Sunday Morning at Lake Garden

Young GMs under training at Lake Garden, KL.

Mindacatur Saturday Night is Back

On Saturday Night, 29th March at 10.30 pm, Mindacatur organized a double round robin blitz tournament. 7 players are playing at UNITEN Bangi. Two spectators also came to give their support, Zambri and Zulkifli Ishak. Before the tournament starts, players play chess and discuss their game. At 10.30 pm the blitz tournament starts.

The tournament won by Mohd Saprin Sabri (8.5 point), 2nd Kamaludin (7), 3rd-5th tied by Shamsol bahrin, Nor Azman and Shamsuddin (6), 6th place Aziz Shukor and last place Aizuddin (Bin Nor Azman).

The prize sponsored by www.carikomputer.com (1st-3rd place only). Thanks a lot to the sponsor.

Mr Sparin Sabri, the champion of the tournament and also as representative from MindaCatur and http://www.carikomputer.com/ give the prize to the 2nd place winner, Mr Kamaludin Yusof.

3rd place, Shamsol Bahrin

Round 3 (22nd January 2008)

Round 3 pairing

Round 2 (afternoon 21st January 2008)

Round 2 (afternoon 21st January 2008)

ASEAN Para Games – WOMEN (Visual Impact, VI)

No. White – Black (Result)
1. Chan, M - Nguyen, Hong Chan (0-1)
2. Trieu, Thu Thuy - Mohamed Halil, N (0-1)
3. Mohamed Yusof, N - Mukri, M (0-1)
4 Mursi, N (Bye)

ASEAN Para Games – MEN (Visual Impact, VI)

No. White – Black (Result)
1. Sarmiento, R - Peligro, A (1/2-1/2)
2. Derani Ghani, M - Suryanto, E (0-1)
3. Choo, M - Yong, T (1-0)
4. Sosiawan,D - Bilog, C (1-0)
5. Pham, L - Danggat, M (1-0)
6. Ching, F - Sidek, S (1-0)
7. Omar. M - Hung, M (1-0)
8. Tray, R (bye)

ASEAN Para Games – MEN (Physical Handicap, PH)

No. White - Black
1. Severino, S - Abdul Rashid , H (1-0)
2. Chuah, H - Lopez, H (0-1)
3. Elinon, A - Yusop, M (1-0)
4. Tran, Tri Trinh - Mailig, J (0-1)
5. Ho, H - Boonsong, P (0-1)
6. Lee, E - Haji Noorkaseh (1-0)
7. Hidayat, T - Thassanamethin, M (1-0)
8. Vo, Thanh Hui (bye)

Pictures in round 2

Round 1 (21st January 2008).

A brief opening ceremony was held before the start of Round 1, followed by local dance of North Thailand. And then round 1 starts.

ASEAN Para Games – WOMEN (Visual Impact, VI)

RANK
1. Chan, M MAS
2. Mohamed Halil, N MAS
3. Mohamed Yusof, N MAS
4. Mukri, M MAS
5. Mursi, N INA
6. Nguyen, Hong Chan VIE
7. Trieu, Thu Thuy VIE

No. White - Black
1. Mukri, M - Chan, M
2. Mohamed Halil, N - Mursi, N
3. Nguyen, Hong Chan - Mohamed Yusof, N
4 Trieu, Thu Thuy (Bye)

ASEAN Para Games – MEN (Physical Handicap, PH)

RANK
1. Severino, S 2350 PHI
2. Lopez, H 0 PHI
3. Elinon, A 0 PHI
4. Mailig, J 0 PHI
5. Abdul Rashid , H 0 MAS
6. Boonsong, P 0 THA
7. Chuah, H MAS
8. Haji Noorkaseh BRU
9. Hidayat, T INA
10. Ho, H MAS
11. Lee, E INA
12. Thassanamethin, M THA
13. Tran, Tri Trinh VIE
14. Vo, Thanh Hui VIE
15. Yusop, M MAS

No. White - Black
1. Haji Noorkaseh - Severino, S
2. Lopez, H - Hidayat, T
3. Ho, H - Elinon, A
4. Mailig, J - Lee, E
5. Thassanamethin, M - Abdul Rashid , H
6. Boonsong, P - Tran, Tri Trinh
7. Vo, Thanh Hui VIE - Chuah, H
8. Yusop, M (bye)

ASEAN Para Games – MEN (Visual Impact, VI)

