Alia Saves Malaysia Against Chile, Round 10, Chess Olympiad

1 October 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – In the 10th round of the 39th Chess Olympiad in Siberia, Russia, team Malaysia met Chile in the Women’s Team event.

Earlier Malaysia had lost boards 2 and 3 where WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham could not prevent the black’s advancing pawns on the queenside threatening to queen with white having no immediate threats; while Nurul Huda had fallen into a mating trap in the middle of the board. Nurul Huda had a queen against two active rooks and a bishop.

First on board 4, Fong Mi Yen entraps the black king on the back rank with her pawns and rook with her white pieces all located on black squares. Black had only her black bishop powerless to help her own king which is blockaded on g8. With no black options to play, Cortes Arias, Mariela resigned, giving Malaysia her first board win.

Then came Alia’s marathon chess game against Abarca Gonzalez, Damaris on board 1. An end game ensued where the battle of rook vs bishop was played out on the board.

Finally, black was able to separate the white king from his only white pawn using the rook and white resigned on the 90th move giving Alia and Malaysia her needed board point to draw even with Chile 2-2 on table 41.

Bravo to Alia Bakri for saving team Malaysia in round 10!



Pix 1. IM Mas and Alia Bakri, our two Malaysian heros in round 10, Chess Olympiad, Siberia, Russia.
(Picture courtesy of Alia Bakri)