DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah International Open Begins!

On top board: Sergei Tiviakov vs Ngo Thi Kim Tuyen

Yes, it is official - there are 82 players in the DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah International Open Championship 2012 - and the pairings for Round One is as follows http://chess-results.com/tnr81105.aspx?art=2&rd=1&lan=1

Interim Final Entry List for DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open 2012

Other than some minor changes to be confirmed in the next few days, the line up for the DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open 2012 is now final with some 90 participants, 10 more than planned for.

We have representatives from 19 countries including 30 titled players (15 Grandmasters, 2 Woman Grandmasters, 7 International Masters, 1 International Woman Masters, 4 FIDE Masters, and 1 Woman FIDE Master). See  http://www.chess-results.com/tnr81095.aspx?lan=1 for full details.

There are also 26 Malaysians playing, a new record turnout from locals!

70 Entries and Still Counting!

With every day more entries are coming in and some who are still unable to confirm early will be disappointed as there are only 80 places (although we are now looking at the possibility to squeezing in a few extra without compromising the conditions at the tournament hall).

Once the September rating list is out we will update the player ratings (please see  http://chess-results.com/tnr80433.aspx?lan=1 )

The DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah 2012 is Starting to Take Shape

As of today 6 August 2012, some six weeks before the 17 September start of the DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open Championship, we now have 56 ‘official’ entries of the targeted 80 that the playing hall will allow.

The big news is that the current Asian Continental Champion (and a former Malaysian Open Champion) who also had the distinction of being the world’s youngest grandmaster (not so very long ago!) is returning to KL, and the current Indian No 4. with a rating of 2664 at 19 years of age is certainly a big favourite despite his observation that the tournament is being played at a somewhat demanding two rounds a day!

He will be joined by at least 10 other grandmasters, fellow 2600+ ex Soviet Sergei Tiviakov who now represents the Netherlands, many time German Champion Thomas Luther, Uzbekistan’s Tahir Vakhidov and Saidali Yuldashev, top Filipino woodpushers who are all national team stalwarts Oliver Barbosa (winner of last year’s masters and a double Indian Open champion), Mark Paragua (winner of the recent Battle of the Grandmasters), Darwin Laylo and Richard Bitoon, Vietnam’s veteran Nguyen Anh Dung and Hong Kong based Singaporean amateur Dr. Wong Meng Kong.

So far the International Masters looking for title norms include two Filipino Rolando’s, Nolte and Bancod, two of the three Vietnam Olympiad team Nguyen’s, Van Huy and Duc Hua (winner of last year’s open), former Australian Champion Alex Wohl who will also be at the Istanbul Olympiad, Kazakstan’s Kiril Kuderinov, and Uzbekistan’s young Jahongir Vakhidov.

Roses to date include Indian’s Woman Grabndmaster Kruttika Nadig whom many will remember from the Melaka Open in April and Uzbekistan’s long standing No. 1 Nafisa Muminova.

With so many of our national players amateurs and involved in Istanbul Olympiad which ends a week before, unless our No 1., International Master Mas Hafuzlhemli steps up and/or our No. 2 FIDE Master Dr. Nicholas Chan is miraculously able to get leave from work that starts the same month, the local challenge will be led by FIDE Master Dr. Ronnie Lim with other notables being veteran Lim Kian Hwa, Nor Ilhamuddin "GM at 58" Shaik Ali, and a blast from the past in the surprise participation of former top junior talent Prabhaharan Rajendran.

Of our current young talent, Penang’s Elgin Lee is so far the most prominent entered to date but many more are expected to follow once leave from school can be obtained.

Our Filipino Friends are Beginning to Confirm Their Participation!

Together with last year's Masters champion Oliver Barbosa, his fellow countrymen, Grandmasters Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo have now confirmed their participation!

Early & Confirmed Grandmaster Entries

Our early Grandmaster entries were Sergei Tiviakov and Thomas Luther and now with July coming to a close and national teams to the World Chess Olympiad finalised, they are joined by some old friends of KL Chess, Oliver Barbosa, Tahir Vakhidov, Nguyen Ang Dung and Dr. Wong Meng Kong.

Together with numerous IM entries, the foreign numbers are now closing on to 40 and with a total of 10 Malaysians also having confirmed, there are officially only 30 places left but that does not include provisional entries by a few other GMs and the players promised by the national chess federations of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

Prospectus: DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open Chess Championship, 17-23 September 2012, Olympic Sports Hotel , Kuala Lumpur

1. Sponsor & Organiser

With generous sponsorship from the Masterskill Education Group, Polgar Chess Asia and the Kuala Lumpur Chess Association (KLCA) with support for the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF), is pleased to announce the DYTM Raja Nazrin International Open Chess Championship 2012.

2. Format of Play

The tournament will played over 9 rounds using the Swiss System, and according to World Chess Federation (FIDE) Title & Rating Regulations, with a a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves followed by 30 minutes plus a 30 second time increment per move for the rest of the game.


3. Prizes

1st RM 10,000, 2nd RM 6,000, 3rd RM 4,000, 4th RM 2,000, 5th-10th RM 1,000 each, 11th-20th RM 500 each, Top woman RM 1,000, and Top Malaysian RM 1,000.


4. Entries

The International Open requires an entry fee of USD 100 (RM 150 for Malaysians) for all players and the organisers reserve the right to increase the entry fee for player who are unrated and those under 1800, and also to refuse any entry without explanation.

WHILE WE ACCEPT PROVISION REGISTRATION, DO NOTE THAT ENTRIES ARE ONLY CONFIRMED WITH RECEIPT OF PAYMENT AS PLACES ARE LIMITED.


5. Schedule

17 September
1500- Arrival
1800-2000 Registration & Players Meeting

18 September
0900-1300 Round 1
1500-1900 Round 2

19 September
0900-1300 Round 3
1500-1900 Round 4

20 September
0900-1300 Round 5
1500-1900 Round 6

21 September
Rest Day

22 September
0900-1300 Round 7
1500-1900 Round 8

23 September
0900-1300 Round 9
1400-1600 Blitz Tournament
1600-1700 Prize Giving & Closing Ceremony

24 September –1200
Departure


6. Secretariat
The Organising Secretary/Tournament Director is Peter Long and all enquiries may be directed via email to him at peter@thefidetrainer.com or by calling him at +60133920920

Calling for Local Participation in the DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open 2012

 

In the last few weeks I have been flooded with enquiries for the former KL Open (including the usual requests from GMs for conditions together with their corresponding offers to give simuls and/or coaching) but on the other hand have received very few local entries.

This year the space is limited to just 80 entries and with over 30 confirmed foreign entries now, a promise by the Philippines to send a large official delegation (which will add to the usual suspects we often have visiting) together with at least another 20 top players from our other long time ASEAN friend countries, there will soon be little space left for Malaysians!

So please make your move soon!