Turkey Develops Chess At Fantastic Speed

28 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Ali Nihat Yazici, President of the Turkish Chess Federation gave a press interview recently and talked about Turkish plans to bid Istanbul as host of the next Chess Olympiad in 2012. Looks like chess olympiads are hosted once every two years, I maybe wrong but that is what I gather from this news item. Besides Turkish plans of hosting, Ali Nihat Yazici talked about the chess in schools program in Turkey and how chess has picked up speed in schools.

Here is part of the interview for interested readers of the interview with Ali Nihat Yazici on the chess development program in Turkey:

CHESS AT SCHOOLS

– Everyone knows that chess in Turkey develops at a fantastic speed. Can you give us some numbers?
– Of course. 2.25 million children have learnt chess in the last 5 years in primary schools. We have around 200 000 members of federation, 50 000 trainers. Federation budget was 6.5 million Euros in 2009, sponsorship was more than 1 million last year. We are planning to double these, numbers in the next 2- 3 years.

– Does the program Chess at Schools work in Turkey?
– Yes.

– How did you manage to prove usefulness of teaching chess at schools?
– We did some research in internet and made several presentations, then adopted this information for our country and brought it to the attention of the government. Our goal is to develop the intellectual level of students and make them more competitive in their future life. We don't necessarily want raising grandmasters and champions. But by adding value with marketing chess in the country we make money and we achieve all aims for a federation.

For me, it is most amazing. I wish this sort of program could exist in our Malaysian schools program and allow our young chess players to develop and be groomed for future Grandmasters-to-be.

To read more, please click here.

Photo Gallery, Malaysians During Chess Olympiad

28 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Here a few photos of our chess team during the Chess Olympiad 2010, Siberia, Russia. Looks like our ladies chess team members are ready with their digital cameras in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Pix 1. Malaysia vs Iraq, Malaysia won 3-1.

Pix 2. Enjoying autumn in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Pix 3. Before round 4 vs Sri Lanka. Smile girls!

Malaysia Meets ICSC and Pakistan, Round 7 Chess Olympiad

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – In the seventh round of the chess Olympiad, Malaysia will meet ICSC chess team, a 72nd rated team with 1 GM and 2 IMs on the team. If the Malaysian men’s team can outdo their higher rated opponents Malaysia will gain some respect. IM Mas has not lost to anyone so far with 4.5 points from six rounds. Just maybe he can beat his GM opponent in this seventh round and earn a possible GM norm in this tournament.

Performance Of Malaysia Men’s Team Up To Round 6, Chess Olympiad 2010.

Performance of ICSC Men’s Team Up To Round 6, Chess Olympiad 2010.

In the women’s team event of the chess Olympiad 2010, Malaysia will now meet Pakistani ladies in round 7 this afternoon. Pakistan is rated 106th in this tournament and the Malaysian ladies should in theory beat this minnows team. Pakistan only has one FIDE-rated player on its first board.

Pix 1. Alia Bakri, Malaysia’s Women Board 1 chess player.

Performance Of Malaysian Women’s Team Up To Round 6, Chess Olympiad 2010.

Performance Of Pakistan Women’s Team Up To Round 6, Chess Olympiad 2010

Ukraine Wins And Takes Lead After 6th Round, Chess Olympiad

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – In the Open team category of the current Chess Olympiad, Ukraine manages a win over Hungary, 3-1 and now leads going into the 7th round of play tomorrow. On top table, Georgia and Armenia drew their board games, 2-2 in round 6. While England overcomes Norway, 2.5-1.5, where Michael Adams, England, springs a surprise win over Magnus Carlsen of Norway on board 1. Russia 1 and Russia 2 goes back to their winning ways as Russia 2 beat the Netherlands, 3-1 and Russia 1 beat Czech Republic, 2.5-1.5.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan wins over India, 3-1 and U.S.A. manages a hard fought win over Vietnam, 2.5-1.5, where GM Le Quang of Vietnam lost to GM Hikaru Nakamura on board 1 of the match-up. The other boards of the Vietnam-USA ended in draws. Board 1 was decisive for USA.

Meanwhile, Malaysia crushes San Marino, 4-0, as predicted. Well done to the men’s team who have their turn of glory!