RANK
1. Sarmiento, R PHI
2. Suryanto, E INA
3. Ching, F PHI
4. Bilog, C PHI
5. Choo, M MAS
6. Danggat, M BRU
7. Derani Ghani, M MAS
8. Hung, M VIE
9. Omar. M MAS
10. Peligro, A PHI
11. Pham, L VIE
12. Sidek, S MAS
13. Sosiawan,D INA
14. Tray, R SIN
15. Yong, T SIN

No. White - Black
1. Hung, M - Sarmiento, R
2. Suryanto, E - Omar. M
3. Peligro, A - Ching, F
4. Bilog, C - Pham, L
5. Sidek, S - Choo, M
6. Danggat, M - Sosiawan,D
7. Tray, R - Derani Ghani, M
8. Yong, T (bye)

Interesting Pictures

Opening Ceremony of 4th ASEAN Para Games at Khorat, Thailand 2008

20th January 2008 (Sunday)

The opening ceremony starts today in the afternoon at 3 pm. by a speech from sports minister of Thailand. The malaysian contingent had sent 286 peoples including athletes, coaches and officers. I hope readers will enjoy the pictures below which taken during opening ceremony.

Welcoming and Flag Raising Ceremony

19th January 2008 (Saturday).

There's not much activity today. Some of the athletes completing their classification test for their sports and some of them are training to familiarize themselves with the climate. Chess athletes also making preparation to play against their opponents. All coaches are busy preparing players physically and psychologically before the tournament starts.

In the afternoon, about 3.00 pm, the welcoming and flag raising ceremony was being held at the International Square. The International Square situated across the road in front of dining hall. Afterwards all athletes, coaches and officers were served with Thai traditional food. All of it is halal food. I really enjoy the food with all of them.

Around 6.00 pm, there were traditional cultural shows at the International Square. I took a break to return my room, after a tiring afternoon, subsequent to which, unfortunately, no pictures were taken.

Pictures of the day

Chief coach, Mr. Abdul Latif in morning exercises and motivation speech.

Another angle of picture taken by chess coach cum photographer.

Dining hall was so wide and so comfortable.

Group picture with the Director General of Malaysian Sports Council, Datuk Zulkiples Embong

Marching band for flag raising ceremony

4th ASEAN Para Games

Sa-wat-dee-ka! One of famous greeting in Thailand. It means hello. Now, everyday I have to use the word to greet people. I’m in Korat, Thailand from 17th to 27th January 2008 representing Malaysia as a coach from Malaysian Chess team. I’ll introduce all the manager, chief coach, coaches and the players later. The 4th ASEAN Para Games will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand from 20th-26th January 2008. (For official web please go to http://www.2007paragames.com/eng/Home/tabid/91/Default.aspx )

The only place in the world where birds playing chess!! A nice logo.

The ASEAN Para Games is a biannual multi-sport event for atheletes with physical disabilities held after every Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). Participants in the Games are the member of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN). The ASEAN Para Games is under the regulation of the ASEAN Para Sports federation (APSF). The games are hosted by the same country where the SEA Games took place.


4th ASEAN Para Games theme concept: FRIENDSHIP, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY

Logo:

The emblem of ASEAN Para Games is inspired by Chumpol Gate, a precious historical place of Nakhom Ratchasima.



On the emblem is the image of Chumpol Gate which stands for victories. It also represents the exquisite and delicate Thai arts and cultures. The curvy blue and red lines represent flags leading the atheletes who are marching into the stadium with eager and happiness. The lines, however, imply the base of Chumpol Gate also.

The logo of ASEAN Para Sports Federation is placed in the center of the emblem. It represents the participants who come from many different countries with the same ambition of friendship.


Mascot of the 4th ASEAN Para Games:

Nok-Kao Karom, one of the symbol of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, is selected to be the mascot of the 4th ASEAN Para Games. KAROM represents the main theme. Smart, wise, cheerful, vibrant, talkative, gentle, and friendly are Karom’s personality.

17th January 2008

We depart from Putrajaya to KLIA at 9 am. Around 11.15 we reach the KLIA and check in the luggage, then at 12.30 noon flight check in. Around 3 pm arrive at Bangkok airport, and move to Khorat. Lastly after a small accident by one of the bus from the malaysian contingent, and stopped almost half an hour we managed to arrive at atheletes’ village, Suranaree University around 12.00 mid night. What a tiring journey! Malaysia Boleh!

