Borislav Ivanov is very well known amongst chessplayers, and for the wrong reasons. A 2200 rated player, he has beaten many strong grandmasters. Many suspect that he is using computer assistance but no one has yet proved it.
Here is Maxim Dlugy's take on it. He has some interesting observations in Chessbase.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
A chess professional talks about chess as a pro
Being a chess pro.
Maybe this is why we do not have many IMs and no GMs. Everything GM Gormally wrote about British Chess Federation applies to Malaysian Chess Federation as well.
Maybe this is why we do not have many IMs and no GMs. Everything GM Gormally wrote about British Chess Federation applies to Malaysian Chess Federation as well.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Sabah Grande Chess Open
The Sabah Grande Chess Open is currently in progress with round seven currently in progress. The event is held after the inter-state team tournament and many of the players were staying back to take part as the event boasts a USD 1,000.00 first prize.
Such strong players as Mas Hafizul, Nicholas Chan, Yeoh Li Tian, Fong Yit San and Sumant Subramaniam together with Pinoys Nelson Villanueva and Oliver Dimakiling make this a interesting competition.
This is a rapid event with twenty five minutes for each player. With such time control, there is bound to be a lot of excitement as players reach the last minutes of play. Below are some positions from the tournament with some amazing errors due to time trouble.
White has just played 1. g5 attacking the black knight. When you have an extra pawn it is always a good idea to exchange queens and just win the ending. Nicholas thought he had a forced exhange with 1...Qg4?? and after 2. Qa6+ Kb8 3. gxf6 he was just down a piece for two pawns. He still managed to draw.
Zaidan is a whole piece up and that a-pawn is impossible to stop.
1. Rh7 Ke4 2. a6 Rb1 3. a7 Ra1
White can just play 4. Kg2 as the bishop on e1 does not need defending. He can pick up the black e-pawn with 4. Re7+ Kd3 5 Kf3. Well, it's just one of those days
4. Rh8 ?? Rxa7 1/2-1/2
If you think the previous game was heart-breaking take a look at this one. Yit San is a whole rook up. Pretty much anything wins , right?
1... Nxd4
This is one of those moves in blitz where you just whip out in a flash because 2. Nxd4+ Rxd4 3. Kxd4 Kf4 and your pawn queens.
2. Nxd4 Kf4
Black realizes too late that there is a flaw in the above line. 2. Nxd4+ Rxd4 3. Kxd4 Kf4 4. Kc5 e5 5. Kb6 e4 6. Kxa6 e3 7. Kb7 e2 8. a6 e1=Q 9. a7 reaches a standard drawn position. But even without the knight he is still winning!
3. Nc6 Re1 4. Kb6 Rc1 5. Nd4 Rb1+ 6. Kxa6 e5 7. Ne2+ Kf3 8. Nc3 Rb3 9. Nd5 e4 10. Ka7 Rd3
The most straightforward win is 10... e3 11. Nxe3 Kxe3 12. a6 Kd4 13. Ka8 Kc5 14. a7 Kb6 15. Kb8 Rh3 reaching a text book win.
11. Nb4 Rd4 12. Nc6 Rd5?
Simply 12...Rd1 and stop the pawn from behind, sacrificing the rook where necessary.
13. Kb6 e3?
Last chance for 13...Rd1
14. a6 e2
Now 14...Rd1 fails because white can block the rook with Na5
15. a7 e1=Q 16. a8=Q
Although black still has winning chances if he has time on the clock the game was drawn after a few more moves in mutual time trouble
The seventh round has some sweet pairings -
Nelson Villanueva - Oliver Dimakiling
Mas Hafizul - Yeoh Li Tian
Sumant Subramaniam - Abdullah Che Hassan
Nicholas Chan - Fong Yit San
This is a rapid event with twenty five minutes for each player. With such time control, there is bound to be a lot of excitement as players reach the last minutes of play. Below are some positions from the tournament with some amazing errors due to time trouble.
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| Hadani Abthar- Nicholas Chan, Round 1 |
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| Zaidan Zulkifli - Nelson Villanueva, Round 3 |
Zaidan is a whole piece up and that a-pawn is impossible to stop.
1. Rh7 Ke4 2. a6 Rb1 3. a7 Ra1
White can just play 4. Kg2 as the bishop on e1 does not need defending. He can pick up the black e-pawn with 4. Re7+ Kd3 5 Kf3. Well, it's just one of those days
4. Rh8 ?? Rxa7 1/2-1/2
 |
| Oliver Dimakiling - Fong Yit San, Round 3 |
1... Nxd4
This is one of those moves in blitz where you just whip out in a flash because 2. Nxd4+ Rxd4 3. Kxd4 Kf4 and your pawn queens.
