MAKSAK 2010 IN KL?


It's been a long break since my last write on this blog. Not that I did not want to write, but I simply have nothing special to write. The abundance of local chess blogers had made sufficient coverage for the consumption of chess enthusiasts (including me). There is not much point to write things that had been well covered by others.

I am actually completing my current project keying in the previous Catur MAKSAK which was held at Kota Bharu on the 17 & 18 July 2009. The buletin shall be available in the market very soon and I expect the cost would be around RM15-20 (still cannot determine the exact price).


In this limited scope, I cannot stop myself from publishing a very short game of mine against a player from Johore. I had met him 2 times previously. The first meeting, I had the advantage, but failed to notch the winning point and ended with a draw. The 2nd meeting was worse, when, I, despite having to sacrifice some materials, gained a very strong attack but yet, in time trouble, failed to notice my opponent's Rook was en prise and lost the exciting game. This time, I won very quickly, not because I set the trap, but because my opponent played into it.

[Event "Catur MAKSAK, Kota Bharu"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.07.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rizal A Kamal KL"]
[Black "Nasrul Humaimi JOHOR"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B34"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2010.01.13"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6?!
I actually had witnessed Nasrul played in this move order a few years back in MAKSAK Kuching 2003 even though at that time I still did not produce the complete buletin for MAKSAK chess games. However, later in our encounter, Nasrul surprisingly (for me) played 1...e5! and the Ruy Lopez Zaitsev was discussed.

6. Nxc6!
Otherwise, Nasrul would trick me into playing the accelerated dragon without giving me the chance to use Dr John Nunn's prescription, the Marockzy bind formation

6...bxc6 7. e5 Nd5?
(After the game I showed to him 7... Ng8. After 8. Bc4 Qa5?! (8...Bg7 was correct) 9. O-O Qxe5? 10. Re1! white has the strong innitiative for the sacrificed pawn, for example: 10...Qc5 [10... Qg7 11. Ne4! d5 12. Bxd5cxd5 13. Qxd5 Rb8 14. Nd6+ Kd8 15. Nxf7+] 11. Ne4!)

8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. Qxd5 Rb8 10. e6

And now, Nasrul played the unexpected
10...fxe6??
(10... f6 was correct) (Also bad is 10... Bg7 11. exf7+ Kf8 12. Bh6! Bxh6 13. Qe5 The fork again!
Bg7 14. Qxb8 Qa5+ 15. c3 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qxc3+ 17. Ke2 Kxf7 (17... Qxa1 18.
Qxc8+ Kg7 (18... Kxf7 19. Qc4+ e6 20. Kf3 white is winning) 19. Qxh8+ Kxh8 20. f8=Q# mate!)
18. Qf4+ Kg7 19. Rc1 Ba6+ 20. Kd1 )

11. Qe5 the winning fork

11...Bb7 12. Qxh8 Qa5+ 13. c3 Qf5 14. Qd4
Not wishing to prolong the agony, Nasrul Humaimi resigned. 1-0

"Rizal, Nasrul didn't even really 'sit down yet'"- Johor's manager.
Nasrul: "Please do not include this in next year's buletin".

This year, I am looking forward to play in the coming Catur MAKSAK 2010 which, according to some reliable sources would be held in KL. It is the 3rd time KL hosted this during my involvement in catur MAKSAK (1st in 2000 and 2nd in 2006). I hope my colleagues will be sufficiently prepare to wrest the title of champion as we (KL) won it for the last time in 2006 after having won it 2 in a row (2003 and 2005 - no Catur MAKSAK being organised in 2004)