In the women’s team event, Russia 1 decisively beat Ukraine, 2.5-1.5. Boards 3 and 4 of Russia 1 where GM Alexandra Kosteniuk and IM G Alisa were decisive in winning for the Russians. GM Kateryna Lahno of Ukraine won for the solid board win on board 1 for Ukraine. While on table 2, Georgia beat USA, 2.5-1.5 and Hungary crushed Poland, 4-0.

Meanwhile our Malaysian women’s chess team lost to Ecuador, 1-3. Alia Bakri on board 1 beat IM Fierro Baquero Martha L of Ecuador. Well done to Alia for her gallant win on board 1. But Malaysia lost on the other three boards.

Carlsen Suffers 2nd Loss At Chess Olympiad 2010`

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Michael Adams springs a surprise on the World’s No.1 player, Magnus Carlsen during the England against Norway, 6th round team event of the Chess Olympiad 2010.

Adams, M (2728) - Carlsen, M (2826) [B06]
Chess Olympiad 2010
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (6), 27.09.2010

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.exd6 exd6 7.d5 Ne7 8.c4 Bg7 9.Nc3 0–0 10.0–0 Bg4 11.Re1 Re8 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nf6 14.Bf4 Nd7 15.Rc1 Ne5 16.b3 a6 17.g3 Nf5 18.Bg2 g5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Ne4 Ng7 21.Qd2 h6 22.f4 gxf4 23.gxf4 Bf6 24.Kh2 Nh5 25.Rg1 Kh7 26.Rcf1 Rg8 27.Qe2 Ng7 28.Qd3 Kh8 29.Bf3 b5 30.Bd1 bxc4 31.bxc4 Bh4 32.Bc2 f5 33.Rg6 Kh7 34.Rfg1 Qe7 35.Ng3 Bxg3+ 36.Qxg3 Qf7 37.Bd1 Rae8 38.Rxh6+ White wins 1–0

If black king takes the rook at h6, 38…Kxh6, then 39.Qg5+ Kh7 40. Qh4+ Qh5 41. Bxh5 and black considered this a losing position and decides to resign. 1-0 to England.

Efimenko vs Stojanovic, 5th Round, Chess Olympiad

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – In the fifth round of the chess Olympiad 2010, Ukraine met Bosnia Herzegovina. Ukraine won 3-1 with GM Vassily Ivanchuk leading Ukraine on board 1 against GM Sokolov of Bosnia. However, Ukraine showed its strength in depth with having a strong 4th board player in GM Efimenko. Efimenko took on IM Stojanovic of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH) and the Ruy Lopez Closed Variation transpired.

After white played 26.Qc2, black resigned as the white diagonal b1-h7 is strongly held by both bishop and Queen battery with a possible check at Qh7 pending.

If black takes the knight at e5, 26…. Bxe5, then 27. Qh7+ Kf8, 28.Qh8+ Ke7, 29. Qxg7 pinning the bishop at e5 with the rook at e1. With a strong white attack on the black king, Stojanovic of BiH resigned. It is a crisp and fun game to watch by the two chess players. With this win, Ukraine beat Bosnia Herzegovina, 3-1 and pushed Ukraine to 4th position with 9 MPs, just below Armenia and above Netherlands.

Top Ten Team Standings After Round 5, Chess Olympiad 2010.

Malaysia is at ranked 118th position after five rounds is right now playing San Marino, an opponent with 4 MPs, just one position above it, even though San Marino was initially ranked,118th,much lower at the start as compared to Malaysia at 86th. Look table below at current ranking.

The World Kitchen At The Chess Olympiad

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – To cater to the varied needs of the chess delegations from the world over at the chess Olympiad requires special chef skills. Here is one video from the point of view of the kitchen chefs at the world event in Siberia, Russia. It is in Russian language but the images say it all!

Polgar Chess Asia Year-End Activities

27 September 2010, Kuala Lumpur – The Polgar Chess Asia is organising some chess activities for the young, interested chess enthusiasts. And parents wanting to keep their children occupied during the year-end school holidays will have the opportunity to let their children play chess for fun or more seriously by participating in tournaments either locally or overseas. Just read on and look at all the possibilities for your children.

Here is an open email invitation from Polgar Chess Asia to parents of young chess enthusiasts for the many varied chess activities that is available at your door step:-

Dear Friends,
Holidays come and go so quickly, and its time to start planning for year-end school holidays again.

This year, our programs start early in October as most who will be playing in MSSM-Masterskill National Scholastic Chess Championship (8-12 November 2010, under the auspices of MoE) would like to have some form of preparation before the tournament.Pls click here for entry form.  The program is Building Up Young Talent, 8 sessions of 3 hours daily, 2.30-5.30pm, 25-28 Oct, 1-4 Nov 2010.  For those who are planning to vie for a place in the school/state team next year, this will be a good warm-up lap as all 14 states will be sending their team.  Besides, this is also a rated tournament.  As the MoE has written a letter to the each State Education Dept., students are allowed to take leave from school during this period. To see the flyer and related forms, please click here.

For those who are keen to play at international stage, please check out Asian Schools Chess Championship, Sri Lanka, 16-23 December.  In preparation for this tournament and the 2011 MSSM, we have the Young Talent Immersion Camp (22 November - 8 December, depending on skills level) which begins immediately after the last school term ends and also Private Sessions Package (4 sessions of 1.5 hour each, between 1-5 Dec @ RM500).  The Camp will also be co-conducted by a visiting Grandmaster. To see the flyer and related forms, please click here.

Training Support Fee during the Asian Schools tournament is available but has to be confirmed by 1 November.  Please book as soon as possible.

Those wishing to go for Penang Open (8-12 Dec) or National Junior Championships (15-19 Dec) should consider private session package for preparation.

As for Beginners, please refer to many dates of Level 1, 2 and 3 and Strategy Workshop.

Please find attached the Tournament entries to MSSM-Masterskills National Scholastic Chess Championship and our Children's Day celebration. To see the flyer and related forms, please click here or here for tournament form for MSSM-Masterskill or day chess challenge at POLGAR CHESS ASIA.

New Classes:-
Level 1 Beginners -
Saturday, 5-6pm, starting 9 October
Thursday, 4.30-5.30pm, starting 14 October
Sunday, 2-3pm, starting 17 October
Level 2
Saturday, 3.30-5pm, starting 25 September
Wednesday, 4.30-6pm, starting 13 October
Saturday, 10-11.30am, starting 30 October
Level 3
Saturday, 10-11.30am, starting 2 October
Saturday, 2-3.30pm, starting 2 October

Saturday, 3.30-5pm, starting 2 October
Sunday, 10-11.30am, starting 3 October
Competitive Chess
Saturday, 11.30am-1pm, starting 2 October
Sunday, 11.30am-1pm, starting 3 October
Please let me know if you have any question. 
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Louisa Yip
POLGAR Chess Asia
Tel: +60 3-2300 1680

Mobile: +60 19-258 6355

(source: email from Louisa Yip)

Round 6 Malaysia’s Board Pairings, Chess Olympiad

27 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Today the Malaysian teams will continue their Olympiad round six campaign with match-ups against San Marino for the men’s team and against Ecuador for the women’s team.

Men’s Board Pairings – Malaysia vs San Marino.


Women’s Board Pairings – Malaysia vs Ecuador

In theory, the Malaysian men’s team should be able to win easily against the 118th ranked San Marino chess team and the Malaysian women’s team would have a chance to outdo their higher rated, Ecuadorian ladies chess team by gaining some honour for the Malaysians! Best of luck to both Malaysian teams! 

Malaysia Meets Ecuadorians and San Marino in Sixth Round, Chess Olympiad 2010

26 September 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk – Tomorrow the Malaysian ladies will play against the Ecuadorians on table 39 and the Malaysian men will meet the San Marinos on table 59 in the sixth round of the chess Olympiad 2010.

Women’s team pairings, 6th Round.

Men’s team pairings – Open Category

Pix 1. IM Mas giving a few pointers for the Ladies Team in their preparations. Roslina by the laptop, Fong Mi Yen, Alia Bakri and Nurul Huda (behind IM Mas).