years of trying, is within a point away from the possibility of being a National Champion. In the end, it was not meant to be and Mohd Kamal maintain his fine run to notch the winning points from his opponent. And by virtue of the the tie break - as Kamal had beaten Eng Chiam in the earlier round, Kamal was declared the 2019 Champion for the 3rd time - 1988, 1989 and 2019.... An impressive feat and achievement indeed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOuQHiAcmZCd2mONfI4PvEFcnIpEcryPtlNl3MWbjp7JYzHMr4YMnPTRj6LfWlgoww4EKLmKT3pTjKadhfjs3IaGniKoDu9F70i1UIifqUbZtnZ9RjaeOv7OHaJk0S8R45P0tw0iEvaY/s1600/Arbiters+at+Work.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOuQHiAcmZCd2mONfI4PvEFcnIpEcryPtlNl3MWbjp7JYzHMr4YMnPTRj6LfWlgoww4EKLmKT3pTjKadhfjs3IaGniKoDu9F70i1UIifqUbZtnZ9RjaeOv7OHaJk0S8R45P0tw0iEvaY/s200/Arbiters+at+Work.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Arbiters at work</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbeqs3JUFSS3UjooNv8pnorJkfHwBnOU8O8wr2fAuS4JuBIiEdkgp20pfw-LdU_b-du6hfGuTCyS4mRVC99DUYTIbuR8WUl_l-SDkfQGmjegUEvGiTfPmGgiVmX-pAq3-yqoG5YTm6TM/s1600/WhatsApp+Image+2019-06-02+at+6.12.32+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1080" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbeqs3JUFSS3UjooNv8pnorJkfHwBnOU8O8wr2fAuS4JuBIiEdkgp20pfw-LdU_b-du6hfGuTCyS4mRVC99DUYTIbuR8WUl_l-SDkfQGmjegUEvGiTfPmGgiVmX-pAq3-yqoG5YTm6TM/s200/WhatsApp+Image+2019-06-02+at+6.12.32+PM.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">VVIP - Dato Sri Muhammad Safian</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the Women section, it was a walk in the park for Munajjah who was already 1 1/2 points clear of her nearest rival at the start of Round 9. So, it was only logical that she took the safe route out by offering a draw which her opponent accepted. And with that, Munajjah became the 2019 Women Champion for the first time - out scoring previous champions and sisters Nur Nabila and Nur Najiha who were the initial favorites to lift the title.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All in all, it was a good outing at the Malaysian Chess Championship 2019 albeit the event was postponed and the participants were reduced due to the unfortunate passing of Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah. The place was more than reasonable, the hotel pricing was cheap and the amenities and surroundings were excellent as food and eateries, convenience stores and businesses, are all within walking distance. And everything was run like clockwork under the watchful eye of Puan Hamidah who controls and manages her team well. And Persatuan Catur Pahang is already eyeing for another big event towards the end of the year, and perhaps the National Youth Chess Championship in 2020. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All in all, I would like to thank all the players for making the Malaysian Chess Championship 2019 a great success with minimal management issues, the team of Arbiters that I have working with me like FA Azhar Md Said and NA Razman (of Pahang), and PCP Committee for their dedication and hard work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing for sure, MCF will definitely review the dates for MCC 2020 to make sure that the timing of the event will not clashes with fasting month, and considering that next year will be an Olympiad year, the MCC should be held earlier (perhaps in March) and the winner - by selection, should have the first choice to be selected to represent Malaysia at Olympiad 2020 in Khanty Mansysk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you everyone and hopefully, I will have the opportunity to run next year's MCC as well. Selamat Hari Raya - Maaf Zahir Batin to all Muslims (players or otherwise) and Happy Holidays to the non Muslims. Drive Safe and Enjoy!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Women Board 1 - FInal Round between Munajjah and Atheira</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Xin Hao and Amir Ghaazi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpvcncyEbJ5Wt_Q_QZc5Op-KJFSVAbwAWphbY0SV0IRI4gluAaV5U8QnfgbM89VHnPPgikocluMdvf9f9X-S1rdL91CuZNq-W8wIJdCgUmcreLlcpsehRjufX9QKpOMsjjvC4rVv2XwY/s1600/Nithya+and+Xin+Hao.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpvcncyEbJ5Wt_Q_QZc5Op-KJFSVAbwAWphbY0SV0IRI4gluAaV5U8QnfgbM89VHnPPgikocluMdvf9f9X-S1rdL91CuZNq-W8wIJdCgUmcreLlcpsehRjufX9QKpOMsjjvC4rVv2XwY/s200/Nithya+and+Xin+Hao.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The only rose amongst the many thorns - Nithyalakshmi</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXQR0KmF0tpR-u8DYh1AJiOSi-v1sEMjlWdXGwnXCJxcEzlQ0HngZuwcLvqpfpb_vULjZuMu0PKIOD5t7BBrsSDTjL9QP1dLy4ZwIwsehN0VJWG7HigRbKzyUaZwJfRCBaYv-kxWQyd4/s1600/Top+Board+-+Kamal+and+Saprin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXQR0KmF0tpR-u8DYh1AJiOSi-v1sEMjlWdXGwnXCJxcEzlQ0HngZuwcLvqpfpb_vULjZuMu0PKIOD5t7BBrsSDTjL9QP1dLy4ZwIwsehN0VJWG7HigRbKzyUaZwJfRCBaYv-kxWQyd4/s200/Top+Board+-+Kamal+and+Saprin.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">FInal battle on the top board - NM Mohd Kamal and Mohd Saprin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFm-19LUApP-cNs-JLtMvT3BR89zFuX2_-1IfrEZGtj_Wvga5jfr2Rw10w8ZpRbq9FTD08VMFs8DVqeSxy3YL6Uuv0UvOU4-KgpFaAC32bushReN1PwgHe4bHLSnf-TKAFP-wS0_j9jE/s1600/The+Women+Winners.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="912" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFm-19LUApP-cNs-JLtMvT3BR89zFuX2_-1IfrEZGtj_Wvga5jfr2Rw10w8ZpRbq9FTD08VMFs8DVqeSxy3YL6Uuv0UvOU4-KgpFaAC32bushReN1PwgHe4bHLSnf-TKAFP-wS0_j9jE/s200/The+Women+Winners.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Women's section winners</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnju9y_2o04AJ1HCmeph30bIyTsWJomrJE5TY-sw0GEk25XtLn7VyUJnnF0edPRDGkabg8dUnCemY9JAQxE7dp6g9isgrDmk9HWy7uKP3EGzTJd8RhpeyoBOeFB7zPLwNxrnwwhutkhM/s1600/The+Open+Winners.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1080" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnju9y_2o04AJ1HCmeph30bIyTsWJomrJE5TY-sw0GEk25XtLn7VyUJnnF0edPRDGkabg8dUnCemY9JAQxE7dp6g9isgrDmk9HWy7uKP3EGzTJd8RhpeyoBOeFB7zPLwNxrnwwhutkhM/s200/The+Open+Winners.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Open Section winners</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC_tHor8zEwGtOyMQZs70jCElExpKuV54LSnJK153c2SldEs7nLaNILDYDsVyUQIleF_873cxWLnwFpJH27cpaD9-edxpZjStr1A8V4H78jA8GrLUHBRXWqCmHv8n8S4mnjjiVUx3dxM/s1600/With+the+Newly+Crowned+Champions.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="992" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC_tHor8zEwGtOyMQZs70jCElExpKuV54LSnJK153c2SldEs7nLaNILDYDsVyUQIleF_873cxWLnwFpJH27cpaD9-edxpZjStr1A8V4H78jA8GrLUHBRXWqCmHv8n8S4mnjjiVUx3dxM/s200/With+the+Newly+Crowned+Champions.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our 2019 Champions - NM Mohd Kamal (Open) and Puteri Munajjah (Women) with Chief Arbiter - Me 😇</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-76401475387959457862019-05-31T18:26:00.003-07:002019-05-31T18:26:46.520-07:00Of Running the MCC 2019 - As the dust clears...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the conclusion of Round 6 on the 3<sup>rd</sup>day of the Malaysian Chess Championship 2019, a sole leader has emerged from each of the Open and Women section as the main contenders to be crowned the next National Champions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Open section, NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah is currently the clear leader with 5½ points after playing a convincing win against former National Junior Yeap Eng Chiam in Round 6 on the Board 1. Top seed Looi Xin Hao outplayed Abdullah Che Hassan on Board 2 whilst Mohd Ghaazi and Mohd Ali drew on Board 3. Two veterans facing off on Board 4 between FM Ismail Ahmad and Jax Tham – an encounter which favored the latter, and on Board 5, Mohd Saprin outplayed Yeoh Huan Hui to secure a valuable point. The only female player in the Open section, Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan continued her climb to the top of the table with a convincing win against Lee Care Greene on Board 6. Other notable games were Lim Kian Hwa beating Cheah Kah Hoe on Board 10, Iwan Schani Ibnu outplayed Mohd Asyraf Razman Board 11 and youngster Muhd Nur Daie beating his much higher rated opponent in Wan Mohd Azmie on Board 14.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the next Round 7, the stage is now set for a showdown between former Champion and second seed NM Mohd Kamal against top seed Looi Xin Hao on Board 1. A win for NM Kamal would put him on track to win the trophy for the 3<sup>rd </sup>time after a 20-year gap from when he last won the championship in 1989 – an historical feat never been done by any other player before. On Board 2, Yeap Eng Chiam is paired against veteran Jax Tham – both with 5 points, and on Board 3, Johorean Abdullah Che Hassan will be playing against Teh Wee Zhun. On Board 4, Mohd Saprin Sabri will meet Mohd Ali Chor and on the next Board 5, Saprin’s son Amir Ghaazi will be challenged by Nithyalakshmi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This will be a crucial round for the leaders to break away from the pack and for NM Kamal, a win in this round will definitely increases his chances to win the National title once again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the Women section, Munajjah outplayed the more experience WFM Nur Najiha to gain a clear point lead against her closest rival – sister WFM Puteri Rifqah Fahada who drew with WFM Chua Jia Tien on the next board. On Board 3, Nur Nabila had little trouble to win against Athiera Fatneen and Claire Foo winning her game against Tan Wei Ting on Board 4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Color sequence has avoided Munajjah to be paired against her sister Rifqah in the next round but wins for the sisters will definitely force their encounter in the penultimate round. For the current Round 7, Munajjah faces Claire Foo and the higher rated Munajjah should be able to hold her game well. On Board 2, Rifqah playing against Nur Nabila and on the next board, Penangite Divyadarshini will be handling the white pieces against Nur Najiha.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A win for Munajjah in Round 7 will definitely put her as the favorite to hold aloft the Tan Sri Dato Sri Ramli Ngah Talib trophy unless she bungled in her next game – possibly against sister Rifqah. After that, it should a walk in the park for Munajjah as there would be no more formidable opponent to stop her run.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some photos from Day 3 of the Malaysian Chess Championship 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30cMILHXGmdJ5MZegWCNEEYPojqWWBOziHK5wMH21m3UggweXoZknulMs9aQkJ6OOy5NCBQVgbzm7yICycyKZsi7UWryk-TrlPzKQ1MZUfGLa4AEE267hUvVS3_6teyLye-rxeEM-FCM/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30cMILHXGmdJ5MZegWCNEEYPojqWWBOziHK5wMH21m3UggweXoZknulMs9aQkJ6OOy5NCBQVgbzm7yICycyKZsi7UWryk-TrlPzKQ1MZUfGLa4AEE267hUvVS3_6teyLye-rxeEM-FCM/s200/DSC_0059.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kelantan players - one for the album</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Penang Power - Eng Chiam and Xin Hao</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjGav-OIBdMU-6u_mjcAvK25DnxeSnMyh0EfQXZamHESFQofOcuhC5MZG1G_HBofEaEmk4-Y6zKeBIpFRLXVWuSOPEjtQJW0m8RRDoalGAP8SRhjARWoOgTrzcibakdWclmOtXVp2maw/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjGav-OIBdMU-6u_mjcAvK25DnxeSnMyh0EfQXZamHESFQofOcuhC5MZG1G_HBofEaEmk4-Y6zKeBIpFRLXVWuSOPEjtQJW0m8RRDoalGAP8SRhjARWoOgTrzcibakdWclmOtXVp2maw/s200/DSC_0066.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Munajjah patiently waiting - "Welcom to the slaughterhouse"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7_TaGQynNR6V1iKo9weneqDX7DvVloXf1rWgOUfporj05-clF9NKa49N1yzWxBz_NZhZ9ATORE5Bqr9QCBGjsA_s4Io2cM1eCGLGl_HEVzDG_zI7kFXz_9Go1o6RRJX3JWAujyFAsgw/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7_TaGQynNR6V1iKo9weneqDX7DvVloXf1rWgOUfporj05-clF9NKa49N1yzWxBz_NZhZ9ATORE5Bqr9QCBGjsA_s4Io2cM1eCGLGl_HEVzDG_zI7kFXz_9Go1o6RRJX3JWAujyFAsgw/s200/DSC_0070.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abdullah Che Hassan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aLsLNms3fZ9hjw0g2lDXG2DO420MOnmBSDZIbwJhpHYHmRqPz5zmjr4v74VzDLvjDZDvGu_dUAI1JikM5xsYK5NZ7ml7iT4qChW0Gp4-AyOgQpxMVuBRgjsGJiVttq4JlIh-nYNjRiY/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aLsLNms3fZ9hjw0g2lDXG2DO420MOnmBSDZIbwJhpHYHmRqPz5zmjr4v74VzDLvjDZDvGu_dUAI1JikM5xsYK5NZ7ml7iT4qChW0Gp4-AyOgQpxMVuBRgjsGJiVttq4JlIh-nYNjRiY/s200/DSC_0081.