2. Nxd4 Kf4
Black realizes too late that there is a flaw in the above line. 2. Nxd4+ Rxd4 3. Kxd4 Kf4 4. Kc5 e5 5. Kb6 e4 6. Kxa6 e3 7. Kb7 e2 8. a6 e1=Q 9. a7 reaches a standard drawn position. But even without the knight he is still winning!
3. Nc6 Re1 4. Kb6 Rc1 5. Nd4 Rb1+ 6. Kxa6 e5 7. Ne2+ Kf3 8. Nc3 Rb3 9. Nd5 e4 10. Ka7 Rd3
The most straightforward win is 10... e3 11. Nxe3 Kxe3 12. a6 Kd4 13. Ka8 Kc5 14. a7 Kb6 15. Kb8 Rh3 reaching a text book win.
11. Nb4 Rd4 12. Nc6 Rd5?
Simply 12...Rd1 and stop the pawn from behind, sacrificing the rook where necessary.
13. Kb6 e3?
Last chance for 13...Rd1
14. a6 e2
Now 14...Rd1 fails because white can block the rook with Na5
15. a7 e1=Q 16. a8=Q
Although black still has winning chances if he has time on the clock the game was drawn after a few more moves in mutual time trouble
The seventh round has some sweet pairings -
Nelson Villanueva - Oliver Dimakiling
Mas Hafizul - Yeoh Li Tian
Sumant Subramaniam - Abdullah Che Hassan
Nicholas Chan - Fong Yit San
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Selangor wins Inter-State
Inter-state competitions in Malaysia have not been held for quite a long time. This year the event is held in Sabah and has just completed today. Selangor and W.P. Kuala Lumpur both scored 20 match points. The former emerged champion based on higher board points.
Selangor had the strongest line-up with Nicholas Chan, Yeoh Li Tian, Sumant Subramaniam and Roshan Singh. It was hard to think that there could be any team that could challenge them. However in Round Five, the Kuala Lumpur team beat them decisively. Selangor could not even win a game in the match. The score :
Selangor 1 - Kuala Lumpur 3
Nicholas Chan - Mas Hafizul 0.5-0.5
Yeoh Li Tian - Zaidan Zulkifli 0 - 1
Sumant Subramaniam - Camilia Johari 0.5-0.5
Roshan Singh - Lye Lik Zang 0 - 1
I have already written about Lik Zang in a previous post. He is one of our most talented junior after Li Tian and Aron Teh. Here he collected his biggest scalp in the form of a previous National Champion.
White has just played 1. f4 and Black was quick to pounce.
1... Bxf4 2. exf4 Nxf4 3. Qe3 Qg5 0-1
This is a familiar position in any tactical manuals; with the black queen on g5, knight on e3 and opponent's queen on e3. The twin threats of Qxg2 mate and Nxh3+ discovering attack on the queen on e3 is a standard tactical motif. In this position the defence 2. Qd2 is not possible because of the exposed bishop on d3 (2...Rxd3). Roshan resigned in this position.
However there is a saving tactic for white. He can take advantage of black's weakness on the back rank with 4. Be4! Nxh3+ 5. Kf1 Rxd1+ 6. Rxd1 and thewhite queen is immune from capture (6...Qxe3 7. Rd8 mate) so 6...Rf4+ 7. Bf3 Bxf3 8. gxf3. Black has three pawns for the piece and it is still unclear who will win.
Li Tian seems quite vulnerable to tactical combinations especially in time trouble. This is how he lost to Zaidan.
Black's king-side is open but he has two passed pawns on the a-file and white does not have a dark square bishop which means it is not easy at all to take advantage of the situation. White should play slowly with Rg3 and h3 to free the white bishop to take part in the conflict. Instead Li Tian became too optimistic and began attacking operations straight away.
