Of Melaka Chess Festival - Day 4 Round 6

With the downing of GM Richard Bitoon by Hungarian GM Adam Horvath in the morning round, GM Attila Czebe also from Hungary, is the sole leader for the International section with 4 1/2 points out of 5 games. Czebe earned the top spot after his convincing win against GM Alexander Fominyh in the earlier round. 

Five players share 3 1/2 points - GM Fominyh, GM Bitoon, GM Deepan and IM Oliver Dimakliing including GM Alfonso Romero Holmes who managed to crawl his way back up to challenge the leading pack. At Table 4, its the battle between 2 Philippines players - GM Richard Bitoon playing the white pieces against IM Oliver Dimakiling.

Tournament leader GM Attila Czebe playing the black pieces against IM Rathnakaran of India

Battle between GM Bitoon and IM Oliver - both of the Philippines

WGM Kruttika Nadig - jotting down her move against Igor Kharitonov

Young Yeoh Li Tian is has a monumental task playing against GM Arun Prasad of India

Eddy Fong making his move as he faces Wakoko Enos of Uganda

Coming from the back, Wakoko Enos now is playing on Table 2 against Malaysian Eddy Fong

Endang Andrian of Indonesia - slipping to Table 3

One of the early favorites, Mohd Ezmi of Malaysia dropping to Table 9 after his lost to Endang mishandling the Grob Opening in Round 5

Tournament hall - the calm before the storm at the start of Round 6

For locals, the most interesting pair will be the one happening on Table 5 where GM Arun Prasad will face Yeoh Li Tian - both with 3 points. Another interesting encounter happens on the following table with Ismail Ahmad going against GM Laxman of India

For the Challenger section, its country pride at stake with Malaysian Rahim Ramli going against Gatot Suyono of Indonesia. Earlier in Round 4, Rahim ousted Suci Rohaya from the leading group after a convincing win against the Indonesian lass. Similarly, Gatot outplayed his younger compatriot Yuranda Irawan to earn the spot at Table 1 in a battle that may decide the sole leader for the Challenger section. On Table 2, Ugandan Wakoko Enos have slowly risen from the lower pack to challenge Malaysian Eddy Fong to have a shot at closing the gap to the top.  

Of Melaka Chess Festival - Day 4 Round 5

All eyes will be on Table 4 for the match up between Malaysian IM Mas Hafizulhelmi against IM Oliver Dimakiling - a win for Mas could catapult him into the top pack and at least half a point behind the leaders. 

On Table 1 and Table 2, Hungarian GM Attila Czebe faces Russian GM Alexander Forminyh and Attila countryman, GM Adam Horvath playing against Philippines GM Richard Bitoon. 

Malaysian hopeful Yeoh Li Tian is playing on Table 8 playing the White pieces against IM Praveen Kumar of India whilst on Table 10, Zaidan Zulkipli handling the White pieces against WGM Kruttika Nadig

Players looking at their 5th Round pairing on the LCD TV screen

Chess is a wonderful game that goes beyond gender and age - Rahim against Suci Rohaya on Table 1 of the Challenger Section

IM Mas Hafizul preparing to make a move against IM Dimakiling

Tajikistan sole participant in the International Section - FM Djuraev Sokhib

Gatot Suyono - Indonesia

Suci Rohaya - the Indonesian lass who is currently sharing the lead in the Challenger section

WGM Kruttika Nadig - as she awaits her opponent, Zaidan Zulkipli

Yuranda Irawan - another youngster from Indonesia playing on Table 2. The sole player with 3 1/2 points, half point away form the leading pack

In the Challenger section, its the Indonesians who are dominating the top two tables with Suci Rohaya playing the Black pieces against Malaysian Abdul Rahim Ramli whilst on Board 2, Gatot Suyono faces his younger compatriot in Yuranda Irawan.

Of Melaka Chess Festival - Going to Round 5

At 6:00pm today, most of the top 10 tables from the International section were still slugging it out to earn valuable points to continue moving forward. After the smoke cleared, 3 players now share the lead at 3 1/2 points followed by another 4 players with 3 points including our very own IM Mas Hafizulhelmi.

On Table 1, GM Attila Czebe of Hungary will be playing white against GM Alexander Forminyh of Russia and the winner of this game may become the sole leader at the head of the pack. On Table 2, another 3 1/2 pointer GM Richard Bitoon of Philippines will be handling the black pieces against Adam Horvath of Hungary who is half a point behind. Two Indian IMs - Kantholi Rathnakaran and Karthikeyan will be going against one another on Table 3 and on Table 4, the remaining player with 3 points, Malaysia's IM Mas Hafizul will face IM Oliver Dimakiling of Philippines who currently has 2 1/2 points. A win for Mas in this round will definitely push him up closer to the top of the pack.