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iwan Schani Ibnu - the most dashingly stylish player on the field</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcaCHAW0LgAUhZ5vW_7K95ZpIEvuaL1MP8IXqbTXDFBCXdXWc9JVBNKNEc7e4lCPLBY3_-LdJqYUK0W-NvcxK3XDvvVAFDFYNHUL77DNXokICZHEFsAhjkGqtl3xbQQQACk8i1b-Q3xg/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcaCHAW0LgAUhZ5vW_7K95ZpIEvuaL1MP8IXqbTXDFBCXdXWc9JVBNKNEc7e4lCPLBY3_-LdJqYUK0W-NvcxK3XDvvVAFDFYNHUL77DNXokICZHEFsAhjkGqtl3xbQQQACk8i1b-Q3xg/s200/DSC_0087.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two friend facing off - Saprin and Ezmi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGm8hFP2iJmO3oAyXTvFPZ6yFxgbIHo4A6mxTX3TsVSJ80EdJGHb04Px00NV0ulKXWppujXMvY8y3ExVCfxiWc_xkAT4vFM7VzmzNSqVByKmd2p2uEycwNZNbh3_Ueq4hfFg8z_uQ-2o/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGm8hFP2iJmO3oAyXTvFPZ6yFxgbIHo4A6mxTX3TsVSJ80EdJGHb04Px00NV0ulKXWppujXMvY8y3ExVCfxiWc_xkAT4vFM7VzmzNSqVByKmd2p2uEycwNZNbh3_Ueq4hfFg8z_uQ-2o/s200/DSC_0094.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Johore NM Kamal and Abdullah, facing their Penang opponents Eng Chiam and Xin Hao</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Xin Hao against Abdullah</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyMyjPiCEU46PGgE5gdhyagxBQn1LdbZbhpeZo-nKqpa7j3eHO85b9uAf3goQvmL9DrM9qePQvBsW7WADe06dG0XODscrJX1NhXhjBR0x5OTPHStRp03Fd-WL0N1GeBJo0AO5R4O7tN4/s1600/DSC_0089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyMyjPiCEU46PGgE5gdhyagxBQn1LdbZbhpeZo-nKqpa7j3eHO85b9uAf3goQvmL9DrM9qePQvBsW7WADe06dG0XODscrJX1NhXhjBR0x5OTPHStRp03Fd-WL0N1GeBJo0AO5R4O7tN4/s200/DSC_0089.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSwLRshACoswERA3iov1KMq6Pyvs_NOgDP-hi3qkZErmcPqaG1t96l2SmdhtumgLd7wLdXjxzrxAna1Nh_tY9E2yQtJNs8ftxf5GDQ7ex4TGTpenaR5NUhz6LmbtKxUb__W95ZY9RERk/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSwLRshACoswERA3iov1KMq6Pyvs_NOgDP-hi3qkZErmcPqaG1t96l2SmdhtumgLd7wLdXjxzrxAna1Nh_tY9E2yQtJNs8ftxf5GDQ7ex4TGTpenaR5NUhz6LmbtKxUb__W95ZY9RERk/s200/DSC_0098.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NM Kamal Abdullah - He won the title 20 years ago</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tan Wei Ting</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Puteri Rifqah with Nur Nabila at the background</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teh Wee Zhun</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A rose amongst the thorns... And the rose can be deadlier than the thorns</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-89417672978138655022019-05-30T20:08:00.002-07:002019-05-30T20:08:59.811-07:00Of Running MCC 2019 (Day 2) - To Cough or Not To Cough....<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were a few upsets during the 3<sup>rd</sup>and 4<sup>th</sup>round but, the attention was more towards what happened out of the game routine rather than issues within the games itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the very first time in my 30 years or so career as a chess player, arbiter and organizer, a player officially approached the Arbiter's table to lodge a complaint about a player coughing during rounds. But his comments make sense and of course, to substantiate his complaint, he cited a few rules within the FIDE handbook which – although it does not specifically mention “coughing”, it was enough to deem that the claim is reasonable and worth considering. While the player wanted those who coughed to be “removed and considered lost in the round”, I was not entire agreeable to the request as I need to have some kind of discretion to decide if the cough is genuine or it is used as a tactic to distract an opponent. Of course, I am not a doctor but, to provide a blanket rule that deems someone to have lost just because they cough, is a bit too extreme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, as the complainant return to his table to continue with his game, we decided to call the boy who was sick and ask if he is able to continue as it is quite apparent that he is coughing quite badly. After a chat with the parents – who confirmed that the boy was sick a couple of weeks back but had recovered, they agreed to provide a face mask for their son and gave him some cough drops to suppress his cough. While that part of the issue was managed, we did make rounds and offer face masks to those coughing whil playing their games. As a follow up to the request, I announced at the start of Round 4 that players who feel sick or unwell, should start thinking as to which is more important to them – their health or chess, and if need be, should withdraw from the tournament to avoid spreading virus and germs to everyone else. The organizer also agreed to provide face masks to those requiring it and some cough drops to control their cough. I even went on to mention that those who cough persistently and is clearly unwell, maybe expel from the tournament to ensure that it does not distract others playing in the event, not to mention the “pollution” that he or she is contributing to the hall environment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a very enclosed area like hotel rooms and hall, such a situation – where germs can spread like wildfire, is not something new or strange or even illogical. It can happen and it will happen. Already in the 3<sup>rd</sup>day of the event and if my memory serves me right, there are more players sniffling and “clearing their throats” now compared to during the 1<sup>st</sup>day or even the 2<sup>nd</sup>day of the tournament. I believe the request made by the player is an excellent request but, it needs to be implemented in a justifiable and reasonable manner. Perhaps, we will also require a player – who seems to be sick, to get a doctor’s clearance to play in an event to make sure that whatever sickness he or she introduces in the playing hall is not contagious or harmful to the others. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now back to the scores starting with Round 3.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Open section, Mohd Kamal Abdulla drew with up and rising player Lee Care Greene from Penang on Board 2 but another rising youngster, Amir Ghaazi Mohd Saprin lost his game to the lower rated Brien Foo on board 4. Veteran Jax Tham – playing white, also took a tumble losing to youngster Muhammad Emir Rasyid on Board 6. The sole woman player in the Open Section, Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan played well to beat her local Pahang opponent and veteran Kamal Azmi Wahiduddin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Women section, it was a stroll in the park for WFM Nur Najiha winning against Puteri Rifqah Fahada but sister WFM Nur Nabila conceded her point losing to WFM Chua Jia Tien on Board 2. Puteri Munajjah also played well to overcome her opponent Ding Dao En, and in the lower boards, Fatih Nor Sahariah drew with Tan Wei Ting on Board 5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the afternoon Round 4, Looi Xin Hao was lucky to escape with a full point after having trouble holding his game handling Rook and Knight against his opponent sole Queen. NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah played well in a 7-pawn endgame to secure his point against The Wee Zhun on Board 3 and Abdullah Che Hassan winning easily against his younger opponent Muhd Nur Daie on Board 4. Mohd Saprin Sabri suffered a shocking defeat against youngster Lee Care Greene on Board 5 but son Amir Ghaazi did well to overcome opponent Wan Mohd Azmie after the latter blundered by giving away his queen towards the end of a marathon game – the last game to finish for the day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Looi Xin Hao has managed to continue his billing as the top seed in the Open section, the same cannot be said for the Women section. Round 4 Board 1 saw a nail-biting encounter between WFM Nur Najiha and WFM Chua Jia Tien which ended in a draw after Najiha was unable to ward off continuous Queen checks from Jia Tien in a Queens and Pawns ending. On Board 2, Puteri Munajjah created a mini upset when she outplayed WFM Nur Nabila confidently to secure a full point. WFM Puteri Rifqah Fahada had little resistance to overcome Nurina Nayli on Board 3 and Claire Foo secured her point on board 4 after her opponent Athiera Fatneen misplayed the endgame which could have ended in a split decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the Open section, at the end of day 2, two Penang players Yeap Eng Chiam and Looi Xin Hao – both with perfect score of 3 points each, will square off on Board 1 in Round 5 whilst Abdullah Che Hassan and Lee Care Greene – both half points behind, will face each other on Board 2. NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah, who is the remaining 2½ pointer, will meet Francis Tan with 2 points on board 3. Nithyalakshmi continues her good performance and will meet Yeoh Huan Hui on Board 5 – both with 2 points, and the winner of the match will definitely have a clear opportunity to eye the top spot. It will be interesting to see if Nithya can challenge the boys for the top spot and on the same note, the last female to play in the Open Section was WFM Camilia Johari who tried the feat in 2015 – ending in 32<sup>nd</sup>place out of 76 entries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the women section, with only 18 players playing over 9 rounds, it will be a race to the finish for many of the players especially the top seeds – sisters Nabila and Najiha, sister Rifqah and Munajjah, and Penangite Jia Tien. With Jia Tien and Munajjah fighting it off on Board 1 in Round 5, the winner of the match will definitely have a slight advantage in their race to the finish line.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abdullah Che Hassan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WCM Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_skqqL_PK2DSJA1iudrzib-WfD6FrVAFthyphenhyphenMb9odPfhdlF9KIjnrS-6UknOSLBs9Jbvdg2I_0KXsS3qbvZppHCkE-luV0hM2fwyKtbSdQm3MX2-JPZB9pbmNa6YOFzZE7IkE3IxOH8P4/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_skqqL_PK2DSJA1iudrzib-WfD6FrVAFthyphenhyphenMb9odPfhdlF9KIjnrS-6UknOSLBs9Jbvdg2I_0KXsS3qbvZppHCkE-luV0hM2fwyKtbSdQm3MX2-JPZB9pbmNa6YOFzZE7IkE3IxOH8P4/s200/DSC_0006.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Francis Tan - Back in Action</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sY7erNRexlcvp8wTFcLpIT9eW3MWAhfYidIKaR6zEuzYd-D91ZEKfffxIZ0Y96LuVNDbiUzfqqNJna8ufeYzRZyMRUHA61barc4ruxFYNPi_HCqezwgpEJO0mAxy-YenTQaDiE0l09c/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sY7erNRexlcvp8wTFcLpIT9eW3MWAhfYidIKaR6zEuzYd-D91ZEKfffxIZ0Y96LuVNDbiUzfqqNJna8ufeYzRZyMRUHA61barc4ruxFYNPi_HCqezwgpEJO0mAxy-YenTQaDiE0l09c/s200/DSC_0008.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FM Ismail Ahmad (</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-FWRIqXtErQk_0iejU-AKl9h8jZsKBEIGLI4GQVim96no832CYnWxEEfGIoNEduXfwBsa7L05YWC59lOg4zlX7QOPJLBX_bN71HmwsTPExzwYOqeSjwSh3kBCrIINwG3YXzoY8I9zVY/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-FWRIqXtErQk_0iejU-AKl9h8jZsKBEIGLI4GQVim96no832CYnWxEEfGIoNEduXfwBsa7L05YWC59lOg4zlX7QOPJLBX_bN71HmwsTPExzwYOqeSjwSh3kBCrIINwG3YXzoY8I9zVY/s200/DSC_0020.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wan Mohd Azmi (Kelantan)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MLOJQwX-nfz6PYL3Dh_lvUly7_eG8CM3-peWJCQF3m4vCiY9Zf7Dmzzeii8IG04YdhvDqEjMamect3DfkPYz6TzZgdZT_pJSdWXxDQBh5IvTRupE2sgXsO-Lfj4qR13S11_u2YAdtY8/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MLOJQwX-nfz6PYL3Dh_lvUly7_eG8CM3-peWJCQF3m4vCiY9Zf7Dmzzeii8IG04YdhvDqEjMamect3DfkPYz6TzZgdZT_pJSdWXxDQBh5IvTRupE2sgXsO-Lfj4qR13S11_u2YAdtY8/s200/DSC_0018.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Future Generation of Chess Players on Top Boards - Nik Emer Hisham (left) and Muhammad Emir (right) </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YeSAdx3Y4PMvxxna34O4jpFSPOsoCleUcpjhfxPowLWH-OTQVqm4Ct8bS0VeFjKY6hV1KlK5jtAyyREaoUyopepVsrxexT5UK_cCsXFA7o3BKsuc4GrBu_L8zeQkobwU98muOdzA7-Y/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YeSAdx3Y4PMvxxna34O4jpFSPOsoCleUcpjhfxPowLWH-OTQVqm4Ct8bS0VeFjKY6hV1KlK5jtAyyREaoUyopepVsrxexT5UK_cCsXFA7o3BKsuc4GrBu_L8zeQkobwU98muOdzA7-Y/s200/DSC_0016.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New rising star - Amir Ghaazi, and former Junior Champion - Yeap Eng Chiam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7oIaUV3s5F1zdpJ2sQNt5IjqHJYyh07NcPRW_Ey-LDX2T3VRYqExAGXNMnZg4PCW3pmoRKQiEs3gz1UlDpUOMeytLehvHNsSITqToFXhBV0TezJCn50SIioPllGvrYTe1Ev6lOnczX8/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7oIaUV3s5F1zdpJ2sQNt5IjqHJYyh07NcPRW_Ey-LDX2T3VRYqExAGXNMnZg4PCW3pmoRKQiEs3gz1UlDpUOMeytLehvHNsSITqToFXhBV0TezJCn50SIioPllGvrYTe1Ev6lOnczX8/s200/DSC_0013.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Players on Lower Board.</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-60358834165228768152019-05-29T23:40:00.002-07:002019-05-30T00:13:45.920-07:00Of Running Another Malaysian Chess Championship...