FM Mok beats a GM and Izz sizzles in Challengers

On the second day of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2009, our Malaysian FM Mok Tze Meng convincingly beat the GM from Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman with a white pawn at f7 checking the Black King at g8. The white bishop was already controlling the h8-a1 diagonal with the Black King forced to move to f8. Black resigned at this crucial stage. This thriller was at Board 5 of the Ballroom in the Open section. This means FM Mok will earn USD 100 for beating a GM in the tournament.

2. Over at the Challengers, the Phillipines took over the top two seedings with Abelgas Roel at top seed and Panopio Jr Rodolfo at second seed. During round 2, the top seed was paired against Malaysia's Izz Saifuddin. Izz gave the top seed quite a challenge, causing the Filipino to think and run his clock out of time. Well done to Izz as his win starts the Challengers section to sizzle.

3. Most of the seedings in the Challengers section won their games as expected, though. There is still 7 or 6 rounds left and who knows what unexpected results will turn up.

4. In meantime, a general survey of the players indicated that there are 11 Grandmasters, 10 International Masters, 9 FIDE-rated Masters, 2 Women Grandmasters, 3 Women International Master, 3 Women FIDE-rated Masters and 1 Women Candidate Master. Quite a respectable group of international mix of players in this year's MCF 2009.

5. Haslindah Ruslan among the MCF officials helping out in organising this year's Malaysian Chess Festival 2009, seen here deep in discussion with some of the helpers and officials.

6. Also seen was the chess supremo, Dato' Tan Chin Nam talking with En. Abdul Hamid, MCF during the 2nd round at the Ballroom, CitiTel, MidValley on the 23 August 2009.