1. Rb7 Rd1 2. Rxf7 $4 Rxf1+ 3. Kxf1 Rc1+ 4. Ke2 Qe8+
Now 5. Re3 Qb5+ 5. Re3 Qb5+ 6. Kf3 Qxf5+ 7. Kg3 Qg5+ is a perpetual. Instead white blundered
5. Qe3 ?? Qb5+ 6. Qd3
6. Kf3 Qxf5+ 7. Ke2 Qg4+ 8. Rf3 (8.Kd2 Qd1#)
8... Qc4+ 9. Qd3 Qxf7) 6... Qb2+ 7. Kf3 Rc3 0-1
Selangor had the strongest line-up with Nicholas Chan, Yeoh Li Tian, Sumant Subramaniam and Roshan Singh. It was hard to think that there could be any team that could challenge them. However in Round Five, the Kuala Lumpur team beat them decisively. Selangor could not even win a game in the match. The score :
Selangor 1 - Kuala Lumpur 3
Nicholas Chan - Mas Hafizul 0.5-0.5
Yeoh Li Tian - Zaidan Zulkifli 0 - 1
Sumant Subramaniam - Camilia Johari 0.5-0.5
Roshan Singh - Lye Lik Zang 0 - 1
I have already written about Lik Zang in a previous post. He is one of our most talented junior after Li Tian and Aron Teh. Here he collected his biggest scalp in the form of a previous National Champion.
 |
| Roshan Singh - Lye Lik Zang after 1f4 |
White has just played 1. f4 and Black was quick to pounce.
1... Bxf4 2. exf4 Nxf4 3. Qe3 Qg5 0-1
This is a familiar position in any tactical manuals; with the black queen on g5, knight on e3 and opponent's queen on e3. The twin threats of Qxg2 mate and Nxh3+ discovering attack on the queen on e3 is a standard tactical motif. In this position the defence 2. Qd2 is not possible because of the exposed bishop on d3 (2...Rxd3). Roshan resigned in this position.
However there is a saving tactic for white. He can take advantage of black's weakness on the back rank with 4. Be4! Nxh3+ 5. Kf1 Rxd1+ 6. Rxd1 and thewhite queen is immune from capture (6...Qxe3 7. Rd8 mate) so 6...Rf4+ 7. Bf3 Bxf3 8. gxf3. Black has three pawns for the piece and it is still unclear who will win.
Li Tian seems quite vulnerable to tactical combinations especially in time trouble. This is how he lost to Zaidan.
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| Yeoh Li Tian - Zaidan Zulkifli |
Black's king-side is open but he has two passed pawns on the a-file and white does not have a dark square bishop which means it is not easy at all to take advantage of the situation. White should play slowly with Rg3 and h3 to free the white bishop to take part in the conflict. Instead Li Tian became too optimistic and began attacking operations straight away.
1. Rb7 Rd1 2. Rxf7 $4 Rxf1+ 3. Kxf1 Rc1+ 4. Ke2 Qe8+
Now 5. Re3 Qb5+ 5. Re3 Qb5+ 6. Kf3 Qxf5+ 7. Kg3 Qg5+ is a perpetual. Instead white blundered
5. Qe3 ?? Qb5+ 6. Qd3
6. Kf3 Qxf5+ 7. Ke2 Qg4+ 8. Rf3 (8.Kd2 Qd1#)
8... Qc4+ 9. Qd3 Qxf7) 6... Qb2+ 7. Kf3 Rc3 0-1
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Kramnik takes World Cup
No surprise here, Kramnik drew the last game to secure the champion's title and prize of USD 96,000.00 (after FIDE taxes). However, I was surprised that Andreikin choose to play the English Opening in a must win game. Kramnik equalised easily and was already much better when Andreikin offered a draw. A few more moves and Kramnik probably would not accept anymore as Andreikin's position was falling apart.
In the post-game interview, Andreikin said he realized his openings were not ready for this (level) of tournament and his match strategy was always to draw the classical games and go for rapids/blitz. This worked well for him to allow him to advance until the Finals. Kramnik agreed that Andreikin "....should really work on his openings"!
There were many commentators who said that this format (short classical games of two and then tie-breaks of rapid/blitz) is ridiculous for qualification to the Candidates which chooses a Challenger to the World Champion. However, I must say that this is format is quite enjoyable for spectators like me who loves the tension of rapid and blitz tie-breaks.
In the post-game interview, Andreikin said he realized his openings were not ready for this (level) of tournament and his match strategy was always to draw the classical games and go for rapids/blitz. This worked well for him to allow him to advance until the Finals. Kramnik agreed that Andreikin "....should really work on his openings"!
There were many commentators who said that this format (short classical games of two and then tie-breaks of rapid/blitz) is ridiculous for qualification to the Candidates which chooses a Challenger to the World Champion. However, I must say that this is format is quite enjoyable for spectators like me who loves the tension of rapid and blitz tie-breaks.
Monday, September 2, 2013
2013 World Chess Cup Finals
The FIDE World Cup is currently in progress in Tromso, Norway It
started as early as August 10th with 128 players. The importance of this
tournament is that the two players that reach the finals qualify for
the 2014 Candidates to select the Challenger to the World Champion in
the next cycle.
The Finals features former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik against Dimitry Andreikin. Both have qualified for the 2014 Candidates by reaching the World Cup Finals. They now decide who will take the lion's share of the prize fund, USD 120,000 for the winner and the loser still takes home a large pay check of USD 80,000.
Three classical games have been played with Kramnik winning one and the other two drawn. The fourth and last classical game will be played tonight (9:00 PM Malaysian time) and Andreikin has to win it to take the match into the tie-breaks. Even having the white pieces against a solid player like Kramnik, it will be a tough challenge. I predict the tonight's game will end with a draw and Kramnik takes the title of World Cup champion.
The Finals features former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik against Dimitry Andreikin. Both have qualified for the 2014 Candidates by reaching the World Cup Finals. They now decide who will take the lion's share of the prize fund, USD 120,000 for the winner and the loser still takes home a large pay check of USD 80,000.
Three classical games have been played with Kramnik winning one and the other two drawn. The fourth and last classical game will be played tonight (9:00 PM Malaysian time) and Andreikin has to win it to take the match into the tie-breaks. Even having the white pieces against a solid player like Kramnik, it will be a tough challenge. I predict the tonight's game will end with a draw and Kramnik takes the title of World Cup champion.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
2013 World Chess Cup: And then there were four
The FIDE World Cup is currently in progress in Tromso, Norway It started as early as August 10th with 128 players. The importance of this tournament is that the two players that reach the finals qualify for the 2014 Candidates to select the Challenger to the World Champion in the next cycle.
The format pits two players in a match consisting of two games (90 min for 40 moves + 30 min for the rest, with 30 seconds increment). The one who scores most points go on to the next round. If there is a tie after the two standard games tiebreaks consisting of two rapid games (25 min + 10 sec), then two accelerated games (10 min + 10 sec), and finally an Armageddon will decide who progresses.
We are now at the semi-finals stage and many big names have been eliminated, inevitably so as the match format means a single loss will be disastrous. The big names includes Ivanchuk, Morozevich, Nakamura, Caruana, Grischuk and Aronian. Only Kramnik has survived together with such lesser names as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Dmitri Andreikin and Evgeny Tomashevsky.
The semi-final matches are Kramnik against Vachier-Lagrave and Andreikin against Tomashevsky. The first two classical games in both matches were drawn so they will go on to the tie-breaks. The first two tie-break games will be played at 25 minutes with 10 seconds increment. If still tied, then another two blitz games of 10 minutes and 10 seconds increment. If the tie is still not broken another two games of 5 minutes with three seconds increment will take place. And finally if there is no decision is reached, a final game of sudden death with 5 minutes for white while the opponent with the black pieces receive 4 minutes and draw odds. Draw odds means that in case of a draw, the black player wins the match, so the player choosing to take white must win.
The winner of the World Cup takes home USD 120,000 while the runner-up receives USD 80,000.
The format pits two players in a match consisting of two games (90 min for 40 moves + 30 min for the rest, with 30 seconds increment). The one who scores most points go on to the next round. If there is a tie after the two standard games tiebreaks consisting of two rapid games (25 min + 10 sec), then two accelerated games (10 min + 10 sec), and finally an Armageddon will decide who progresses.
We are now at the semi-finals stage and many big names have been eliminated, inevitably so as the match format means a single loss will be disastrous. The big names includes Ivanchuk, Morozevich, Nakamura, Caruana, Grischuk and Aronian. Only Kramnik has survived together with such lesser names as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Dmitri Andreikin and Evgeny Tomashevsky.
The semi-final matches are Kramnik against Vachier-Lagrave and Andreikin against Tomashevsky. The first two classical games in both matches were drawn so they will go on to the tie-breaks. The first two tie-break games will be played at 25 minutes with 10 seconds increment. If still tied, then another two blitz games of 10 minutes and 10 seconds increment. If the tie is still not broken another two games of 5 minutes with three seconds increment will take place. And finally if there is no decision is reached, a final game of sudden death with 5 minutes for white while the opponent with the black pieces receive 4 minutes and draw odds. Draw odds means that in case of a draw, the black player wins the match, so the player choosing to take white must win.
The winner of the World Cup takes home USD 120,000 while the runner-up receives USD 80,000.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
2nd Battle Chess SelangorKU
I was invited by Fadli aka "Stonemaster" to the 2nd edition of Battle Chess SelangorKU. The previous tournament I attended, the 3rd MBPJ Open was very well run so I gladly accepted.
The tournament was so well attended, over 400 participants for the various sections. The open section itself attracted 149 players, no doubt due to the attractive RM1000 first prize. Just to name a few of the many strong players who came - Ronnie Lim, Lim Zhuo Ren, Sumant Subramaniam, Wong Jianwen, Evan Capel, Shakir, the Fong siblings Yit San, Yit Ho and Mi Yen, Nabila, Nabil and Najiha. Philippines was also well represented with Nelson Villanueva , Diano Eden, Bagamasbad Efren who recently finished third in the Malaysian Chess Festival Seniors, and Ian Udani.
The bad news was that the air-conditioning in the hall was next to zero. After the first round we had to vacate the hall into the corridor outside. There was no air-conditioning there either. To make things worse, it seemed that this was one of the hottest day I could remember for a long time. The next bad news was that a hundred tables had gone missing.
The organizer had to start the first round for the Open and Under-18. After completion, the first round for the Under-12 started. By 12:20 PM, the second round for the Open was still not announced. I decided that I could not take another six rounds of suffering and left.
To be fair, I think Fadli is the most hard working chess organizer. A lot of effort into looking for sponsors is why he is able to offer excellent prizes and therefore attract many participants. One time he told me that our Malaysian IMs were not sufficiently appreciated and not enough done for them. Therefore as his personal contribution, he always gives me free entry to his tournaments. Fadli is the only chess organizer who personally invites me to his tournaments. I would play in his future tournaments again.
The tournament was so well attended, over 400 participants for the various sections. The open section itself attracted 149 players, no doubt due to the attractive RM1000 first prize. Just to name a few of the many strong players who came - Ronnie Lim, Lim Zhuo Ren, Sumant Subramaniam, Wong Jianwen, Evan Capel, Shakir, the Fong siblings Yit San, Yit Ho and Mi Yen, Nabila, Nabil and Najiha. Philippines was also well represented with Nelson Villanueva , Diano Eden, Bagamasbad Efren who recently finished third in the Malaysian Chess Festival Seniors, and Ian Udani.
The bad news was that the air-conditioning in the hall was next to zero. After the first round we had to vacate the hall into the corridor outside. There was no air-conditioning there either. To make things worse, it seemed that this was one of the hottest day I could remember for a long time. The next bad news was that a hundred tables had gone missing.
The organizer had to start the first round for the Open and Under-18. After completion, the first round for the Under-12 started. By 12:20 PM, the second round for the Open was still not announced. I decided that I could not take another six rounds of suffering and left.
To be fair, I think Fadli is the most hard working chess organizer. A lot of effort into looking for sponsors is why he is able to offer excellent prizes and therefore attract many participants. One time he told me that our Malaysian IMs were not sufficiently appreciated and not enough done for them. Therefore as his personal contribution, he always gives me free entry to his tournaments. Fadli is the only chess organizer who personally invites me to his tournaments. I would play in his future tournaments again.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
R.I.P. IM Rodolfo Cardoso
Philippines first International Master Rodolfo Tan Cardoso has passed away yesterday of a heart attack. He was 75 years old.
Cardoso was one of the first Asian masters that I read about when I first learnt to play chess. Though I do not know him very well, we met a long time ago I think at one of the Asian Cities tournaments. He was a kind and polite man.
Read more here.
Cardoso was one of the first Asian masters that I read about when I first learnt to play chess. Though I do not know him very well, we met a long time ago I think at one of the Asian Cities tournaments. He was a kind and polite man.
Read more here.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Game from KLK Seniors
This will be the 10th edition of the Malaysian Chess Festival which comprises the Open, Seniors , Amateur, Svensen's Age Group as well as the Astro Team event.
I came second again in the Seniors tournament. GM Dmitry Kaiumov won the event as usual despite a loss to me in the third round. After that he won every game except the last round while I had a couple of draws and a shock defeat in the fifth round.
Below is the critical stage of the game against the grandmaster
I came second again in the Seniors tournament. GM Dmitry Kaiumov won the event as usual despite a loss to me in the third round. After that he won every game except the last round while I had a couple of draws and a shock defeat in the fifth round.
Below is the critical stage of the game against the grandmaster
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