<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If my memory serves me right, prior to 2015, the event was called The National Closed Chess Championship. Since 2016, the name somewhat took a different path and since then, it has been known as the Malaysian Chess Championship. In 2011 and 2012, DATCC hosted the event at its previous venue in Wilayah Complex as it was the only place in town big (and cheap) enough to host the event. For the 2011 edition, I was both the Organizer and Chief Arbiter with a total of 99 players taking part - 66 in the Open section and anothr 33 players in the Women section, the highest number of women participants in recent years. In 2012, MCF decided to allow the ladies to manage the event and for the first time in the event's history, two women were appointed as Chief Arbiters - Khairunnisa Wahiduddin managed the Open section while Haslindah Ruslan the Women section. And with that, I decided to try as a player and played in the event after a 19 year absence. The last time I played in a National Closed event was in 1993 when Yeoh Chin Seng was crowned the Champion and I had the opportunity to beat an up and coming youngster by the name of Mas Hafizulhelmi Agus Abdul Rahman - I played the white pieces in a KID Seamisch Opening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In 2013, the event used its Malay equivalent title dubbed the Kejohanan Catur Tertutup Kebangsaan 2013 and Terengganu became its host with Mok Tze Meng appointed as the Chief Arbiter. It had the least number of Open players with only 46 entries and another 18 entries in the Women section. In 2014, the event's name was changed again to National Championship (the word "chess" was dropped) and again DATCC became the venue with Abd Hamid Majid returning as the Chief Arbiter. In 2015, the event regain the name National Closed Chess Championship with Hamid once again maintaining his role as the Chief Arbiter but the event shifted to Olympic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The event had the most number of total players playing with 76 players in the Open section and 28 players in the Women section.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The event created history in 2016 when for the very first time, Sabah decided to host the event in Kota Kinabalu and local Sabahan Charles Lucas took the helm as the Chief Arbiter. Although many had to fly to Sabah to participate in the event, it managed to attract 68 players in the Open section and 29 players in the Women section - which is not that bad at all! This is the first year that MCF began to adopt the new name of Malaysian Chess </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Championship instead of the usual National Closed Championship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From then onwards, the venue has moved to Kota Baharu in 2017 and took the name RISDA Malaysian Chess Championship (as RISDA was the main sponsor for the event) with Lim Tse Pin acting as the Chief Arbiter. In 2018, Perak hosted the event at UPSI with Hamid returning once again as Chief Arbiter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For this year's edition, Pahang has agreed to host the event and after an 8 year absence, I have returned as the Chief Arbiter for the event - the last one being the 2011 edition. And for the first time, the event is scheduled during fasting month and very close to the Hari Raya holiday week. The event also marked the first time that it has to be postponed by a few days as a mark of respect due to the passing away of Ayahanda Paduka Tuanku Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But nonetheless, despite the obstacle and the changes in the event's schedule, it still managed to attract a decent number of entries with 68 players in the Open section and another 18 in the Women Section.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM7geBBd_jvsW5-frB67-DbKbWxU3JsZ_Q7iV75p8oROOpR3kDS8tqyyZx-Xk22h-IK23f7WU_EKYCtGrkdANg2iQMr9kOoUi78ZTUn46G0y4rnviNFK4t9Xdz4-YGA1yHw3qTbPNilQ/s200/DSC_0002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The top boards</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePI21GT0AmbXV4khTeWN8fINCEmebceFv7Ng6XIzw-jlvbd6Zl5zcEpYZGbidQuYUJ22grxunzyd2DaCnfiCY97FRiYzkIRlupWlxKtu35tB7u2hwzrl_ytncer5XmI4WVmvyqt9iLVU/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePI21GT0AmbXV4khTeWN8fINCEmebceFv7Ng6XIzw-jlvbd6Zl5zcEpYZGbidQuYUJ22grxunzyd2DaCnfiCY97FRiYzkIRlupWlxKtu35tB7u2hwzrl_ytncer5XmI4WVmvyqt9iLVU/s200/DSC_0012.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Event Backdrop</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For this year's event, Looi Xin Hao of Penang is the number one seed for the Open Section (after Lim Zhuo Ren pulled out due to a personal schedule that he had committed) whilst Nur Najiha Azman Hisham for the Women section. For the Open Section, other notable entries were FM Ismail Ahmad, Yeap Eng Chiam, Mohd Saprin and son Ahmad Ghaazi, former champion Mohd Kamal Abdullah, his fellow Johorean Abdullah Che Hassan, veterans Joseph Toh and Jax Tham, and Nithyalakhsmi as the sole Women entries in male dominant section. For the ladies section, Nur Nabila will definitely challenge her sister for the top position with another pair of sisters, Puteri Rifqah and Puteri Munajjah eyeing for the same spot. Other notable entries are Chua Jia Tien and Ding Dao En.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the first day of the event, all the players were treated to a Buka Puasa hosted by Pahang Chess Association with Dato Sri Effendi Abdullah officiating the Opening Ceremony, representing YB Dato Sri Ismail Mutalib, MP for Maran and Chess Advisor Persatuan Catur Pahang, who could not make it to the dinner due to prayers session at the Pekan Palace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of the more familiar and unfamiliar faces taking part in this year's event.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnX4y7mVW4ZtNEb3kw9H41RQkTLW0OqtrZ7UTVGabj10n6tEcr2gzQ1Oil0OSW2ZmA2RaHXt-JYqg8wyq_VxJ6A2v9rjDk09N-1fPZybTyk4fcWd2Y-zp4M5D48gIcjfUGmxLPo7Xm0/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsnX4y7mVW4ZtNEb3kw9H41RQkTLW0OqtrZ7UTVGabj10n6tEcr2gzQ1Oil0OSW2ZmA2RaHXt-JYqg8wyq_VxJ6A2v9rjDk09N-1fPZybTyk4fcWd2Y-zp4M5D48gIcjfUGmxLPo7Xm0/s200/DSC_0016.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Malaysia's Most Celebrated Coach - Ezmi Mahmood</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRa18GcmiEqx9aJrfLSg-luStsxcb8cYtbSey73F2qy4IhGX36QBHgyTK4Ia4XHxxqW9KFTTbQjn5uUJYF8H4LhcBPbAtsfpVWMwPjiOJ_IDHu9IDPUiOqThq3wClrdrq19PkZ6s010k/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRa18GcmiEqx9aJrfLSg-luStsxcb8cYtbSey73F2qy4IhGX36QBHgyTK4Ia4XHxxqW9KFTTbQjn5uUJYF8H4LhcBPbAtsfpVWMwPjiOJ_IDHu9IDPUiOqThq3wClrdrq19PkZ6s010k/s200/DSC_0021.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hisyamiza Ismail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi547kc3xHN0Vqg6e-KrLajEqrtxLLCdwNnj5unixssckobkt2XGLWxsaALt7g6DVoy5noPvOfLn7oWCFNleVQclV-yDF8J4P9pDyX7uW6zXyTIwLwi07co82TvrfuuxOyyqhYWyeOcETw/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi547kc3xHN0Vqg6e-KrLajEqrtxLLCdwNnj5unixssckobkt2XGLWxsaALt7g6DVoy5noPvOfLn7oWCFNleVQclV-yDF8J4P9pDyX7uW6zXyTIwLwi07co82TvrfuuxOyyqhYWyeOcETw/s200/DSC_0026.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Up and Coming - Amir Ghaazi Mohd Saprin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU43O5OfPyVIJAW57x3trOnYPwfsL8lHZXvVZazjRrJDIrQqMvfoLc_YyPWwcNF5KHZqj7t4XBv7cXCXyxKzk2nmPDngAMPocVHVZo0HOWoHK3uZAjvRnL317vLp51FpKt08snK1ijpzo/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU43O5OfPyVIJAW57x3trOnYPwfsL8lHZXvVZazjRrJDIrQqMvfoLc_YyPWwcNF5KHZqj7t4XBv7cXCXyxKzk2nmPDngAMPocVHVZo0HOWoHK3uZAjvRnL317vLp51FpKt08snK1ijpzo/s200/DSC_0027.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Veteran Jax Tham</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM_RKDoO0hwEnbKs3mnOKWd7hHQo2RmBVYnJbcib5bgy2HCZ2l7h7-hkG3TpQ6uEipsKc3GYWcxaBicUUrOmAEvHtO2lYJO74BGBk06T_LTLpGweBVONZcCdQ_onuauaqcFdTUvhzkKY/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM_RKDoO0hwEnbKs3mnOKWd7hHQo2RmBVYnJbcib5bgy2HCZ2l7h7-hkG3TpQ6uEipsKc3GYWcxaBicUUrOmAEvHtO2lYJO74BGBk06T_LTLpGweBVONZcCdQ_onuauaqcFdTUvhzkKY/s200/DSC_0028.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Former Champion NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-hGx1qRruQYveZmSf7bsVfp0cgsAh-83iiI72MnTbsp4pWwuCeVAa-d7PBdVHFy7YKdaz3sKcyeksoH5a5f8I5DMKNnY6JzZ7W2Q6djvwso2CWyLzAXNq_9U6LwKVeM9f8bNRj1EhsI/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-hGx1qRruQYveZmSf7bsVfp0cgsAh-83iiI72MnTbsp4pWwuCeVAa-d7PBdVHFy7YKdaz3sKcyeksoH5a5f8I5DMKNnY6JzZ7W2Q6djvwso2CWyLzAXNq_9U6LwKVeM9f8bNRj1EhsI/s200/DSC_0035.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chess Entrepreneur Norazwan "Shin" Kamaruzaman</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tan Wei Ting</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Local Pahang - Kamal Azmi Wahiduddin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yeap Eng Chiam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Veteran Joseph Toh</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Puteri Munajjah Az Zahraa Azhar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mohd Saprin Sabri</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnhZtO3HbkZjtDHj7XPrcDsFmF36kpwSfsoq4B5Z9sWWoSBzGpY7xpAFTq8RQwp3S-yViSZCvSgedTuDgDYoqQKxG0k7SkEkw6lc0TgmSpEMeEdBLDkXBRvT3UEG8YIT2YfxGzxpcVKw/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnhZtO3HbkZjtDHj7XPrcDsFmF36kpwSfsoq4B5Z9sWWoSBzGpY7xpAFTq8RQwp3S-yViSZCvSgedTuDgDYoqQKxG0k7SkEkw6lc0TgmSpEMeEdBLDkXBRvT3UEG8YIT2YfxGzxpcVKw/s200/DSC_0056.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mohd Hafizul Ishak</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-62942973027924411302019-05-26T07:38:00.001-07:002019-05-29T23:41:01.845-07:00Of Understanding Our Growth and Progress - FIDE Rating<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I like to write hence the reason I put up my blog. And now that I am back in chess again – especially in MCF, I would probably have a better view about the progress and development of chess in the country. Aside from chess, I also like doing my job, something which I have done for almost 20 years now. I would probably prefer my previous task rather than my current one – it is still in the same department but with different focus area, as my previous job deals more with numbers compare to the current one which deals more with people and management. So, for this one, I am going to combine the two and hope it will make some sense. The focus of the topic will be related to FIDE rating but, to a certain extent, it also relates to other matters i.e. selection, National Rating, development, etc. But, let me start first and you can figure it out yourself later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The general impression that many has is the fact that, with more FIDE rated events in Malaysia, it can help to develop the growth, quality and talent of our local chess community. We are proud to have many chess players who are FIDE rated, and many are generally happy that we are using only FIDE rating as our means of evaluating the performance of our players. And of course, we are also eager to send our children for FIDE events abroad. On the same, many parents are also eager to have their son or daughters to be FIDE rated as it means, our child achievement is recognized worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So, is this the correct strategy to move forward with, to have as many players to be rated by FIDE and to continue having many more events sanctioned by FIDE in the country? And, in the end of this all, if we were to follow this idea, will it help us to become a better chess nation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let us look at the numbers and I leave if for you to decide.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">According to the latest listing, there are 879,112 chess players currently registered under FIDE from 192 countries around the world. India is the leading country with 86,413 players registered with FIDE followed by Russia at 84,714 players and France at 60,001 players. But the surprising thing is that Malaysia sits at number 17 with 10,501 players registered – the highest in ASEAN, beating Philippines who is a distant second at 4,623 players. As a comparison, Philippines is the 40<sup>th</sup>country with the highest number of FIDE players but Philippines has 13 GMs to boast while we are yet to produce even a single one. Interesting to note that 18 of the top 20 countries with the highest FIDE population has no less than 10 GMs per country – the exception being Sri Lanka and Malaysia as we are both without any GM. And with that, Sri Lanka is the only country without GM who has a higher FIDE population than Malaysia at 14,900 players and they are ranked 13<sup>th</sup>country in the world. We can probably boast about our numbers but what about quality?