ASTRO Merdeka Rapid Team 2011 Hits 78 Entries!

22 August 2011, Kuala Lumpur - DATCC, the organisers of this year's Malaysian Chess Festival 2011 event, announced record entries for Merdeka Team event.

The DATCC blog reported that "When the number of team hit 70 last year, it was thought to be the highest number of teams ever played in the ASTRO Merdeka Open Team Rapid event but surprise surprise! The number of teams for this year has reached 78 already and with the number of calls and inquiries that we have received over the weekend, it will not be a surprise if the numbers go beyond 80 within the next few days, even reaching 90...

"We are definitely faced with a huge challenge to fit 90 teams in the ballroom but whatever it is, it is a GOOD CHALLENGE!" quipped Najib Wahab, Chief Arbiter for the 2011 Malaysia Chess Festival.

Having barely squeezed 70 teams into the ballroom last year, many will wonder how the organizer can scour for space to add 20 more teams into the playing hall. Whilst the hotel have given an additional room to help ease the congestion, the small room can probably fit only 10 teams (5 tables) but the bulk of the others (at least 80 teams) will have to be fitted into the ballroom.

DON'T FORGET TO CATCH THE ASTRO MERDEKA OPEN TEAM RAPID EVENT this coming weekend (Saturday and Sunday) on 27th and 28th August starting at 8:30am. See you all then!"