18th January 2008

Breakfast around 7.00 a.m, 9.30 a.m all players, coaches and manager go to classification center to define the disability of an athlete and classify their category. After the classification check, we tak e a rest and at 1.30 p.m go to lunch/break . 2.30 p.m is a free time. Some of players use to sleep, washing clothes and training chess. 5.30 p.m some of players went out to Khorat town (bigger than Alor Setar, Kedah). 7.00 p.m everybody at hostel and we meet each other at dining hall. 8.30 p.m training session.

Pictures of Malaysia ASEAN Para Games Chess Team to Khorat, Thailand 2008.


Chess team to ASEAN para Games, Khorat Thailand.
Standing from left: Min Wang, Mahathir, Mai Lam, Norain, Feiqha, Moiera, Heng Meng, Hasidin, M. Fadli, Cikgu Kelana, Shaharuddin, Cikgu Shamsuddin.
Sitting from left: Cikgu Asmah, Mah Hassan, Dato' Aminah, Latiff, Hea King, Hashim


A picture of lovely couple. Dato Aminah (Team manager) and Mr latiff ( Chief Coach).



The first meeting conducted when we arrive at khorat at midnight. I feel so tired. Everybody is the same, all tired.

A welcome from Suranaree University of Technology where ASEAN Para Games take place.

Athlete hostel. 3 person in a room. Comfortable and for the time being I never heard any complaint yet from others.

Malaysian contingent dress schedule.

The 2nd day, 18th january is classification day for chess players. The last day of clarification is on 19th january. Luckily all chess players pass the clarification.

Selling cookies. I don't try it because not sure either halal or non-halal. It seem delicious.



And here a stall selling banana (pisang bakar). The smell was so nice.

Day getting dark. We are still trapping at town. It's quite hard to find taxi back to athlete hostel.

Penang Free School 1996!

After a long break, I'm back to write chess articles. I would like to start with a memoriable chess tournament which changing me from 'kampung' chess player to a tournament chess player. Here's an old article which I wrote but never being published anywhere.

Penang Free School Open 1996

My 1st tournament was in 1992, a rapid tournament at Alor Star, Kedah. I was in standard 2 studying in maktab Mahmud ( an arabic base school curiculum). In the first round I played against Cikgu Ajemi, MSSK chess coach and win on the black side. I played 4 rounds and then leave the tournament without completing 2 more rounds. Some kind of a childish attitude when you lost your games.

During my early days in chess, I only play chess with my family and friends during free time. My home was a place for friends to play chess because all of my family members including my cousins are addict to chess. But we never join any tournament until now! I was an exception.

PFS Open 1996 was always in my memory. This is my first tournament since 1992. Why I wait for 4 years to play in a tournament? The reason is because there is no open tournament in my hometown Alor Setar, Kedah since 1992. Further more, during my early days, I never play chess for MSSM. The reason is because my school didn’t have chess club or anything relate to chess.


Here’s a position of my game in final round against Ronnie. I was 19 years old at the time. Can you find the checkmate? White to move.

PFS Open. 24th March 1996.
Round 7. Table no. 2.
White: Shamsuddin B Mat Isa
Black: Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong.


White to move. I played 41.Qe7 which is not the best. White can checkmate the black’s king in 7 moves. But I over looked it and lost the game. I got the 2nd place for under 20 in the tournament.

Can you find the checkmate?
(You can give the answer in the shout box)

Summary

What’s the benefit of the game from PFS Open 1996 which I shown up here? Since the date I got a confidence to play chess. As a result, I represent UKM since 1997 until 2000.

Did I improve a lot during 1997-2000? Not really much improvement except I only got a lot of experience. Why? It’s because I didn’t have a proper chess training technique. After 2002 I revised my chess games and saw the mistakes. I learned a lot from strong chess players (friends) about training methods and finally I got the key of a fine training technique.

Starting from 2005 until now I had been MSSMKL chief coach and had been teaching chess for kids and adults intensively. I would like to thank friends from MCF, MSSMKL, Intchess, Persatuan Catur Putrajaya, Minda Catur Enterprise and all chess friends for supporting me in chess training and writing chess articles.

I don’t have to write too much about my personal here. My next article will be focus on players with national rating 1200-1500. Advance article will be written by my collogues from Minda Catur Club. See you soon. Bye.

Updated Cummulative Grand Prix Points

Attached here is the latest update for the Grand Prix Points with 3rd Minda Catur Invitational League results concluded.

There are a few number more leagues will be held for the players to catch up with current top Grand Prix leader, Mohd Saprin Sabri with 48 points. Congrats Saprin!

We hope that the competition will grow healthier and motivate the point-chaser to
beat the top listed participants. See you over the board and ' Good Luck All! '