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In terms of the number of players with FIDE rating, only 22% of our population has some sort of FIDE rating which ranked us at number 165<sup>th</sup>in the world. The only other country worse than us in the top 20 is Turkey who is worse than us by a mere 0.2%. Even Sri Lanka is higher at 24% and by comparison, German has 70% of its population rated and Cuba at 76% of its players rated, ranking them 5<sup>th</sup>and 2<sup>nd</sup>respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the same, only 10% of our players (with FIDE rating) are active players whereas the balance 90% are either not active or active but without any rating making us the 154<sup>th</sup>country in the world with the highest number of active rated plyers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our rating average (for all players regardless if they are active or otherwise) is 1497.3 – making us to be number 175<sup>th</sup>in the world but, we should not be disheartened because India is ranked 186<sup>th</sup>in the world at 1354.5 so by average, we are stronger than India. But, if we look only at active players, we are ranked 176<sup>th</sup>in the world at an average rating of 1403.2 – a drop of almost 94 points but India’s ranking improved to 183<sup>rd</sup>in the world at 1298 rating point, dropping only 56 points. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the Juniors below the age of 12, we ranked 88<sup>th</sup>in the world at an average strength of 1189 rating points. Comparing with our neighbors, Indonesia is ranked 11<sup>th</sup>in the world at an average strength of 1464 point and Vietnam is 25<sup>th </sup>in the world with an average FIDE rating of 1371 points. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We fare even worse in the Under 16 category with a world ranking of 123<sup>rd</sup>in the world with an average strength of 1271 points. By comparison, our neighbor Philippines is 45<sup>th</sup>in the world with an average strength of 1443 points, Vietnam at 33<sup>rd</sup>rank with an average strength of 1485 and Indonesia is 2<sup>nd</sup>in the world with an impressive average strength of 1694 points per player.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the perspective of growth, Malaysia does have a larger population of Junior players. We are ranked 19<sup>th</sup>in the world with the highest percentage of U12 FIDE registered players comparing against our overall FIDE population. In comparison, Vietnam is 10<sup>th</sup>in the world, Singapore is 22<sup>nd</sup>in the world and Indonesia 109<sup>th</sup>in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For total number of Junior players below the age of 20, we stand at number 12<sup>th</sup>in the world with 65% of our players population comprising of players in this age group. However, Singapore beat us to be at 8<sup>th</sup>in the world (at 68%), and Vietnam at 10<sup>th</sup>in the world (at 65%). Indonesia ranked 98<sup>th</sup>in the world and Philippines at 88<sup>th</sup>in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, there are a lot more to look at, and of course, we need to focus more in comparing our performance against our regional neighbors. That will be the focus of my next writing and I am already seeing some interesting figures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Based on these numbers, while we can brag about having the quantity, there is much to be improved in terms of our quality. For me, the argument that the more FIDE rated players we have therefore our quality of play will also improve, does not seem to jive. While we are promoting and eager to get our players to earn the title of “FIDE Rated Players” and to hold many “FIDE Rated events”, is this move doing justice to our players? Is it a true reflection of our strength and our so called growth? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me, growth is not about numbers or quantity, but it is about quality and strength. Development needs to be properly outlined and we need to have focus on the way we manage our younger chess population, and those who are eager to be known as “FIDE Rated players”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sincerely feel that having a National Rating would curb and control the growth of having too many FIDE rated players – who just seems to fill up the numbers but lacks the quality. And I also feel that sending players to International events need to be justified – again to ensure that the growth is in the right direction and to focus on quality and not so much of quantity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My conclusions are mostly based on the numbers that I see and I am sure, there are people out there who may have a different point of view. So, what do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-85344611387466651162019-05-24T01:00:00.001-07:002019-05-24T01:11:27.161-07:00Postponement of Malaysian Chess Championship 2019<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"We can only plan but Allah will decide" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <i>Kita hanya mampu merancang tetapi Allah yang akan menentukan</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhqG5Td5PZL0obt6C6WRnTZezf1gb7ZZuJVUDz7usUc6Mn5Cn6AkXKWTx1XLOuc6GWM4Q6P_lisplS1Egg28pPdDXgoQ_Kaf1laPYuyLBqm4fk9TmMcQ50fwslutzeUsRnc83oaPWUYg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-24+at+3.56.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhqG5Td5PZL0obt6C6WRnTZezf1gb7ZZuJVUDz7usUc6Mn5Cn6AkXKWTx1XLOuc6GWM4Q6P_lisplS1Egg28pPdDXgoQ_Kaf1laPYuyLBqm4fk9TmMcQ50fwslutzeUsRnc83oaPWUYg/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-05-24+at+3.56.52+PM.png" width="359" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s a mark of respect to the family of </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong </span></span></span><span style="text-align: center;">Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah </span><span style="text-align: center;">and family members of the Royal Palace of Pahang </span><span style="text-align: center;">on the passing of </span><span style="text-align: center;">Paduka Ayahanda Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah Al Musta'in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar, the Malaysian Chess Championship has been postponed to start a few days later on Wednesday, 29th May 2019.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The new schedule for the event shall be as follows:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdCH9IpPurxFYg4PaemoojoDcHldC7iqd9WDWDqzVpkYzKoTx841NKoXGa0fg9RzjAgleXZTDMsNmIm8x2iU47YuQ2UfTMD26IO7gw3ke9qFKI5mjrMGPXxu0qw1U-bqDLxQ5zRPsj0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-05-24+at+4.07.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="551" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdCH9IpPurxFYg4PaemoojoDcHldC7iqd9WDWDqzVpkYzKoTx841NKoXGa0fg9RzjAgleXZTDMsNmIm8x2iU47YuQ2UfTMD26IO7gw3ke9qFKI5mjrMGPXxu0qw1U-bqDLxQ5zRPsj0/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-05-24+at+4.07.12+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Venue and Hotel for the event shall remain without any changes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-89779610114048693892019-05-21T19:45:00.003-07:002019-05-21T19:49:57.919-07:00Of Selecting National Players to FIDE Events<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The selection process to identify players to International events has again comes under scrutiny from the local chess community. Apparently, a few parents have requested for their children to play in the upcoming East Asian Chess Championship in Bangkok but were not allowed due to MCF existing guideline set by the selection committee. Not only parents, but the organizer and Thailand Chess Federation also has requested for MCF to help support the event with as many entries possible. So, should we send?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Olympiad selection fiasco last year was a clear indicator that the selection process was not followed but, why follow it now? If important event like Olympiad can be over ruled, surely MCF can over rule over a "less important" event? After all, MCF is not forking out a single cent for these players to go, so what is the fuss in stopping players from playing?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some cited that in 2017, when Pahang hosted the Asean+ Age Group Championship, there were many local players taking part but we must look at this event in a different perspective. For me, the logic to have many local players taking part is because Malaysia is the host hence, the support of local players is crticial to make the tournament a success. I believe this is a common stand made by many countries as well - if a country hosted an event, they can and will allow as many players from their country to take part in order to make the crowd. But Thailand is our neighbor, and as a good neighbor, why not we send as many players as we can? One person mentioned that when Bangladesh organized a Regional event, many players from India came over and take part but, one thing that we need to look at is that the standard of chess in India (of its youngsters) is high because India is already producing IM and even GMs at such a very young age. We in Malaysia? Most of our youngsters can't even pass the 2000 ELO rating points. So flooding players from India in an event hosted by Bangladesh may elevate its standard but the same may not work for Malaysian players.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can understand the logic behind limiting the number of players to don the National jersey at International level events - be it a Regional tournament or a Global one. To me, those who represent our Jalur Gemilang should have a certain level of competency. After all, how you perform at the event, will reflect the capabality of a nation as a whole. I remembered in the 50's when our badminton players were winning the All England Badminton Championship, and whenever we introduce ourselves as Malaysian, many British expect that we can play badminton well. Reflecting on chess, while having many of our chess players not finishing at the top of the table does not reflect that Malaysians do not know how to play chess, it does however create an impression that we have a poor "selection process" or poor "development program" as we are not able to send those who are worthy enough for the event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For one thing, I agree that MCF - as the governing body for chess in Malaysia, should exercise <u>some means of quality control</u> when identifying children who are keen to participate in regional events outside of Malaysia. But let us make one thing clear as well - having a child to play in the event is for the child's glory, or for the parents? Maybe it is for the children but, we cannot deny that for some parents, it would be more for their own ego as parents, for their own bragging rights to family members, neighbors, colleagues and friends, that my child is "a National Chess player". Of course, not all parents are like that. And on the same, how many of those young players who have played in these International events have actually pursue chess as their sports of choice, or for improvement? I never counted but it would be interesting to know </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But of course, there is a need to be fair and just. And the exposure may be good for the players and parents. As kids, let them have the moment in time, and as parents, they need to experience and feel if chess is the right activity for their kids. And in terms of money, MCF is not responsible for it so.... Put all these things together and we may have the answer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In managing the situation better, perhaps we can take a middle ground by segmenting the event to World Level (only the champions can go), ASIAN Level (Only the podium finishers can go) or the ASEAN Level (now everyone can go!!). Or perhaps, we can allow for more event winners to be considered instead of using only the National Age Group as the qualifying event. Why not we add the Scholastic, the National Junior or even the best finishers who plays in the MCC or National Rapid events to be considered? For that matter, we can even use their FIDE rating and their standings in the local ranking as a selection criteria as well, or allow those who are very active in the local chess circuits to play becuase being active means they are serious about playing chess. On top of that, we should also have some kind of limitation i.e. only 5 players per category or something along that line to strike a balance between "quality, numbers and control". And different players for different events to open the opportunity. But for World and Asian Level events, let's keep it to those worthy only - money being the least important criteria.