Malaysia Live Games, Round 10, 39th Chess Olympiad 2010

1 October 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Malaysia is playing the Welsh team in the tenth round today on Table 51 of the 39th Chess Olympiad 2010 in Siberia, Russia. To see live games of Malaysia vs Wales, please click here. NM Tan Khai Boon is rested and Gregory Lau, Malaysia’s supersub come in at board 4. While FM Peter Long goes to board 3.

IM Mok has won his board 2 with two bishops and a rook on board. Both Peter Long and Gregory Lau have thrown in the towel taking two losses on boards 3 and 4. Peter Long is facing a mating trap with black Queen to take the rook at g1 mate. While Greg is about to lose a rook for a knight, white gaining material and pinning the Black King on the back rank, cut off from his own defences.

IM Mas needs to win board 1 to even the score so that Malaysia can go away with a 2-2 score.

Yes, IM Mas did it for Malaysia by winning his first board game on the 59th move with a rook check. So Malaysia draws against Wales 2-2! Fantastic draw!

Meanwhile the ladies meet the Chileans from South America on Table 41. To watch live games, please click here. Fong Mi Yen comes back in at board 4 and Roslina Marmono rests. While Nur Nabila and Nurul Huda have conceded defeats on boards 2 and 3 to the Chileans.

On board 2, Maria Jose of Chile, has two advanced black pawns on a and b-files threatening to queen. She has support from the rook at c2 and bishop on g7. White has no threats and Nabila resigned.

On board 3, Nurul Huda has a Queen against two rooks and a bishop. She has fallen into a mating trap with the black King exposed in the middle of the board. If 38…Kh3, 39.h5, 40.Rh4#. If 38…Kf5, 39. Rf4#. If 38…Kf3, then 39.Rf4#. Black resigned with no options to survive.

Board 4 looks winning for Malaysia with rook and pawn is pinning Black King on back rank. If white plays Ke7 followed by Rf8, it is mate. The bishop has no say, as white plays on black squares. Black sees the hopelessness of her own situation with no options to play, black resigned on 58th move. Well done to Fong Mi Yen for her win! Score 1-2.

Alia needs to win board 1 for Malaysia to save a point by drawing 2-2 overall.