Other notable pairings for Round 5 are Yeoh Li Tian against IM Praveen Kumar on Table 8, and Zaidan Zulkipli against WGM Kruttika Nadig on Table 10. Yeoh Li Tian currently has 2 1/2 points after his draw against IM Rolando Nolte in Round 4.

On the top table in the Challenger section, co leader Abdul Rahim Ramli of Terengganu will face Indonesian Suci Rohaya - both with a perfect score of 4 points from 4 rounds. Suci Rohaya earned her co leader spot after outplaying Malaysian Lum Zhun Hoong in round 4 after an interesting Rook sack for a Bishop on f7 to create a lethal attack on the latter's open King. For Abdul Rahim, his victory in the earlier round was against Latifah Syamimi who had miscalculated a Bishop sack for two pawns but fizzled when her Queen ran out of checks. On Table 2, Rohaya's compatriot Gatot Suyono will play against another Indonesian Yuranda Irawan who had earlier won against Fairul Yusoff after 50 moves. Both Eddy Fong and Mohd Ezmi Mahmood are currently back in the running for the top spot playing on Table 3 and Table 4 respectively. Eddy is paired against Muhd Nur Asyraff whilst Ezmi will have a tougher opponent in Endang Andrian who had earlier beaten Eddy in Round 2.

Pairing for the Challenger section for Round 5 tomorrow is as follows:

 

Of Melaka Chess Festival - Day 3 Round 4

With only one afternoon round to play today, a lot of chess players were seen roaming the Historical City of Melaka to get a feel of its night life. The same happened to the team of Officials as they enjoy a short get together for seafood at Kg Alai, some 10km away from the Historical City of Melaka going south Muar bound.

But the job was not finished and soon after dinner, the team are back in the playing hall tidying up the area and planning for the next day round - albeit it will start much later in the afternoon.

From left: Nik, Haslindah, Khairunnisa, Zuraiha, Fadhil, Firdaus, Gregory, Najib

Late breakfast - Ezmi, Haslindah, Mas, Zuraiha and Gregory

Camera shy Tan Li Ting - preparing for her game at the Hotel lobby

At the start of Round 4, most players look refresh after an almost half a day break from yesterday's grueling 2 games. In the International section, the field is still wide open with 6 players sharing the top spot at 2 1/2 points and 12 players trailing half point behind. 


Interesting encounters for the local would be on Table 6 where IM Rolando Nolte is facing young Yeoh Li Tian, and 3 Table down, IM Mas Hafizul playing the white pieces against Manaog Stewart of Philippines. Another interesting encounter happens on Table 11 where WGM Kruttika Nadig playing against Malaysian National Player, 13 years old Tan Li Ting.


In the Challenger section, 6 players are leading the pack with 3 points each and the most interesting encounter happens on Table 2 between Indonesian lass Suci Rohaya, handling the white pieces against Malaysian lad Lum Zhun Hoong. At the time of print, Ugandan Wakoko Enos has just won his game against Madihah Abdul Razak, giving him 3 points and slowly creeping his way back to the top of the pack.

Wakoko Enos - Uganda

WGM Kruttika Nadig against National Player Tan Li Ting

IM Rolando Nolte of Philippines against Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia

GM Richard Bitoon of Philippines against GM Deepan Chakkravathy of India

GM Alexander Fominyh of Russia against IM Oliver Dimakiling of Philippines

Suci Rohaya of Indonesia - Playing Table 2 in the Challenger Section

Of Melaka Chess Festival - International Open Round 4

It was interesting fight to the end although the results of the top 6 tables indicated otherwise - with all players agreeing to draw. The first draw was registered between GM Laxman and GM Deepan, both of India followed by GM Arun Prasad of India and FM Hamdani Rudin of Indonesia. The match on Table 1 between GM Richard Bitoon and GM Alexander was the last game to finish on the top board after a grueling 56 move game.

Other notable games were Manaog Stewart win against Kruttika Nadig on Table 11, Tan Li Ting triumphant against Syazrin Abdul Rahman and Yeoh Li Tian convincing win against Ismail Ahmad on Table 12.

For Round 4, six co leaders with 2 1/2 points will battle it out on the top 3 tables - GM Forminyh against IM Dimakiling on Table 1, GM Czebe and GM Laxman on Table 2 and GM Bitoon against GM Deepan on Table 3. Malaysian youngster Yeoh Li Tian will be playing the black pieces against IM Nolte of the Philippines and Tan Li Ting will go against WGM Kruttika Nadig of India on Table 11 also with the black pieces. 

Pairing for the remaining tables are as follows: