DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Invitational Masters

The standings of the Masters after six rounds -

Rk.	Title	Name	Rtg	FED	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Pts.
1	IM	Barbosa Oliver	2538	PHI	*	1	½	1	½		1			1	5.0
2	IM	Vakhidov Jahongir	2392	UZB	0	*	1			1	1	1	1		5.0
3	IM	Bitoon Richard	2504	PHI	½	0	*			1		1	1	1	4.5
4	IM	Das Arghyadip	2461	IND	0			*	½		1	½	1	1	4.0
5	GM	Vakhidov Tahir	2485	UZB	½			½	*	½	½	½	1		3.5
6	IM	Nguyen Van Huy	2449	VIE		0	0		½	*		½	½	1	2.5
	IM	Goh Wei Ming Kevin	2449	SIN	0	0		0	½		*	1		1	2.5
8	GM	Nguyen Anh Dung	2479	VIE		0	0	½	½	½	0	*			1.5
9	IM	Mas Hafizulhelmi	2413	MAS		0	0	0	0	½			*	½	1.0
10	GM	Wong Meng Kong	2355	SIN	0		0	0		0	0		½	*	0.5

Singapore's GM Wong Meng Kong with only a single draw is right at the bottom of the table. He must have known he is just making up the GM numbers (norms for GM must have three grandmasters taking part), but I am quite sure he did not expect to be in this position!

Malaysia sole representative, IM Mas Hafizul , is having one of his worst tournaments I have ever seen him in. Scoring only two draws he is just ahead of Meng Kong.

At the other end of the table, both IMs Oliver Barbosa (Philippines) and Jahongir Vakhidov (Uzbekistan) are sitting very comfortably. They have five points each and with three more rounds left, only require 1.5 points to make their grandmaster norms.

Barbosa has two tail-enders who are totally out of form to meet, so should make it without too much difficulty. Vakhidov still has one dangerous opponent who still has a chance of a GM norm. That is the Indian IM Das Arghyadip. But his two other opponents are the unfortunate Meng Kong and GM Tahir Vakhidov. We can reasonably expect his own father not to try to beat him!.

Indian IM Das Arghyadip needs two wins and a draw in the last three rounds. His task is more difficult as he has to meet Jahongir and IM Richard Bitoon who is also in the running for the norm and needs only two points more.

So it looks like this tournament will be very successful in generating at least two grandmaster norms. Unfortunately Malaysians will not be among them.

Today is a free day so the 7th and 8th round resumes tomorrow (Friday). The final round starts on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. The tournament is held at the Swiss Garden Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. An Open tournament is running side-by-side so there is lots of chess to watch. After the final round, there will be a blitz tournament so there is plenty of reason to be there on Saturday.