Malaysia Wins Against Iraq, Loses Against Bolivia!

25 September 2010, Khanty-Manysiysk – During the fifth round of the chess Olympiad 2010, the Malaysian chess teams had mixed fortunes today. Malaysia won one and lost one. The men’s team lost to Bolivia, 1.5-2.5, the critical board 2 lost by IM Mok to Mendoza of Bolivia gave the match away and cost the Malaysians dearly. All the other three boards were drawn.

Meanwhile the women’s team basks in victory after beating the Iraqi women’s chess team, 3-1, with wins by Alia Bakri on board 1 and Fong Mi Yen on board 4, while the other two boards with Nur Nabila and Nurul Huda were drawn. Well done, ladies!

Six more rounds will be played, as the chess Olympiad has 11 rounds in total. It is still the early rounds. It is the hope and aspirations of Malaysian chess enthusiasts and chess fans, that the Malaysian chess players will strive their best in the hope that they present themselves creditably, improve their prior year’s performance and, who knows, bring back a GM or IM norm back from Khanty-Mansiysk.

It is chess tournaments of this high level stature that our Malaysian players should strive to beat higher rated players and not let themselves be fallen targets of lower rated opponents from lower ranking teams. Keep it up gals and guys! Keep the Malaysian flag flying high!