Thursday, February 28, 2013

Caruana upsets Anand in Round 4, Zurich Chess Challenge 2013

Zurich Chess Challenge 2013

28 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In Zurich, the TheWeekInChess.com website of Zurich Chess Challenge 2013 reported that Fabiano Caruana took the lead in the Zuerich Chess Classic after scoring a win against Viswanathan Anand in the first decisive game of the event. Anand was professional enough to attend the press conference and give brief comments but departed quickly clearly upset at his loss.

Round 4 Standings, ZCC 2013

The game was a heavyweight Ruy Lopez in which Anand became frustrated by strong resistance and felt he was being outplayed. He sacrificed the exchange to try and change the course of events and had sufficient compensation but he started to doubt himself a bit and having made time control his 41st move Bg2 was careless allowing 41...Nc8 which caused his position to fall apart. 41.Ne5 was his first choice and the game would have continued.

 

Caruana is leading with 2.5 points from four rounds of play while Kramnik and Gelfand are at 2.0 points and Anand is at 1.5 points.

 

 

Links:

Zurich Chess Challenge 2013 (Zuerich SUI)
Sat 23rd Feb 2013 - Fri 1st Mar 2013 - Official Site - Live

Zurich CC 2013 (4 players 6 Rds DRR Indiv TC:120m:60m:15m+30spm(61)) - Games in PGN: Games |Live

Zurich CC Blitz 2013 (4 players 6 Rds DRR Indiv TC:4m+2spm) - Games in PGN: Blitz Games

(Game analysis from TheWeekInChess.com)

Monday, February 25, 2013

Women’s Open Rapid Delayed/ Blitz SelangorKu 2013

25 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur (Repost Updated) – Two chess tournaments this coming weekend by Cerdik Catur Enterprise in Shah Alam and Kota Damansara in conjunction with Women’s Youth Sports Carnival SelangorKu 2013 (now delayed to 24 March 2013) and Youth Sports Carnival Petaling Jaya.

First, Women’s Rapid Open 2013 original date on 2 March 2013 at Selangor Youth and Cultural Complex, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam has been changed to 24 March 2013. Second, Blitz Open Chess 2013 on 3rd March 2013 at the Community Hall, Seksyen 7, Kota Damansara.

Women's Rapid Chess 2013

1) Pertandingan Catur Terbuka Wanita (Hanya untuk WANITA) - sempena Karnival Sukan Beliawanis SelangorKU 2013.

Anjuran: Jawatankuasa Tetap Adat Resam Melayu, Belia dan Sukan Selangor

Tarikh baru /Masa : 24 Mac 2013 (Ahad) , 9.30pagi - 5.30 petang

Tempat : Kompleks Belia dan Kebudayaan Selangor, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam

Format pertandingan : 6 atau 7 pusingan Sistem Swiss dengan kawalan masa 25 minit setiap pemain

Jumlah Hadiah Wang Tunai : RM 1200

Yuran penyertaan : RM 5 sahaja

Blitz Chess Challenge SelangorKu 2013

2) Pertandingan Catur Kilat SELANGORKU (Terbuka Untuk SEMUA) - sempena Karnival Sukan Belia Petaling Jaya

Anjuran : Penggerak Belia Tempatan (PeBT) MBPJ

Tarikh/Masa : 3 Mac 2013 (Ahad) , 10pagi - 3petang

Tempat : Dewan Komuniti, Seksyen 7, Kota Damansara

Format : 16 pusingan Sistem Swiss dengan kawalan masa 5 minit setiap pemain

Jumlah hadiah wang tunai : RM 1200

Yuran penyertaan : RM 5 sahaja

Contact persons: CM Fadli, hp: 014-231230, Muriza Hazrul, hp: 017-3473645.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

24th Selangor Juniors Open 2013 for U-8, U-12, U-16

24 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Chess Association of Selangor (CAS) announces the sequel tournament for the U-8, U-12 and U-16 age categories of the 24th Selangor Juniors Open Chess Tournament on 3rd March 2013 at DAT Chess Connections, 4th Floor, Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur.

24th Sel Jnrs II

Please contact Mr Yeoh @ 012-619 9816, En. Fariz @ 012-643 9636 or Mr Lim @ 012-298 4922 for details.

Links:

http://selangorchess.blogspot.com/2013/02/24th-selangor-juniors-open-on-3rd-march.htmlhttp://selangorchess.blogspot.com/2013/02/24th-selangor-juniors-open-on-3rd-march.html

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/SelangorChess

Perak Grand Prix Championship – Kampar Leg 2013

24 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The Perak International Chess Association (PICA) is organising the 4th Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng Perak Grand Prix Chess Championship 2013. The third leg – Kampar – will be held on the 10 March 2013, Sunday at the Grand Kampar Hotel, Kampar, Perak.

