National Closed 2013 early leaders after three rounds

In the Open section, top seed Yeoh Li Tian has full points after three rounds. He beat Mark Siew in a Pirc Defence. The other favourites, Sumant Subramaniam and Wong Jianwen dropped half points in earlier rounds. Three players are tied for the lead with Li Tian, Erowan Masrin and Fong Yit San. The latter will play Li Tian on the top board in round four.

In the Women's section, fifth seed Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan almost pulled off a big upset against Nur Najiha.  However she let Najiha off the hook with inprecise play. There are four leaders all of whom have dropped half a point. They are Nur Najiha, Nithyalakshmi, Nur Nabila and Mohd Saufi Najihah

Below are the games with some light notes.

[Event "National 2013"]
[Date "2013.05.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yeoh Li Tian"]
[Black "Mark Siew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]


1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7

The Pirc have almost disappeared from top grandmaster practice for very good reasons. Here, Li Tian shows how difficult it is for the black side to counter white's space advantage.

 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. a4 b6 8. Re1 Bb7 9. Bf1 e6 10. Bf4 Nc6

It does not make sense to block the bishop that is fianchettoed on b7.10...Nbd7 looks much better

11. Qd2 Re8

Black delays the counter in the centre. He is already on the edge of disaster. 11... e5 12. Be3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 was playable

12. Rad1 Nh5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh6 Ne7 ?

Still refraining from challenging white's centre.

15. Bc4  Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Ng7 17. Qh3 d5 18. Bb3 Bc8 19. Qh6 Bb7 20. Qf4 Nh5 21. Qh4 Qd6 22. e5 fxe5 23. Rxe5 Nf5 24. Qg5 Nhg7 25. g4 +- Ne7 26. Qh6 c5 27. Ng5 cxd4 28. Rxe6 Qxe6 29. Qxh7+ Kf8 30. Nxe6+ Nxe6 31. Ne4 Ng8

31... dxe4 32. Bxe6 is mate

32. Qxb7 1-0



[Event "National Closed"]
[Date "2013.05.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sivanesan"]
[Black "Najiha"]
[Result "draw"]
[ECO "B42"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 b5 

Not a common reply in this line for good reason.

6. O-O Qc7 7. Qe2 d6 8. c4 !?

The reason ...b5 is not good is it gives white a target on the queen-side to weaken the black pawns.
Normally white plays 8. a4 here.

8... bxc4 9. Bxc4 Nf6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. b3 Nbd7 12. Bb2 Ne5 13. Bd3 Qa7 14. Rad1 O-O 15. Bb1 Ng6

Black gives up the bishop pair for no reason.

16. Nc6 Qc7 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Qd3 d5 19. e5 Qxe5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5
21. Qg3 Nf5 22. Qh3 Qc6

Black keeps the queen on the long diagonal in anticipation of white playing g4 to regain his piece but there is a tactical refutation for this move

23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Be4

White wins a clear exchange.

25...Qc7 26. Bxa8 Rg8 27. Qh3 Bb7 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Rd3

Black has no counter-play and is totally lost.

29...e5 30. Rfd1 Nd4 31. Kh1 Qe4 32. Rg3 

Better 32. f3 Qe2 33. R3d2 Qe3 34. Qd7 Kg7 35. Qb7 White has defended
the threats on g2 and can now pick up pawns on the queen-side

32... Qc2 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 34. Qg4+

34. Rf1 Qxa2 35. Qh6 White threatens Rc1 with mate on black's back rank, 35... Nxb3 36. Qxf6 and White is winning due to the exposed black king

34... Kf8 35. Rf1 Qxa2 36. Qc8+ Kg7 37. Qg4+ Kf8 38. Qc8+ Kg7 39. Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

White bails out with a draw