Three Rounds, then a Busy Sunday... before Monday's Rest Day

We have three rounds so far at the DYTM Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Invitational Masters and because the players have voted for a rest day on Monday, there will be two games this Sunday.

Eleven titled players from eight countries are taking part in this ten round all play all event to be held from 13-22 June 2013 and organised by Polgar Chess Asia for the Kuala Lumpur Chess Association thanks to sponsorship from the Malaysian Intellect Development Foundation and the Masterskill Education Group Berhad together with its affiliates Asia Metropolitan University and Masterskill Global College.

GM Niaz Murshed

Because we have a bye each day it will be hard to determine who exactly is leading but on points scored, for now it is 1-3. Murshed, Goh, Bhuvanesh 2/3; 4-6. Tiviakov, Luther, Nolte 1.5/2; 7-8. Padmini, Wohl 1.5/3; 9. Mas 1/3; 10. Dimakiling 0.5/3; 11. Wong 0/3.

Full details at: http://chess-results.com/tnr103856.aspx?lan=1

I have already mentioned Lim Yee Weng coming on Thursday and on Friday we even had visitors from Sabah, MCF Vice President and Sabah Chess Association President Muammar Julkarain who came together with their No.1 player (guess who!) and later on. among others, two equally serious chess lovers in Sumant Subramaniam and of course Nor Ilhamuddin Shaik Ali.

At the same time the play-offs to determine the final qualifiers for the Malaysian Masters will also take place so for real chessplayers, this Sunday it can only be the Swiss Inn in KL Chinatown!

Here we will be seeing a two game match between Muhammad Syazwan Zulkifli and Wong Jianwen (men) and a three player all play all between Jessica Augustine, Nithyalakshimi Sivanesan and Nur Sabrina Ailya Asman (women) and before I become the Chief Arbiter, let me wish every player all the best.

KL Masters Gets Underway

The KL Masters - DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah Invitational - is finally underway and Malaysia's most celebrated player, International Master Mas Hafizulhelmi, has started with the toughest match-up possible by facing top seeded Super GM Sergei Tiviakov in the very first round.

All the other match-ups can be considered to be equally exciting with fireworks expected between Goh Wei Ming and Oliver Dimakiling, a struggle of wits ensuing between Niaz Murshed and Ramnath Bhuvanesh, the classic veteran versus young talent encounter taking place between Dr Wong Meng Kong and Padmini Rout, and old friends Thomas Luther and Alex Wohl both looking for a good start against each other.

Rolando Nolte who drew the bye has Lim Yee Weng for company, the latter in early from Singapore, perhaps to prepare for the coming Malaysian Masters from 22-26 June.

The pairings and results (when available) are at: http://chess-results.com/tnr103856.aspx?lan=1

DYTM Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Invitational KL Masters 2013

The DYTM Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Invitational KL Masters, a 11 player, 10 round robin FIDE title and rating tournament with sponsorship from the the Masterskill Education Group Berhad and the Malaysian Intellect Development Foundation, will take place from 13-21 June at the Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur located in the city's vibrant Chinatown district, and on 22 June at the Palace of the Golden Horses.

Headlining the event is last year's KL Open champion Sergei Tiviakov and he is joined by fellow grandmasters Thomas Luther, Niaz Murshed and Dr. Wong Meng Kong, all who are expected to provide serious competition.

Informed local chessplayers will of course remember that Tiviakov is an Olympiad individual gold medalist and former European champion who in December anchored the Nederlands team to victory at the World Cities Team Championship while Luther is a many time German national champion who is now also serving as Chairman of the FIDE Commission "Chess for the Disabled". Niaz Murshed was the first grandmaster from the Indian sub-continent at 21 years of age when that was a very special achievement indeed while Dr Wong managed to do the same at 40 years of age while juggling career and family!

The other participants are all GM title and norm candidates, International Masters Mas Hafizulhelmi, Kevin Goh Wei Ming, Rolando Nolte, Ramnath Bhuvanesh Rajamaran, Aleksander Wohl and Oliver Dimakliing, and the many time World Youth Champion, Woman Grandmaster Padmini Rout.

See pairings and results at http://chess-results.com/tnr103856.aspx?lan=1

KLCA Congratulates IA Peter Long

The President of the Kuala Lumpur Chess Association congratulates Peter Long, our long serving Organising Secretary and Tournament Director since we were formed in 2007 (incorporated on 15 February 2008), on being awarded the long overdue International Arbiter title by FIDE.

On the international stage, Peter has successfully put together and run for us, one ASEAN schools team championship with the Ministry of Education, three KL International Opens, one KL Masters with UKM, one DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open and Invitational Masters, and one DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah International Open, all events that have shaped and set the standard for organising in Malaysia.

Tiviakov wins DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open 2012

With an unbeaten 7/9, top seeded Sergei Tiviakov was a popular and deserving winner with defending champion Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines having to settle for a share of the first and second place prize money.

Leading a pack of 4 players (including 3 Vietnamese!) just half a point behind was Cao Sang followed by Nguyen Van Huy, Jahongir Vakhidov, and Nguyen Duc Hoa.

The top woman player proved to be India's Padmini Rout while 20th placed Ng Tze Han was the best finisher amongst the record 27 locals participating.

Round 8 Games

Round 7 games

Round 6 games