GrandPrix-KamparLeg-10mac2013

For further details, please contact Yunus, h/p: 013-3908129, or email to caturperak@hotmail.com. Or visit http://perakchess.blogspot.com for details.

(source: Pesatuan Catur Negeri Perak’s facebook page)

University Putra Malaysia Organises Chess Open 2013

24 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The Universiti Putra Malaysia is organising two  upcoming chess tournaments on the 16th March 2013, Saturday and 17th March 2013, Sunday. The announcement is in Manglish (Malaysian English – mixture of Bahasa Malaysia and English), so bear with us.

image

There are 2 chess events in UPM in the coming 16 and 17 Mac 2013!

1) Canselor Chess Tournament Putra Canselor Carnival 2013: We Are Young! Kolej Canselor Universiti Putra Malaysia. Below are the details:

Canselor Chess Tournament merupakan pertandingan terbuka yang diadakan sebagai satu usaha dalam meningkatkan kemahiran berfikir secara kreatif dan kritis kepada masyarakat terutamanya golongan mahasiswa dan belia. Mahasiswa dari pelbagai IPT dan Politeknik menjadi sasaran bagi pertandingan terbuka ini. Bilangan penyertaan yang diterima adalah bagi 45 penyertaan terawal. Canselor Chess Tournament juga berfungsi untuk menjadi daya tarikan bagi penyertaan daripada orang awam.

Tarikh tutup penyertaan: 10 Mac 2013, 5pm

Pertandingan: 16 Mac 2013 (9am)

Penyampaian hadiah: 17 Mac 2013, “ Malam Gala Putra Canselor Carnival 2013”

Bayaran: RM15 seorang

Untuk penginapan sila kunjungi http://media.wix.com/ugd//cf05ff_e4d89f259d2a46b1b97337192cf14419.pdf

Pertanyaan dan borang penyertaan boleh didapati di http://media.wix.com/ugd//cf05ff_b554ee0697c1498a2bd6b4cf361459d8.pdf

image

 

2) UPM CHESS OPEN 2013 (NATIONAL RATED, RATING KEBANGSAAN 1700 KE BAWAH ATAU TIADA RATING). Below are the details:

Organizers: Persatuan Catur UPM dengan kerjasama Pusat Sukan UPM dan Bahagian Hal Ehwal Pelajar UPM

Dates: 17 Mac 2013

Format: 7 rounds Swiss, 20-25 min time control

Time: 8am-6.30pm (Registration start from 8am to 9.30am, Round 1 start at 10am)

Entry fee: RM15 - School students

RM15 - UPM students

RM20 - IPT students

RM25 - Others

Main Prizes form 1st to 10th: RM500, RM250, RM180, RM150, RM120, Hamper, Hamper, Hamper, Hamper, Hamper

Special Prizes: #Best Lady, Best UPM(M&F) : RM 60

# Best rating 1401-1500 : Hamper

# Best school student (M) x2 : Hamper

# Best school student (F) x2 : Hamper

* Certificate will be given to all prize winners.

* Only for 140 participants.

Registration: Registration shall be made on or before 14th March 2013(Thursday) through sms/fb name and event to person in charge. Any late registration shall be penalized with additional fee RM5. Fee can be made on the day of the tournament.

For registration and details,

Chek : 014-3276155

Khoo : 016-8023844

Be free to check it out on http://www.facebook.com/events/124592317718816/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Venue: Panggung Percubaan, UPM (Belakang Dewan Besar UPM)

(source: Chek Kin Keuw, cambridge.chek@yahoo.com)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Yeoh Li Tian wins Speedy Gonzalez Blitz

Yeoh Li Tian, MAS

23 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Today was the opening day of the new look Arthur Tan Chess Center under the new management at the Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur. Thirty six players participated and was won by Yeoh Li Tian with a score of 14.5 points over 15 rounds of blitz play.

image

To see more results, please visit chess-results.com or click here.

(Picture courtesy of Chess Malaysia facebook)

Anish Giri vs Ipatov, Reykjavik Open 2013

23 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In Iceland, the Reykjavik Open 2013 is ongoing. The official website says that The Reykjavik Open 2013 is being held for the 28th time from February 19th to February 27, 2012 in Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall. The 2013 tournament is expected to be very strong. The 2012 edition included for example the Women World Champion, Hou Yifan, and world no. 7 at that time, Fabiano Caruana, who won the tournament. In 2012 edition 198 players from 33 countries participated, including 26 grandmasters, 11 of which with a ELO rating of 2600 and higher. Total prizes in 2013 will be €15,000, including many special prizes for various ages and rating categories, in addition to the traditional top women prize.