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-82181534060790135962019-05-17T05:23:00.002-07:002019-05-17T05:25:28.108-07:00I Am Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzp4EqJ5ubwyyU8icP2mfQZj_f2Hc3ReF7B2llC8A6uUZb4a_xoSZ-rTIEok2CZhQ3QJw5iAph6yBx-tZFibU8t5p7OcHu_8mL9Ryf-CVp4sxdI7rDzxHuImH7hl5ifbCp4cXY18brg/s1600/i-am-back-1024x597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="1024" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzp4EqJ5ubwyyU8icP2mfQZj_f2Hc3ReF7B2llC8A6uUZb4a_xoSZ-rTIEok2CZhQ3QJw5iAph6yBx-tZFibU8t5p7OcHu_8mL9Ryf-CVp4sxdI7rDzxHuImH7hl5ifbCp4cXY18brg/s320/i-am-back-1024x597.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5 years gone by.... And now, I AM BACK!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Based on the time stamp on my last posting, this would be just about 5 years 2 months since last I wrote in my blog. Based on the same date, I stopped writing in my blog just after a year after I came back into full employment. If memory serves me right, I tried to gave it a go to see if I can manage both chess and work at the same time but it was too challenging and too tiring, and one year was enough for me to decide that something has got to give. The choice was rather obvious! Between a chess business that has plenty of uncertainties to offer against a steady job that provides a steady income, it was a no win contest for chess. So the chess business folded, the weekend events grew lesser and the chess limelight that I used to enjoy gradually phased out. Chess took a quiet corner at the back seat although I still do ocassional events every now and then to keep myself current with the game. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recapping the 5 years since then, I would happily concluded that I enjoyed my times working at my current establishment as it has provided me the opportunity to make new friends, enhance my knowledge and provide a desire to advance in the corporate ladder. And I did just that - from a mere manager to a Head of Department in just over 2 years. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My life was back on track and the future seems to be a lot brighter as the job that I have was something that I am good at. Having been in the industry for almost 12 years prior, and with a couple of National awards to boast, I know I am good at it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Without a doubt, work is all about our means to survive, to put food on the table, and not having to worry about how I am going to survive tomorrow, whether I am able to pay the bills or not, and worry about how to manage my daily household expenses. Comparing to chess because chess is passion, and in most cases, passion can't put food on the table, can't fill petrol in the car, and can't pay for convenience. But at times, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">chess has helped me to "provide and survive", but its just that it is not as consistent as I would like for it to be. Reflecting on this, I am quite amazed that many have ventured into full time chess - perhaps times are much better now than it was 5 years ago. There are plenty of chess events and this happens almost every week. And I can see chess organizers and officials and suppliers, travelling across the country (and sometimes going overseas) to expand their business wing. Kudos to all of you for making it where I have failed before. But as many more venturing into the same line of business, while the cake can be big, the portion may become smaller as time progresses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In all honesty, I have always wanted to be a chess entrepreneur from as far back as 1990 when I first came back to Malaysia - having compared how chess is being managed here in Malaysia compared to the States. But chess is a niche market, small and expensive since most items and products need to be imported - and I believe it is true still today. In short, you need to have a strong capital to sieze the market, good networking, patient and the ability to run around across the country to fight your competitor, capture and expand your market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">But for me, I dont think I will have the energy to compete in the "supply and retail market" but perhaps, I would want to focus on event management, consultation, arbitering and writing. The former would be too hectic and exhausting for me as I would have to compete against the younger generations who will have plenty of time, immense energy and endless</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">cash flow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So does this mean I am ready to venture again into chess and seize some chunk of the "chess cake"? So, why do I want to be back in chess? What gives?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first sign came last year when I have finally managed to overcome a personal issue that has bothered me for many years. The second sign is when my long time friend Hamid called me up to see if I am interested to help him as his assistant to which I responded with a yes - now that work has stabilised having climbed the corporate ladder. And of course, it is fun to be working Hamid again - a friend whom I have known for almost 30 years now. Although we may have disagreement at times - who does not, we are both very focused towards making things right for chess. And the third sign, with my work place undergoing massive transformation and restructuring, it sort of provided me with the final indicator that is it time to move on. I can always search for a new job but maybe, let us try give chess another go. With a bit savings that I have, new networking that I have forged and a more "relaxed and happier" approach towards growing older and wiser, this should be the right time to focus again on my passion. If it still does not give me the joy and the satisfaction that I seek, I can always pack my bags and "balik kampung tanam jagung" - have fun with my grandkids, and taking care of my parents. Its time to work for what I believe, my desire and my passion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OK guys... Let's ROCK and ROLL!</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-33476086789482211532014-02-17T06:33:00.001-08:002014-02-17T06:35:18.148-08:00Join Us - Weekly Chess Meet at Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interested to meet up and play chess?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A weekly chess session organized by Najib Wahab will be held every Wednesday evening from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at Knowledge Mine Tuition Center located in Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas. <strong>The <span style="color: red;">first weekly session will start tomorrow, 19th February 2014</span>, and will continue weekly and if required, more additional weekly sessions including weekly events will be held at the center</strong>. Knowledge Mine address is Blok L, Unit 1.9/2.9 Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plaza Damas is rather easy to access - via Jalan Duta, Penchala Link or Kerinchi Link. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>This is a free and open session (no fees shall be imposed) for everyone to participate,</strong> a place where chess players can meet up and chat, play a game of chess with fellow chess players, or enjoy reading a collection of chess books available in the mini library. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As this is a voluntary site provided by the management of Knowledge Mine, visitors are encouraged to bring their own sets and clocks although a limited number of sets and clocks will be made available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other events planned at the same location will include a monthly chess event, team event, blitz event, weekly team/individual league and many more activities for players from all playing levels and age groups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Currently, there is a beginners chess class being organized every Saturday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with more classes to be added soon.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you are into Sabutteo - the table football game, the Knowledge Mine is also the place to be </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For parents and non playing partners, there are plenty of eateries and entertainment within the complex including Starbucks (directly below the Tuition Center), TGIF, a Supermarket, convenient stores (7-11), Karaoke and many more. From my personal experience, the Mee Rebus and Mee Bandong served at the Warong nearby is definitely something not to miss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For those driving to the center, there are ample parking spots within the complex basement with rates as cheap as RM1 per hour - as a reminder, do avoid the open car park above as it can be costly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For more information, please contact Najib Wahab at +6016.338.2542 or email najib.wahab [at] chess-malaysia.com</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk63iKYJoeoigu1YaQsl4aP8mCleuXllb3ruv3OWrcCu1_t2WpmkN71KyY0jotKiJck2K8-oCBOYVsI2I6Oxbm6Sqwcok5LFxgCmiQWtgsHbTHWLYqo6ZmYLcBkjE7XgGrzow-2gDpWqc/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk63iKYJoeoigu1YaQsl4aP8mCleuXllb3ruv3OWrcCu1_t2WpmkN71KyY0jotKiJck2K8-oCBOYVsI2I6Oxbm6Sqwcok5LFxgCmiQWtgsHbTHWLYqo6ZmYLcBkjE7XgGrzow-2gDpWqc/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My wife and I enjoying the Warong Mee Rebus and Mee Bandung....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Small but ample facilities - and the stack of books for the mini library</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRSc3WK9EltKxe1yAtlAWWqZC-KqZNvuotmy5ZFT-E2grnsNX3WxG1jIUbRIylMrHAkVC5Z2vPWnBjpg3SwrY3SLzyEoKkuDr46ymqogmqBJzkNa1M_o-6kSN8uMY2QP5wHT5BqZCbjM/s1600/DSC_0136+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRSc3WK9EltKxe1yAtlAWWqZC-KqZNvuotmy5ZFT-E2grnsNX3WxG1jIUbRIylMrHAkVC5Z2vPWnBjpg3SwrY3SLzyEoKkuDr46ymqogmqBJzkNa1M_o-6kSN8uMY2QP5wHT5BqZCbjM/s1600/DSC_0136+(2).JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the books in our collection - notice anything interesting?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtIpGm1XOlZHbFiSQ26QARXEOt-KnBkAuptsM3p1bySdP_KoP6MgDTBt0JRjrq1gSiocMn1LITmOwzfOty_tygb1VCkEfbGP6Zvq1OQHN8EmJydMG8zdaLEbMwIrAdBHhsFP65BSQ6s8/s1600/DSC_0138+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtIpGm1XOlZHbFiSQ26QARXEOt-KnBkAuptsM3p1bySdP_KoP6MgDTBt0JRjrq1gSiocMn1LITmOwzfOty_tygb1VCkEfbGP6Zvq1OQHN8EmJydMG8zdaLEbMwIrAdBHhsFP65BSQ6s8/s1600/DSC_0138+(2).JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the weekend class sessions</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCG-aAwBNgCB2cBaveAyWNQ7K5_DMwEl4uIIe0O591ypndHubLSTvxdarw8bax60LKTyldQXEZWEAe1aQ7wdqiLdzQcuXr3303u-vOyv0_8ddSWgRqRr0g_faBlhMWYnZJuXNzhNYRxiY/s1600/DSC_0142+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCG-aAwBNgCB2cBaveAyWNQ7K5_DMwEl4uIIe0O591ypndHubLSTvxdarw8bax60LKTyldQXEZWEAe1aQ7wdqiLdzQcuXr3303u-vOyv0_8ddSWgRqRr0g_faBlhMWYnZJuXNzhNYRxiY/s1600/DSC_0142+(2).JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Training session</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp2uHh7BiOUCL7aOtW64corr5c6Q8p_BHKLEYaRVQ9W1ObikLeFBaeTO0UOLAwvw4e6nQJ0UXqT4Ik3d6Ncoup5nqQKGcAZF1sIbc1XuSWg65Vdk17J48dQqNC87WGz7AxnHZnnlIwqE/s1600/DSC_0154+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp2uHh7BiOUCL7aOtW64corr5c6Q8p_BHKLEYaRVQ9W1ObikLeFBaeTO0UOLAwvw4e6nQJ0UXqT4Ik3d6Ncoup5nqQKGcAZF1sIbc1XuSWg65Vdk17J48dQqNC87WGz7AxnHZnnlIwqE/s1600/DSC_0154+(2).JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ample space - there are at least 2 more rooms albeit smaller in size</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-69005448281674429362014-01-29T20:49:00.003-08:002014-01-29T20:55:24.688-08:00A New Champion Crowned<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With one of South East Asia's most famous GM in Megaranto Susanto and a leading Indonesia IM in Farid Firman Syah, it was not surprising that Indonesia was the hot favorite to lift the 2014 GACC Championship... And win they did. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">GACC has the tendency to attract high class players for the event and for this year's edition, it was GM Megaranto Susanto of Indonesia as the sole GM taking part in the event. And looking at the field of players taking part in this year's edition, the only question playing in everyone's mind was - who will take the second spot?