Malaysia spring surprise win!

15 Nov 2011, Kuala Lumpur - At the SEA Games 2011 in Indonesia, the Malaysian mixed chess team sprang a surprise win over high-rated Indonesia opponents.

Here is the fourth round bulletin report from the organizers of the SEA Games chess held yesterday.

Fortune is not siding the Indonesia chess team in the third day of SEA Games XXVI which is held at the Hotel Swarna Dwipa, Monday (14/11). One by one Indonesia best players have been defeated by their respective opponents.
In the mixed pair chess category, duo Indonesian, GM Susanto Megaranto and WGM Irene Kharisma Sukandar has failed again. Indonesia's best player who is targeted with gold medal prospect in this category have not been able to rise in the third round. Both recorded a disappointing result when facing Malaysia chess opponents, after the previous day had to yield to Philippines chess mate.
Susanto who has elo rating 2537 should be able to beat his opponent, IM Yee Weng Lim from Malaysia who has only elo rating 2253. In fact, Susanto was surprisingly defeated by his opponent. While Irene who has elo rating 2350 was forced to play to a draw by Najiha Nur Hisham who has elo rating 1867. With this winning, Malaysia team has recorded 3.5 points, similar with what Philippines team has obtained until round three yesterday. While Indonesia has only recorded 3 points adrift far below the Vietnam who collected 5.5 points after GM Dao Thien Hai and WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An managed to reduce the power of Philippines, GM Oliver Barbosa and WIM Catherine Perena.
IM Tirta Chandra Purnama who played in the blindfold chess category is also disappointing. On the third day with two rounds played, Tirta get unsatisfied results after being forced to play to a draw by Myanmar, Zaw Win Lay in the fifth round and defeated by Vietnam player, GM Le Quang Lim on the sixth round.
Poor results also happen to other Indonesian chess players, Taufik Halay who played in the ASEAN Chess category. Until round three, Taufik only able to collect half points. In the third round, Taufik was defeated by Myanmar player, Zaw Htun Wynn. With these results, Taufik chances to win gold medal in this category has become tougher.
Wynn Zaw Htun from Myanmar defeated Indonesia player in ASEAN chess category.
(Photo by M. Iqbal)