Here is a game between the top favourites, GM Anish Giri of Netherlands against GM Ipatov which gave a winning game to Anish Giri in the fifth round of the Reykjavik Open 2013 tournament, Harpa, Iceland.

(show chess board)(hide chess board)

 

Official website: http://www.reykjavikopen.com

Friday, February 22, 2013

National Arbiter Course (MCF Level 1), 13-17 March 2013

22 February 2013, Kuala Lumpur – For those intending to become a national arbiter in chess, your opportunity and your first step is here. Read the invitational (in Bahasa Malaysia) at UIAM below slated for 13-17 March 2013.

JEMPUTAN “NATIONAL ARBITER COURSE (MCF LEVEL 1)”

UNIVERSITI ISLAM ANTARABANGSA MALAYSIA (UIAM)

Dengan segala hormatnya saya ingin menarik perhatian berhubung perkara di atas.

Sukacita dimaklumkan bahawa, Pusat Sukan dan Rekreasi Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM)dengan kerjasama Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) dan Persekutuan Catur Malaysia (MCF) akan menganjurkan “National Arbiter Course (MCF Level 1)” Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM),seperti maklumat berikut:

Tarikh : 13 – 17 Mac 2013

Tempat : Conference Room, Cultural Activity Centre,

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Penyertaan : Terhad kepada 30 orang sahaja

Sehubungan dengan ini, pihak kami berasa amat berbesar hati untuk menjemput tuan/puan untuk mengikuti kursus yang akan diadakan. Sebarang pertanyaan berkaitan kursus boleh dimajukan kepada Pn. Norsharmila Zabani di talian 03-61965393/012-9771017.

Bersama-sama ini disertakan borang pendaftaran peserta kursus dan hendaklah dikembalikan semula kepada Pusat Sukan dan Rekreasi Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia sebelum 8 March 2013 melalui faks 03 - 6196 4749 atau e-mel sharmila@iium.edu.my.

Segala kerjasama dan perhatian yang diberikan didahului dengan ucapan terima kasih.

 

image

Program Kursus Arbiter:

image

Borang Pendaftaran:

image

 

image

Untuk keterangan lanjut sila hubungi Pn. Norsharmila Zabani di talian 03-61965393/012-9771017.

(news courtesy of Nik Farouqi, farouqi.chess@gmail.com)

Monday, February 18, 2013

Fatin Nadhirah wins FELDA LASAH Open 2013

18 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In Sg Siput, Perak, the Felda Lasah Chess Open 2013 was held at the Secondary School RMLKT. Fifty eight players participated in this one-day rapid chess event. Ms Fatin Nadhirah bt Zainal emerged the champion of the FELDA LASAH Open 2013 by scoring 5.5 points and superior tie-break points. She beat the boys to the rostrum.

Second, Abdullah b Salim and third, Ahmad Kamal b Rustam Affe.

image

The full 58 player Final Results:

FeldaLasahFinal2013

(results courtesy of Cikgu Abu Bakar Martin)

Sergey Karjakin emerges the new Aeroflot Open Champion

18 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Sergey Karjakin of Russia wins the coveted Aeroflot Open 2013 championship by beating Alexander Grischuk, 2-1, in a thrilling rapid final last night. The first two games ended in draws.

Chessdom.com reported that Sergey Karjakin defeated the fellow Russian Alexander Grischuk 2-1 in the final match of the Aeroflot Rapid to take the top prize of 16,000 USD. Grischuk earned 10,000 USD.

Karjakin is reigning World Rapid Champion, while Grischuk is reigning World Blitz Champion.

image

image

However, the third game that came out a winner for Karjakin. The Ruy Lopez opening transpired and follow the game exploits below:-

(show chess board)(hide chess board)

The Week In Chess reported that in the final Sergey Karjakin forced down Alexander Grischuk's flag in an Armageddon tie-break after both rapid games were drawn. This was the technique that Grischuk should followed in their recent and more controversial Piterenka Rapid BlitzArmageddon playoff. Here Karjakin switched from trying to win the position to forcing the flag down late on. He only had to avoid perpetual check or mate to win with 6 seconds vs Grischuk 1 second. The game ended up with the board in disarray and Grischuk playing the clock with one hand and the pieces the other which is at the least frowned upon. The fact was he was lost on the clock and Karjakin exploited that as you should if you're a professional.