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In recent years, even when the Russian Team fielded a GM, scoring a perfect score of 9 points was not an easy feat to achieve. But GM Megaranto did it with ease, finishing most of his games rather early except during his match against MG Gahan of India.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It was a tight race for second and it boils down to the last round between IM Farid Firman Syah of Indonesia and Antonio Vianni D'Cunha of India - the winner to secure the second placing. It was an interesting game lasting almost 5 and a half hours with Antonia as black, having a Queen and a single pawn against Firman's White Rook and Bishop with 2 connected pawns. Going into the 5th hour, it was clear that Firman was not able to improve his position with Antonio keeping his Queen active and holding his pawn in an unassailable position. Firman on the other hand, knew that he was not able to push his pawn forward without opening his King to endless check from the black Queen. In the end, Firman resorted to the fact that a draw was inevitable, made the offer which was accepted by Antonio without hesitation - securing his second position.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Although India won the 2nd and 3rd placement in the Open individual section, the Indonesian Team was too strong and was crowned as the 2014 GACC Team Championship. India took second place and Singapore, came from behind to beat Sri Lanka for the 3rd place. Host University Malaya took the consolation prize of becoming the best local team edging favorite UIA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other notable winners were Nurnaida Ajeng of Indonesia, an unrated lass who took the best Women Champion, ahead of local WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri of University Malaya in 2nd place. Vanessa D'Souza of India in 3rd followed by Singapore's WFM Melissa Lo in 4th and another local player, Ruby Kwan of UPSI in 5th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Pictorial photos for the closing ceremony can be found at our FACEBOOK page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChessMalaysia">https://www.facebook.com/ChessMalaysia</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Final cross table for event can be found at Chess-Results website at <a href="http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1">http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1</a> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvwGDTHJMfgnBayrM9SdOXMhG9dlcq4yQB1Pa2kabDSdYeejFxh99NyyOW2KeaKeFxktKb32o9Z3EuKabvdXrYs36irmRuu3fA79Dmlvh-L7cG1nP4Uycp6F-qJAw6aCaQat06dCZ0z8/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvwGDTHJMfgnBayrM9SdOXMhG9dlcq4yQB1Pa2kabDSdYeejFxh99NyyOW2KeaKeFxktKb32o9Z3EuKabvdXrYs36irmRuu3fA79Dmlvh-L7cG1nP4Uycp6F-qJAw6aCaQat06dCZ0z8/s1600/DSC_0041.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIP at the official Closing Ceremony</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRQNGIm5gsp0hbpmczrMr2LxaGYGR_YdI93aNNV0-DQ1JP9-kECkpbiP-_HowUYWkGb81h-OvNMDSp4DzXWMop9CuqMScI9gwBWbECIwqfxcAPj_VKHJTPjy5m2GJby1oT8oOItNTrHw/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRQNGIm5gsp0hbpmczrMr2LxaGYGR_YdI93aNNV0-DQ1JP9-kECkpbiP-_HowUYWkGb81h-OvNMDSp4DzXWMop9CuqMScI9gwBWbECIwqfxcAPj_VKHJTPjy5m2GJby1oT8oOItNTrHw/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Open Champion - GM Megaranto Susanto of Indonesia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQfi9SAvk2wWjZM7nHSE0DQdCuUlCvAruuprjvPkY43UpWKnLyZwOtvGHQ74vVDHHNnAX3DeFnZQa67tRgAjy92lQ56mIr2bxYaBPd2iL-kK8H4wF0GdzJ24bpMIlNuqYnQpD1zovGxk/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQfi9SAvk2wWjZM7nHSE0DQdCuUlCvAruuprjvPkY43UpWKnLyZwOtvGHQ74vVDHHNnAX3DeFnZQa67tRgAjy92lQ56mIr2bxYaBPd2iL-kK8H4wF0GdzJ24bpMIlNuqYnQpD1zovGxk/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to cheer about for host University Malaya</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- winning the best Malaysian Team</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKwTY93mMxQiHw8DHGJQfR8LEdOQPFVE9bGKEJBuhve38tdXHEc0odVJ-nowuQukUynl6hBRV_MqECWrz-YIgc88qHRu0oLcEyup9bhBjrWE1rN5oIqhIzpRVazTVQDwt13wN7nkcG-4/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKwTY93mMxQiHw8DHGJQfR8LEdOQPFVE9bGKEJBuhve38tdXHEc0odVJ-nowuQukUynl6hBRV_MqECWrz-YIgc88qHRu0oLcEyup9bhBjrWE1rN5oIqhIzpRVazTVQDwt13wN7nkcG-4/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A new champion is crowned - Indonesia Team led by </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GM Megaranto Susanto and IM Farid Firman Syah</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-86124099166946479752014-01-24T00:29:00.001-08:002014-01-24T00:29:36.360-08:00Round 4 - WFM Alia Anin Azwa sharing the lead<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the conclusion of the 3rd round, WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri is currently in the leading pool of perfect scorers along side GM Megaranto Susanto, IM Firman Syah Farid - both if Indonesia, India M.G. Gahan and Antonio Vianni D'Cunha and Libyan FM Elmejbri Ali A. In Round 4, WFM Alia has been paired to play the black pieces against Antonio of India on board 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On board 1, GM Susanto is playing white against Gahan of India whilst Libya's representative, FM Elmejbri is facing IM Firman Syah on the next table. One surprising performance for Malaysians is in the form of Suniil Kalaivanan who is currently having a good run with 2.5 points and he has been paired to play against Philip Goh of Singapore in board 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other interesting pairings for Round 4 are Fadzil Nayan against WIM Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka on board 7, Isuru Alahakoon against Lew Ke Yew on board 9, and Faeznor against Olivia Madhavan on board 14.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A win by Alia in round 4 may catapult her to pay on board 1 against GM Susanto in round 5 (provided there is no upset against the Indonesian GM) of which the opportunity will create a very interesting and worthwhile match to watch out for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For pairings and results, please visit </span><a href="http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=4&wi=821"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=4&wi=821</span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztdCq0OgBg9VClU2BcUoQt4HkXdsCXz5K69sDb7p_cQAXu9A43X7DWOjnuWvQ5b2XxAwX3m0fkmlhjlV_xb-uuQ06htL2oXDjvgo4U8gr4cCZaQK9wri-AW-oyiTbpRiTiecCD_CqqLU/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztdCq0OgBg9VClU2BcUoQt4HkXdsCXz5K69sDb7p_cQAXu9A43X7DWOjnuWvQ5b2XxAwX3m0fkmlhjlV_xb-uuQ06htL2oXDjvgo4U8gr4cCZaQK9wri-AW-oyiTbpRiTiecCD_CqqLU/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WFM Alia on Board 3 - with IM Firman Syah looking over her game</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqEUBdL5pzhlPcUwHlPDrP34Zo5IR7dFlqpbZcBDE3xGKHyrh1mW26vABSGBH-xFQ9MKmu2FE5faBD8qqE3DlaPmM1_buzjysDZMcnco9H9VZvV6srACMxcpLmpdjM7k_6CMUrc-c9M/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceqEUBdL5pzhlPcUwHlPDrP34Zo5IR7dFlqpbZcBDE3xGKHyrh1mW26vABSGBH-xFQ9MKmu2FE5faBD8qqE3DlaPmM1_buzjysDZMcnco9H9VZvV6srACMxcpLmpdjM7k_6CMUrc-c9M/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fadzil Nayan against WIM Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka on Board 7</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_IQOzTEUCL01zHMRbhuODamb1Tgp2xKDB7Jmkcf7Ww3WXQQS2PAvETu9nSPR-sTrK2gupJ2mP5Ywu1ehMfRY5VQRsAsrMQL4_wgG1cs6OuPvamjcoEMY5kophEOmj234PISIhz79tas/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_IQOzTEUCL01zHMRbhuODamb1Tgp2xKDB7Jmkcf7Ww3WXQQS2PAvETu9nSPR-sTrK2gupJ2mP5Ywu1ehMfRY5VQRsAsrMQL4_wgG1cs6OuPvamjcoEMY5kophEOmj234PISIhz79tas/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charles Lucas at work - updating the score on Swiss Manager</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQIWdMJn7Yw_eCHwIp0npeI75mib1FncKtMytn9EWN9zQrXAGadV9bB71dt6De72bixMJpiQI1-4U1yeUePhoqZt_T4Iz-_aYA71SVWPtFovbORPy-kGKHEyMyvBa4zkCtUrPZRfuSY8/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQIWdMJn7Yw_eCHwIp0npeI75mib1FncKtMytn9EWN9zQrXAGadV9bB71dt6De72bixMJpiQI1-4U1yeUePhoqZt_T4Iz-_aYA71SVWPtFovbORPy-kGKHEyMyvBa4zkCtUrPZRfuSY8/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scene at the start of Round 4</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-87679107609245976402014-01-23T21:52:00.002-08:002014-01-23T21:52:21.864-08:00GACC - Going Into Round 4<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Round 3 presented some interesting match ups but the top seeds were still in cruise control with convincing wins against their opponents. GM Megaranto Susanto took 20 moves to brush off Justin Ong Way but compatriot IM Firman Syah Farid had to take up 69 moves to over power a strong resistance from Sri Lanka Isuru Alahakoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On Table 3, India Antonio Vianni D'Cunha played well to score another point against Sri Lanka Niranga Kandearachchi whilst MG Gahan, also of India, managed to score his 3rd point by beating Indonesia's Yemi Jelsen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Our very own WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri created a minor upset when she won against 5th seed CM Teo Wei Xing of Singapore but turning the tables around, local Ahmad Fadzil Nayan of UIA who is seeded 6th lost his game against Libyan FM Elmejbri Ali A who is seeded 13th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Other notable results were Suniil Kalivanan drawing his game against Wee Zhen Chian on table 8, Olivia Madhavane winning against Libyan Elmejbri Abdullah A, and Amir Hamzah KZ drawing with Unrated Indonesian Nurmaida Ajeng on table 25.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Full results and table can be found at </span><a href="http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=4&wi=821"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=4&wi=821</span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTUJydp9ILN-o7UzTndsJlwsSuIhbv9E51YBtQwHGTtUREm25WkHd6SdZ9rUOzGtupEpSrqdM-fg7WRJb36RpwzC-v6uaP_t5pACYu36qg0ZfUpppErIc_S5WRQlgB5KvXpojDUzhofA/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTUJydp9ILN-o7UzTndsJlwsSuIhbv9E51YBtQwHGTtUREm25WkHd6SdZ9rUOzGtupEpSrqdM-fg7WRJb36RpwzC-v6uaP_t5pACYu36qg0ZfUpppErIc_S5WRQlgB5KvXpojDUzhofA/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Table 24 to Table 27</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkXr_wZV0IB6-tyzU-mjEhPXCR5uhacu21rKdtTJmMuaWyktO0Ca2gpFCoRgQwYhloyOpO6ikQdOQ8RFaupIeD3S5_dIWTCfU3w3OsRRdwtybbymlEi7B6KoAtc7umc1ROPLnFXKDSDs/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkXr_wZV0IB6-tyzU-mjEhPXCR5uhacu21rKdtTJmMuaWyktO0Ca2gpFCoRgQwYhloyOpO6ikQdOQ8RFaupIeD3S5_dIWTCfU3w3OsRRdwtybbymlEi7B6KoAtc7umc1ROPLnFXKDSDs/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Top boards in Round 3</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yTB2LRHL83A_Qu-Mzm914trDI5uRicbjsC_FNWecE27K0T4OTP7gYOcKghVM33pPYNohghc4GXMgM89XrmE6sEApbvs2NaDr0clHNJ51R0Rq9vmMPWGOldSxmVqbnFDzLIL1rQmID1Q/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yTB2LRHL83A_Qu-Mzm914trDI5uRicbjsC_FNWecE27K0T4OTP7gYOcKghVM33pPYNohghc4GXMgM89XrmE6sEApbvs2NaDr0clHNJ51R0Rq9vmMPWGOldSxmVqbnFDzLIL1rQmID1Q/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arbiter Apprentice Charles Lucas executing his duties</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOw0X7JwEp8JH6cVoFmcgqNhYQ1ShO7dv7hyphenhyphenbm8rRiHA5kVMixg1ieHeqxWY187xBFiVTmldNAPvZ2DhGhJpOaZUZ6Nuc0BDGdWRp-x86epUkAoySeY5KTqRkYSt1nO_7m8A-4Orby54/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOw0X7JwEp8JH6cVoFmcgqNhYQ1ShO7dv7hyphenhyphenbm8rRiHA5kVMixg1ieHeqxWY187xBFiVTmldNAPvZ2DhGhJpOaZUZ6Nuc0BDGdWRp-x86epUkAoySeY5KTqRkYSt1nO_7m8A-4Orby54/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scene at the start if Round 3</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-48160684651470022482014-01-23T03:04:00.003-08:002014-01-23T03:04:54.500-08:00GACC Round 2 on the way<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of Round 1, most of the top seeded players breezed through their first round opponents rather easily. Indonesian GM Megaranto Susanto who was paired with Nurul Najmi Bakar of UIA was one of the few early finishers for round 1, cementing his position as the top contender for this year's title. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">15th seed Amir Hamzah KZ of UIA almost became the highest casualty for the day but managed to squeeze for a draw against APU's Wong Yong Ken who is seeded 49th. The highest seeded casualty for the day belongs to WIM SD Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka when she lost to Singaporean Philip Goh on table 21.