To read more, please visit chessdom.com or click here. Or go to The Week In Chess or click here.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Karjakin meets Grischuk in Grand Final, Aeroflot Open 2013

17 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In Moscow, the semi-finalists have played where Karjakin beat Ian Nepomniachtchi, 2-1, and Alexander Grischuk won 1.5-0.5, against Gata Kamsky of the USA.

Now the finalists of the Aeroflot Open are Sergey Karjakin of Russia against Alexander Grischuk of Russia. They will compete to decide the Champion of the Aeroflot Chess Open 2013.

image 

Here is a semi-final game between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Sergey Karjakin during the semi-final knock out stage of the Aeroflot Open 2013, Moscow, Russia. Karjakin won this game with the black pieces.

(show chess board)(hide chess board)

Official website: http://online.russiachess.org/#2013/02/aeronokautotbor

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Grand Final, Aeroflot Open 2013

16 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The Grand Final of the Aeroflot Chess Open 2013 begins today. Eight guest stars and eight winners qualifying competitions will be vying to become the new Aeroflot Open 2013 champion.

image

Final 16 Players:

image

Quarterfinalists – Last Eight:

image

Pairings of Quarterfinals (K.O. format):

image

Chessdom reported that a game that immediately catches the eye is Wang Hao –Dmitry Andreikin. The Nimzo-Indian used by the Russian invited Hao to close the position and avoid every possible pawn confrontation, so there were no pawn exchanges during the first 82(!!) moves. Just 6 moves later, Wang Hao proved that his passed h-pawn was stronger than Andreikin’s piece advantage and closed the game with decisive score.

Eight players enter the quarter-finals comprising of Grischuk, Mamedyarov, Svidler, Nepomniachtchi, Wang Hao, Karjakin, Eljanov and Kamsky.

Official website: http://russiachess.org/championship/detail/2013/aeroflot_open_2013/

Online game: http://online.russiachess.org/

Anand in Grenke Chess!

16 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In the 1st Grenke Chess Classic being held in Baden-Baden, Germany, six of the world’s best chess players are playing. Among them are Anand Viswanathan of India and Fabiano Caruana of Italy.

Anand vs Meir, Round 8, GRENKE Chess

The official website describes Grenke Classic - For the first time ever the Baden-Baden Chess Centre (Schachzentrum Baden-Baden) is hosting a Category 19 GM tournament, the Baden-Baden GRENKE Chess Classic. This event will continue the tradition of great chess tournaments that the well-known southern German spa town has established over the last two centuries.

Baden-Baden is also renowned in the chess world as the home of OSG Baden-Baden, the most successful German club since the 1990s. In the same period we set up the Baden-Baden Chess Centre to lay the foundations for making Baden-Baden into an important centre for the European chess community.

The main event of the chess fortnight will be the Baden-Baden GRENKE Chess Classic, a supertournament providing three top German players with the chance to face three established world class players on their own soil.

Livestream Link:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2700783/grenkechessclassic-8/videos/11709914

image

Here is a game between Anand and Meir in Grenke Chess Classic, Baden-Baden, Germany 2013. Anand has the white pieces and the game ended in a draw.

(show chess board)(hide chess board)
Standings After Round 8:
image
 

To read more, please visit chessbase.com or click here.

Official website: http://www.grenkechessclassic.com/en/

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Early Favourites Fail To Qualify, Aeroflot Open 2013

14 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – This year’s Aeroflot Open in Moscow has changed in format. The first phase of the tournament, the top 32 players in the 9 round Swiss System rapid will qualify to the next round. The second phase will comprise the 32 qualifiers playing two rapid games in a knock out format.

The final eight qualifiers of phase two will progress to Grand Final to play with eight top invited chess players and will play two games each in a knock-out format until two players are left to decide the champion of the tournament.

The early top seed, Fressinet Laurent, FIDE rapid rating of 2750, failed to qualify. Here is one game of round 6 of the qualifiers where Fressinet met Sjugirov Sanan of Russia and lost with the black pieces.

image

(show chess board)(hide chess board)

 

To read more about this year’s Aeroflot Open 2013, please visit chessbase.com or click here.

Links:

Aeroflot Open 2013 (Moscow RUS)
Tue 12th Feb 2013 - Sun 17th Feb 2013 - Official Site -Results - Live

Aeroflot Op Qual Rap (287 players 9 Rds Swiss Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Rapid Qualifier PGN

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Kravtsiv vs Korobov, Round 7, Aeroflot Open 2013

 

13 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Here is a round 7 game between Kravtsiv Martyn and Anton Korobov of the Aeroflot Rapid 2013.