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another minor upset happened on the next table 22 when 22nd seeded Vanessa D'Souza of India drew with unrated Ali A Rahman Hameedaldeen of APU.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At press time, there are still 16 more boards playing with the top 3 boards still slugging it out to out smart their opponents. On table 1, GM Megaranto Susanto is playing white against WFM Melissa Lo of Singapore and on table 2, Susanto's compatriot IM Firman Syah is up against Lim Kim Siong of University Malaya and on the third table, HELP Lew Ken Yew faces India's Antonio Viani D'Cunha with the former handling the white pieces.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Round 2 started at 4:00pm earlier today, a slight deviation from the usual schedule to accommodate for the Opening Ceremony and Round 3 is expected to start at 9:00am tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For more pictorial news on the event, please visit our FACEBOOK page at the following URL <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChessMalaysia">https://www.facebook.com/ChessMalaysia</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDDwqJZbMvt7BNfNwiAmjb86sSp3iEWVL4IhcVaZsuN94WIWNBvP7hiF8K040ObWyn_EabUTDgQQzOfGzK5xem_xdaWr54Dhn0mHV2-si0rljrXPwLUMzDmZ5JWPVkHwftYOIJosATuk/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDDwqJZbMvt7BNfNwiAmjb86sSp3iEWVL4IhcVaZsuN94WIWNBvP7hiF8K040ObWyn_EabUTDgQQzOfGzK5xem_xdaWr54Dhn0mHV2-si0rljrXPwLUMzDmZ5JWPVkHwftYOIJosATuk/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Olivia Madhavan - Sole representative from ATC, Malaysia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizapubZonGx5ddkVW8ehPjL00nTElxH1ml2vP7P6nZHxL0Bv-2w4D5fNkfp-LKXJ4rgsFK7x4FW82rHKoZ16x1lBpJ51FbSQRGLFuuQhAus89otRfZBhXRIoyInDNtRWMeU_QpEHuRWII/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizapubZonGx5ddkVW8ehPjL00nTElxH1ml2vP7P6nZHxL0Bv-2w4D5fNkfp-LKXJ4rgsFK7x4FW82rHKoZ16x1lBpJ51FbSQRGLFuuQhAus89otRfZBhXRIoyInDNtRWMeU_QpEHuRWII/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Playing on home ground - UM Lum Zhun Hoong</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85btnQNFUJEvOqL_oqXiVmy0FeQCzYJwgHKX_Y7bmihnai8XFzXv6Hd_esTc__y5NqdiXau0tAwofRTslhQnlAo-GexfCVJUSQJzBj5M-firJhYbYNaWSgRsw9bg9wz3RNYhSTEWMzl8/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85btnQNFUJEvOqL_oqXiVmy0FeQCzYJwgHKX_Y7bmihnai8XFzXv6Hd_esTc__y5NqdiXau0tAwofRTslhQnlAo-GexfCVJUSQJzBj5M-firJhYbYNaWSgRsw9bg9wz3RNYhSTEWMzl8/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">University Malaya WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri - Relax playing on her own turf</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FajZmIQKixTvTnYgaY00VE3wbFPnpmA3X5J_tMmREqffXb7uwzyH14qiMKou5nxtZEKZGUr1y5ELfzVfykKBx2IoA7FNFc2p0adRuf7fjUKY0yj-nfHBXsDAiGrAAB7mbjQoJXUsml8/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FajZmIQKixTvTnYgaY00VE3wbFPnpmA3X5J_tMmREqffXb7uwzyH14qiMKou5nxtZEKZGUr1y5ELfzVfykKBx2IoA7FNFc2p0adRuf7fjUKY0yj-nfHBXsDAiGrAAB7mbjQoJXUsml8/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At press time, the top 3 boards are still going at it.</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-71953717415040066182014-01-22T18:16:00.002-08:002014-01-22T18:20:11.257-08:00Its That Time Of The Year.... GACC 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the year's most awaited event... at least for me, is the GACC Rakan Muda Inter Varsity International Chess Championship. And again for the 4th consecutive year, I have been invited to be the Chief Arbiter for the annual event - a position which I look forward to doing. Perhaps not so much of the glamor or the level of the event - it being an international and FIDE rated event, but the chance to work with brilliant hardworking young minds who, year after year, maintain the continuity of organizing an international level event all on their own. My salute to the students of the UM Second College... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This year's event attracted 69 players from 6 different countries: Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Libya, Singapore and locals Malaysians. Whilst the number of players and teams may have reduced from last year's event, the competition remain intense. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Indonesia is set to wrestle this year's title led by GM Megaranto Susanto and IM Farid Firman Syah - the 2 highest rated player in the event. India's team is a distant second led by Gahan MG and Antonio D'Cunha who are both rated at 2200+. Sri Lanka is led by Isuru Alahakoon, one of the prize winners for last year's event and this year's, with the help of WIM SD Ranasinghe in the Women category. There are 2 newcomers from Libya led by FM F. Elmejbri Ali Abdoullah who is rated 1988.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Malaysia is represented by 9 Universities but only 6 are vying for the team championship. IMU, HELP and ATC are represented by individual players as it lacks the requirement to form a full team of 4 players with at least one lady player. Host UM sent one team led by WFM Alia Anin Azwa Binti Bakri and Lum Zhun Hoong whilst rookie team APU is led by Justin Ong Way. UPSI with a single team is led by Ruby Kwan and UIA CFS, another usual suspects for the event is led by Nurul Asry Mokhtar.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">International Islamic University Gombak, best Malaysian Team for last year, has sent two teams for the event led by Ahmad Fadzil Nayan whilst another leading chess university team, University Technology PETRONAS (UTP) has also risen to the challenge by sending two teams led by Suniil Kali Vanan and Ramone Mikgail Kok who will be participating in the individual category. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Round 1 for today has started at 9:00am and Round 2 shall start at the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony scheduled at 2:00pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The general public are welcome to view the tournament which is held on the 1st floor, Mercu Alam Bina, University Malaya starting from today until Tuesday, 29th January 2014. Sunday will be a day off for the players to enjoy KL sightseeing and experience the Malaysian hospitality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For more information on the results and pairings for the event, please visit </span><br />
<a href="http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=1&wi=821"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://chess-results.com/tnr122460.aspx?lan=1&art=2&rd=1&wi=821</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzIKAk3Uhjcnr_N4PPLWDyEQ0ka-FZbRegAIeHjGXG0jn7IfQewZG-EibD_tmALH3tGm1nPki7vZFuLRoQ1XJBgx6c1YWht2sO1fTtO6Mpvx3fYMXvPCgKiGSiEO4wSt75MJ9JBLD_HA/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzIKAk3Uhjcnr_N4PPLWDyEQ0ka-FZbRegAIeHjGXG0jn7IfQewZG-EibD_tmALH3tGm1nPki7vZFuLRoQ1XJBgx6c1YWht2sO1fTtO6Mpvx3fYMXvPCgKiGSiEO4wSt75MJ9JBLD_HA/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GM Susanto Megaranto</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop18_O9xPBfdLvaXgp2NZ0zwI1eLigQSucBeznBoBbkOTMIpqLVfBJwzuGKCsmVQyCGSV0So-cG5wQIxS_wNf09bpXQGI6IJhymZXG95WoVuMBNLn7PTGV_m1zcdqJjZKzWf5XJ4n56w/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop18_O9xPBfdLvaXgp2NZ0zwI1eLigQSucBeznBoBbkOTMIpqLVfBJwzuGKCsmVQyCGSV0So-cG5wQIxS_wNf09bpXQGI6IJhymZXG95WoVuMBNLn7PTGV_m1zcdqJjZKzWf5XJ4n56w/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">IM Firman Syah Farid</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahmad Fadzil Nayan (UIA)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-81844366229833193912013-11-27T22:33:00.004-08:002013-11-27T22:33:43.740-08:00Time To Move On.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Call it sabbatical leave, annual leave, taking a break - whatever that fits the bill, and that is what I had decided to do since the Merdeka Event. It has been a topsy turvy year for me, and for chess in Malaysia - the AGM, the accusations, the petitions, the enforcers, the new partnership, the lost partnership, etc. Everything and anything that makes a roller coaster ride a really tame experience compared to the local chess scene that the chess community had endured in the last 10 months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A friend of mine told me that if I had concentrated on DATCC since the start of the year, it would have been flying by now. Perhaps he was right.... But with certain rules and policies that MCF have put up, including being targeted by certain sector who would like to see the venture "close down", it would have been a herculean challenge to even get it moving. And I was right. For me, getting a job (after 4 years of unemployment) was a blessing in disguise. What more, with the uncertainties of what lies ahead for chess in Malaysia, it seems that "someone up there" took pity on me and provided "an optional way out" by providing me an open gateway to freedom. Alhamdulillah.... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the end of it all, it was still a choice - between something that may happen (with an excellent ending), and something that have a better chance of happening (with a mediocre result). I chose the so-so ending - certain although unimpressive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Doing a chess business was something that I had dreamed of since 1990's. An opportunity came but, the conditions were not right. I learned one thing - you have to have the right group of people, that shares the same goal and objective, and the same vision. The same friend of mine had said, perhaps you should have just kept it within a small group of people. And I asked "How small?". He responded with "2 is the right number - one investor, and you as the executioner. Too many cooks spoil the broth!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I still do chess but not as aggressive as before. If there are enthusiast who would like my help, I will help them. I still run chess classes - albeit on a personal basis, and still provide advice to those who wants to conduct chess events. Perhaps next year, when my current working contract ends, I have a better idea of what needs to be done, and who to pick as my partner(s). Perhaps a simpler set up but a more focused one i.e. classes and events management only. And perhaps, on a smaller scale - a small shop corner that house some books, a couple of desk, and abundance of e-book softcopy and software for chess learning and improvement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The DAT Chess Connections blogsite has been taken down and perhaps, later, so will this one. I will keep my Chess-Malaysia Facebook page (for now) and will re edit my chess-Malaysia web page to reflect the simple route that I have/will be taking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But, I am still with chess - for fun, and for those who still wants advice (not that I am good at giving any...) or for a chat, and for a game of "friendly chess", you can always contact me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-88140574387258367712013-08-15T20:58:00.002-07:002013-08-15T20:58:17.950-07:00Of Going Into The Last Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The curtain is set to close for the IGB Malaysia Open, AMBANK Chess Challenges and the KLK Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Seniors Open. But not the action nor the nail biting finish that is about to happen.<br /><br />In the Open Section, the top 2 leaders separated by half point, are slugging it out on Table 1 to be the outright winner of the Open Section. GM Zhou Jianchao of China with 6.5 points - handling the white pieces, is trailing compatriot GM Xiu Deshun who is in front with 7 points. Whilst GM Xiu needs a draw to be in the lead and claim the event's title, GM Zhou Jianchao needs a win to overtake his opponent and earn himself the title. <br /><br />On Table 2, another Chinese pair WGM Ding Yixin and GM Lu Shanglei - both with 6 points, are vying to close the gap and earn the top 3 spots for this year's edition. 2 other players with 6 points are paired on Table 3 between Vietnamese IM Nguyen Duc Hoa against Australia's IM Max Illingworth. The other player with 6 points, GM Ma Qun floated down to meet 5.5 pointer GM Laylo Darwin of the Philippines. <br /><br />For the Malaysian players, Ng Tze Han continued his fine performance and currently faces IM Oliver Dimakiling of the Philippines on Table 13 with both players having secured 5 points after 8 rounds. A win by Tze Han should catapult him within the top 20 players in the championship. Similarly, young Yeoh Li Tian also can achieve the same feat if he were to win his final round game against Indian IM Siddharth Ravichandran with both having the same 5 points out of 8 rounds. <br /><br />Another Malaysian player with 5 points is Jonathan Chuah Jin Hai who is playing against FM Carlos Leonardo on Table 16.<br /><br />Other notable Malaysians playing the event are Fong Yit San, Evan Timothy Capel, (Dr) FM Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong and Sumant Subramaniam all with 4.5 points after 8 rounds. FM Ronnie Lim did well in the first few rounds before the mid tournament break day but suffered a slight performance setback as the event continued<br /><br />For the Malaysian ladies, former National Champion Tan Li Ting leads the pack with 4 points, playing on Table 32 against Philippines James Bitoon and half a point behind her are WCM Fong Mi Yen, WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham and Camilia Johari<br /><br />In the AMBANK Chess Challenger section, a similar situation with both the top 2 players facing one another to determine the ouright title for the coveted title. Pinoys' Lorena Carlo with 7 points faces compatriot Largo Bengt with 7.5 points on Table 1 to decide the champion. On Table 2, locals Tan Eng Seong of Penang (who is currently running in 3rd place) faces Perakian Fong Yit Ho and the winner will have a chance to secure either the 3rd or 4th placing in the Amateur category. <br /><br />For the Seniors Section, it is a runaway title for GM Dmitry Kayumov of Uzbekistan having secured 7 points out of 8 rounds with only one more round to go. GM Kayumov suffered a defeat at the hands of Malaysia's IM Jimmy Liew in Round 3 but managed to come back on top after IM Jimmy Liew surprising lost to Philippines Efren Bagamasbad in the 5th round. From then on, there was no turning back for the veteran GM Kayumov with IM Jimmy Liew hot on his trail. IM Jimmy Liew with 6 points is currently second and he is expected to maintain his position as the Seniors event draws to a close. Currently in 3rd place with 5.5 points is Efren Bagamasbad and in 4th placing, Singapore veteren IM Chen Peng Kong with 5 points<br /><br />Full results of the event can be viewed at www.chess-results.com </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3z-WLSJ4VwWcnyh5qd7dMHmdHeQNjuP7UL3EW6qvsKc6WHlEWizKx0sAJddol-XzVOsJzhFr4Z6uwjwvO_6RcoDpaPIAr9QLrEpexRzwK4RFj4RgN2HIVHFwaBJP-6j4VgaWw8z5UGPk/s1600/DSC_0027-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3z-WLSJ4VwWcnyh5qd7dMHmdHeQNjuP7UL3EW6qvsKc6WHlEWizKx0sAJddol-XzVOsJzhFr4Z6uwjwvO_6RcoDpaPIAr9QLrEpexRzwK4RFj4RgN2HIVHFwaBJP-6j4VgaWw8z5UGPk/s320/DSC_0027-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Penangite Tan Eng Seong (in yellow) against Perakian Fong Yit Ho (right) on Table 2 in the AMBANK Chess Challenge Section</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8nNupTX0Ij7XABEzH3yyejN0u8_OdG9BE5akOd9jEHohMGvNN6wycXMwYTjOYDNX-p2YAy9gmN2eLrTAcPMTqTK2UUlOglwKdws9uiVqxtJjqYJTjSHItXqS6m48awuNjZeWwDB2cNk/s1600/DSC_0033-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8nNupTX0Ij7XABEzH3yyejN0u8_OdG9BE5akOd9jEHohMGvNN6wycXMwYTjOYDNX-p2YAy9gmN2eLrTAcPMTqTK2UUlOglwKdws9uiVqxtJjqYJTjSHItXqS6m48awuNjZeWwDB2cNk/s320/DSC_0033-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The top 2 boards in the Open Section in the last Round 9</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NtKskWb57LDHUHqtN3SzWgxdLn0ljhYJywRO4lq04U2Kx4eGxm0_cRkeOrxBeqQlhFTGJpeDOcHWQxSH8PZED2RjYcUQKRYqnQt_FvmhrQPk8mYjNYZxGABGSi_LfTqrGyZPrLhvDC0/s1600/IMG_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NtKskWb57LDHUHqtN3SzWgxdLn0ljhYJywRO4lq04U2Kx4eGxm0_cRkeOrxBeqQlhFTGJpeDOcHWQxSH8PZED2RjYcUQKRYqnQt_FvmhrQPk8mYjNYZxGABGSi_LfTqrGyZPrLhvDC0/s320/IMG_0815.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Malaysia's IM Jimmy Liew - currently running in 2nd place for the KLK Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Seniors event</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hapsMKNYJbx23FW75aiRHIKbUr24WwXU5I0Fx4DahMOfBre8jdZ7kAdLjVv9EKfpXGvUkU15lf-zjUY-JSrL-uTGKDMQx-w9c1rVZI6kQeBAGAF_7PYJQ45CO4HdKTbkmcRLztyLlGo/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hapsMKNYJbx23FW75aiRHIKbUr24WwXU5I0Fx4DahMOfBre8jdZ7kAdLjVv9EKfpXGvUkU15lf-zjUY-JSrL-uTGKDMQx-w9c1rVZI6kQeBAGAF_7PYJQ45CO4HdKTbkmcRLztyLlGo/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GM Dmitry Kayumov looks to secure his 3rd consecutive title as the Seniors Champion</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU-O8rxrdeLWBRsgKQ92Gr0ff3-ZD_oRqHtSuhygcEcmPtA5WUBsgg4wifTg92guC9ye9iPtkMcQ4QCn_jatfC_k576eOi5CbOEbsTKIsT3jxBmzGUKHw6rU7s26xiJGTBF9FGjQFuzY/s1600/DSC_0028-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU-O8rxrdeLWBRsgKQ92Gr0ff3-ZD_oRqHtSuhygcEcmPtA5WUBsgg4wifTg92guC9ye9iPtkMcQ4QCn_jatfC_k576eOi5CbOEbsTKIsT3jxBmzGUKHw6rU7s26xiJGTBF9FGjQFuzY/s320/DSC_0028-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">WGM Ding Yixin (left) playing against compatriot GM Lu Shanglei (right)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnCwCkFHgS6sc51WE0TYpg5Hy0WNdzq54PXbeaJzOJHci1O5BtPWqx9kqKued56jEEv2LkKGNCXwiGNufYFU-_-C1S4evSYJHIc7dNKxdo0tNx6H7o-wVtBSR781ROzR8LzK2oHFf0r4/s1600/DSC_0030-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnCwCkFHgS6sc51WE0TYpg5Hy0WNdzq54PXbeaJzOJHci1O5BtPWqx9kqKued56jEEv2LkKGNCXwiGNufYFU-_-C1S4evSYJHIc7dNKxdo0tNx6H7o-wVtBSR781ROzR8LzK2oHFf0r4/s320/DSC_0030-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">GM Zhou Jianchao pondering for his next move</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVi4PplRUFzwJYtCJLNuKkRrcxQnHPv2MHpVAbF2cQFWdLGbEbmJNMvxgDg3itEbSvB_KcOZgZt9kfR5rbxlepuXqnB3MxyVNao7E9oON0NpNM2e5Q1TJg9ldXMGomwYJyZYFh6e1oDs/s1600/DSC_0031-Optimized.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVi4PplRUFzwJYtCJLNuKkRrcxQnHPv2MHpVAbF2cQFWdLGbEbmJNMvxgDg3itEbSvB_KcOZgZt9kfR5rbxlepuXqnB3MxyVNao7E9oON0NpNM2e5Q1TJg9ldXMGomwYJyZYFh6e1oDs/s320/DSC_0031-Optimized.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">White screen displaying the games happening on Table 1 and Table 2</span></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-84862149279186694772013-08-15T01:58:00.000-07:002013-08-15T01:58:05.350-07:00Of Running Another Festival Blitz Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtt00HA_pQcnjkExCN0vxDOpr_Ns3Y6nLiWb2SBB2JFczOxzkMs_P0UWgmDNLo1-xJGi5vUV9J3Yi0wZN-syEasLvl-lbAtlUJA8OtHzummPy_hmn4t4QFvMraXytVxn6CIK_bbKNlug/s1600/Festival+Blitz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtt00HA_pQcnjkExCN0vxDOpr_Ns3Y6nLiWb2SBB2JFczOxzkMs_P0UWgmDNLo1-xJGi5vUV9J3Yi0wZN-syEasLvl-lbAtlUJA8OtHzummPy_hmn4t4QFvMraXytVxn6CIK_bbKNlug/s640/Festival+Blitz.png" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Its that time of the Festival where we do the Malaysia Open Blitz Chess Championship and for this year, the Blitz event shall be held on Friday, 16th August 2013 starting at 3:00pm. Entry fees are RM35 with the Top 16 players to win prizes at the end of the 9 rounds event. The top 8 players will then fight it out in a Knock Out Championship style play where the winner will earn RM500 for his/her effort. In the 2012 edition of the Festival Blitz, all the top 8 qualifiers were from Philippines and the best ever Malaysian to make it to the top 8 was FM Nicholas Chan who achieve the feat a few years back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information and/or to sign up for the event, please approach the Arbiter's table at the Festival tournament hall. Unfortunately, as seats are limited, registrations through phone or SMS (and without any payment) will not be accepted. Only limited seats are available!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Running concurrently at the same venue will be the Malaysian Chess Federation Blitz Selection Event to select the top 2 Men and Women players to represent Malaysia at the SEA Games Blitz Championship to be held later in the year. The Nation Top 6 Men players and 7 Women players have qualified for the event which included FM Ronnie Lim, NM Lim Zhuo Ren, NJM Fong Yit San, WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham, WCM Fong Mi Yen and NWM Tan Li Ting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be there for the excitement!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-25872831465323422552013-08-05T20:47:00.001-07:002013-08-05T20:47:13.735-07:00Of Another SWENSEN Age Group Event - Announcement<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The response to the SWENSEN Age
Group event has been so encouraging that ALL of the vouchers offered to
the first 200 participants have been taken up. Whilst registration are
still open for young talented kids of all age groups to participate in
the event, there will be no additional vouchers given out to those who
registered to play from today onwards.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last
year, the event attracted as many as 420 players from all over the
country including children from as far Iran, Australia, Hong Kong, India
and our southern neighbor Singapore. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
SWENSEN Age Group event is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 13th August
starting at 8:00am with prize giving ceremony to be held around
6:00pm. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those
who would like to inquire more about the event, please contact Abd Hamid
Majid at +6019.315.8098 or email him at aham@pc.jaring.my.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5664536249159695564.post-33737213890549703932013-08-04T23:54:00.001-07:002013-08-04T23:54:04.194-07:00Of Running Another Chess Festival<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a long time since I last
wrote and what a way to reenter the chess scene - with the 10th
Malaysian Chess Festival 2013. Yup.... There were quite months - I did
not even show up for the Lim Chong, Ketoyong and CAS event although
there were all held at DATCC. My blog site has been relatively quite and
there was not much activity at DATCC in the last 2 months - almost.
Fasting month just makes the situation worse but.... I guess I am
back!!! Or should I stay away???</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
will touch on my absence later on separately for this is not the time
to dwell on what had happened, about to happen or, is very very likely
to happen. But to sum it all up in a very Malaysian way -
"Kadavaleee.... Sungguh dramatik!!! Loller koster lide all the
way....!!!" If colors were to describe our Malaysian Chess scene, the
Stabilo pencil color box that we use to have as kids, just ain't gonna
do it. You need all the colors you can get your hands on. And splash it
all over.... Not paint, but splash!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the main matter at hand, append
below are the tentative list of players that have registered for the
10th IGB Malaysia Open, AMBANK Amateur Chess Challenges, and KLK Tan Sri
Lee Loy Seng Seniors Open which will start from 9th August (with
players meeting at 9:00pm) and Round 1 to clock off at 9:00am the next
day, Saturday, 10th August 2013. The final Round 9 to be played on
Friday, 16th August 2013 with Blitz to follow after Friday prayers
starting at 3:00pm and prize giving ceremony for the main categories a
bit later in the evening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take note that these are tentative
listings and you can expect the numbers to increase/decrease as the
event day approaches. So far, there are 115 players for the Malaysia
Open (the highest we had was 133 in 2010 or was it 2011?), 85 players
for Amateur (the highest number of players in the Festival 10 year
history) and 20 players for the Seniors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have registered but your name
has been left out, or your name has been included but you are not
playing - or playing in a different category/event, please contact Abd
Hamid Majid at +6019.315.8098 or email him at aham@pc.jaring.my to
rectify the error.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See you at the 10th IGB Malaysian Chess
Festival 2013. Be safe and to all Muslims, and Malaysians in general -
SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDIL FITRI!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(You can click on the image to get a better view) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10th IGB Malaysian Open 2013</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_bzRAjkDJ_a0btRhqp9MKTsNB428UV5CZZmAyVxDFzUrqd1Le9fXa_jGGcXGqiPEAiho8tx5xUHpFOzD8K9nfjoXpN4dSqtS-pM_6ZMoxa504FEyI-Ss-Zcn_gtHmp00WYhI_zcw6Q/s1600/Open.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_bzRAjkDJ_a0btRhqp9MKTsNB428UV5CZZmAyVxDFzUrqd1Le9fXa_jGGcXGqiPEAiho8tx5xUHpFOzD8K9nfjoXpN4dSqtS-pM_6ZMoxa504FEyI-Ss-Zcn_gtHmp00WYhI_zcw6Q/s1600/Open.png" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AMBANK Amateur Chess Challenge</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">KLK Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Seniors Open</span><br />
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