Standings After Round 6:

image

Links:

Aeroflot Open 2013 (Moscow RUS)
Tue 12th Feb 2013 - Sun 17th Feb 2013 -
Official Site -Results - Live

Aeroflot Op Qual Rap (287 players 9 Rds Swiss Indiv TC:15m+10spm) - Games in PGN: Rapid Qualifier PGN

Chess Center At Wilayah Complex Evolving

13 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Had this email from Najib Wahab sometime back, kept putting it back for some reason. So guys, if you have been itching to enter a chess club in Malaysia, here is the first. The others are associations.

A refreshing new look indeed!

 ATCC1

ATCC2 ATCC3

ATCC4

Vibrant colours begin to fill up DATCC as the painting work on the wall almost completed. For this week, the contractor will be relocating the A/C units, fixing in the doors and prepare the new entrance to the centre. After Chinese New Year break, a bit of touching up here and there, and some cosmetic works and the new DATCC is ready to reopen its doors on 23rd February 2013.

CHESS CLASSES!!!! We will also be starting our chess classes 8 weeks term on the same day and look forward to having your children, nephews, nieces, friends, even parents as our students in the centre. Special rates are available for members at 20% discount that the normal rates, and other benefits for members. To join our classes, check out our brochures at www.chess-malaysia.com/DATClass.pdf

COME AND JOIN US ON OUR OPEN DAY - Light refreshments will be served and a 15 round blitz is one event that you would not want to miss.

Click HERE to fill up our membership form

Click HERE to be a part of our BLITZ event. Free entries for those signing up as members.

To learn more about us, visit our webpage at www.chess-malaysia.com or our FACEBOOK Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Chess-Malaysia/168231673260531

(source: email from Najib Wahab, Tel: +6016 338 2542)

Gula Perlis Open Chess Challenge 2013, 25 May 2013


13 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – Here is an upcoming tournament in Perlis to be held in the month of May 2013.
Kindly be informed that in conjunction HRH Raja Perlis 70th birthday, Kilang Gula Felda Perlis Sdn Bhd will be organizing Gula Perlis Open Chess Challenge 2012 on 25th May 2013 at Hotel Putra Palace, Kangar, Perlis. This is a National Rated Event.
The tournament is offering a total cash prizes of RM5,420 and in addition to it there are four units of digital chess clock as lucky draw prizes. Certificates will be provided for the participants whom registered and perform payment before 1st May 2013.
To register, simply bank in the entry fees to CIMB account number 0902-0136677-52-6 (Syaifulzamani bin Ismail) and sms the participant's name, category, date and time of payment to 013-3939838.
Please contact En Syaifulzamani, hp 013-3939838 for more details.
image
 


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Caro Kann with g4-g5

Giovanni Mejia, PHI

12 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In the 2012 Philippine Championships, young Filipino player Giovanni Mejia, 14 years old, FIDE rating - 1932 scored a brilliant win against GM Oliver Barbosa.

The game started as a Caro-Kann opening but things turned topsy turvy for the grandmaster when young Giovanni unleashed 18. Rdg1!, an improvement over the passive 18.Qe2 which Barbosa used against Le Quang Liem in 2011. Play the game below to see how the game turn out for white. Giovanni Mejia played with the white pieces.

(show chess board)(hide chess board)

image
White played 32.Qd7+, black resigned as white checkmates in two.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Mas Hafizulhelmi wins easily Kelantan Open 2013

Mas Hafizulhelmi, MAS 

11 Feb 2013, Kuala Lumpur – In Kota Bahru, IM Mas Hafizulhelmi (pix above) won easily the Kelantan chess open 2013 held over two-days, 9-10 February 2013. He amassed an incredible 9/9 points! Obviously, IM Mas was in a league of his own in this tournament. In the sixth round, IM Mas defeated blogger, Naserov, on top board.

Second, Muhd Syazwan Zulkifli with 7.5 points, third, Muhd Alfirdaus Md Nasir with 7.0 points.

Winners of Kelantan Open 2013

Abdul Haq Mohammad who was originally slated to play second seed, failed to arrive on time to the tournament hall on Saturday. It was reported that he was caught in the traffic jam coming to Kota Bahru and only arrived at 2 pm on Saturday. Abdul Haq decided to opt out of the tournament.

image

Round 9 Final Results:

image

To see more results, please visit chess-results.com or click here.

To see more photos and story of Kelantan Open 2013, please visit Naserov’s blog or click here.

(Photo of Kelantan Open 2013 winners by Naserov blogger)