PESTA SUKAN KEMENTERIAN KEWANGAN

The latest news, Bank Negara Malaysia is the host of this event for the year 2010 and had included chess as one of its event. Chess will be competed from 14 to 16th July 2010. More details will be revealed later.

Source: Lau Kah Heng of Bank Negara

2 BOOKS FOR SALE













RM 80.00
(market price : RM100.00)

Conditions:
- Physically like new
- Contents; scribled and highlighted in yellow on some contents.

Price : RM 120

Condition: New

Controversies

Yesterday was a day with something new for me to write on this blog. I was invited by the IA Abdul Latiff Mohamed through the phone to participate in the Bloggers Special at Catur Hari Wilayah Persekutuan DBKL 2010.

"Hanya untuk bloggers yang link dengan sifumycatur boleh bermain dalam Terbuka Catur WP DBKL 2010" - taken from http://sifumycatur.blogspot.com/2010/03/catur-terbuka-hari-wilayah-persekutuan.html

In the tournament, I discovered that only I (Rizal's Chess Trading) and another blogger Norazlin Juarih (Bad Bishop) turned up. The good thing is that, I should have no big trouble to win the cash prize, since I need only to mantain my level above my only rival. The bad thing is that, the organizer tends to cut off the price and redelegate it into the other categories.

Kategori
1. Untuk OKU Cacat Penglihatan Berpasukan 2 OKU + 1 normal (rating bawah 1200)
2. Untuk OKU Cacat Anggota dll Berpasukan 2 OKU + 1 normal (rating bawah 1200)
3.A Terbuka Untuk Mereka bawah 1600 sahaja tapi rating di kecualikan untuk bloggers dan wanita .
3.B Terbuka untuk Bloggers yang link dengan sifumycatur
4 Terbuka untuk Sekolah Rendah
Source : SIFU.mycatur

Subsequently, the organizer had to include me and the other blogger to play together in the same pool with the open categories. I had achieved 3 full points when I was paired against a well known player (I shall refrain myself from stating his name). The game was winning for me. At one point, I have an extra Bishop (Rook+Bishop+3 connected pawns against Rook+ 3 isolated pawns).

Suddenly my opponent lifted the clock as if he was tightening the clock's "lock" button. Thinking that, what he had been doing was only to make sure that the clock did not stop, I somehow forgot to look at the needles of my and my opponent's clocks. However, as soon as my opponent put the clock, another player who was watching my game (Subramaniam Sivanesan) exclaimed loudly, "Mister, just now you have 10 minutes on your clock!". And my opponent flatly denied, "mana ader.." (means no there's no such thing).

I looked at my clock and found that, I had merely only 5 minutes, while my opponent had about 15 minutes (The time control was 20 minutes)

In a state of confusing and full of puzzled, I continued the game like someone who had just learn how to play chess reaching the folowing position.

Now, simply (and obviously) 1..f6 should keep the winning advantage. However, as I could not think straight, I hurriedly (inexplicably) played the worst blunder 1..Kf6 and promptly answered by 2.g5+ winning my Bishop and consequenltly i did not able to stop the suddenly strong pawn from Queening.

I immediately approached the arbiter's table and tell them what had just happened. Eventually I discovered that the IA was at a corner of the hall and I got him to listen to my case.

In my case, the game, by right, should be stopped by me as soon as the independent witness interfered, to investigate the basis of his claim. What was obvious is that, my opponent had deliberately lifted up the clock and quietly (unexpectedly) executed his mala fide intention to adjust his opponent's time giving himself some chances to win the game by time.

I admited, in a state of confusion, I failed to comply with the requirement to lodge a proper complain. However, the dirty plot had been eyewitnessed and backed up by some affirmation from the colleagues of this dirty player that he had done and had actually habitually practised this dirty tactic in previous occassions.

I had to admit my defeat but my friends in the hall keep supporting me to proceed with the official complaint and leave it to the IA to decide.

Finally, the result is out, and it was confirmed that, this particular player emerged as the champion, while, I, luckily, had able to hold my nerve and scored the remaining 2 points to claim my 2nd place with 5 points, ahead of another player Kabber Azad Mohd Kassim, who was also with 5 points, but I had better tie break score and in fact, I beat him in round 1.

(obviously, I was in the second place from the original result - picture taken from GiloCatur website)

Surprisingly, the organizer announced me as the winner and disqualifying the winner not due to my complain, but due to the other reason, that is, he has FIDE rating of 1816 and thus negated him to qualify to participate in this tournament which only allows the rating of 1600. "I think he should had learned the lesson well today, not to cheat"- said one of the players after the end of the prize giving ceremony.

Why must we played chess using the dirty means to win? After all this is a game for the gentlemen. The win should be with full of dignity.

Let alone if we are talking about halal and haram in Islamic perspective. Anything that obtained from illegal means will jeopardise the mubah or halal. Think, if this money is then given to the wife, or son, or daughter of ours... they will soon grew and become corrupted as the flesh and blood was mixed with non-permissible means of source of cash.

After all, the community of chess is too small for someone to practise dirty and illegal tricks, instead of winning it with full of dignity. This reminds me a world class player which I shall quote below from the WIKIPEDIA:
Perhaps Matulović's most notorious transgression was against Istvan Bilek at the Sousse Interzonal in 1967. He played a losing move, then took it back after saying "j'adoube" ("I adjust" - used to adjust pieces on their square, see Touch-move rule). His opponent complained to the arbiter, but the move was allowed to stand. This incident earned Matulović the nickname "J'adoubovic."

Matulović was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and served nine months in prison for a car accident in which a woman was killed.

Also, see http://sifumycatur.blogspot.com/2010/03/kemenangan-yang-di-batal.html

and more recently see http://sicilian-najdorf.blogspot.com/2010/03/chess-cheat-blacklist-there-are.html

The truth shall prevail .

Here are 5 games of my victories without annotation.

Rizal A Kamal (2000) - Kabber Ezzad Mohd Kassim [C14] French: Alekhine Chartard attack
Catur OKU Hari Wilayah (1), 21.03.2010
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 h6 7.Qh5 Bxg5 8.hxg5 c5 9.Nb5 Qa5+ 10.c3 cxd4 11.Nd6+ Kd8 12.Nxf7+ Kc7 13.Nxh8 dxc3 14.Rc1 c2+ 15.Ke2 Qb5+ 16.Kd2 Qb4+ 17.Kxc2 Nxe5 18.Kb1+ Nbc6 19.gxh6 gxh6 20.Qxe5+ Kb6 21.Qc3 Qe4+ 22.Bd3 Qxg2 23.Qc5+ Kc7 24.Rxh6 Qg7 25.Rh7 1–0

Akmal Salleh - Rizal A Kamal (2000)[B50] Sicilian Kopec
Catur OKU Hari Wilayah (2), 21.03.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bd3 g6 5.0–0 Bg7 6.Bc2 Nc6 7.d3 0–0 8.h3 b5 9.Bf4 b4 10.Qe2 a5 11.a4 Ba6 12.Nbd2 bxc3 13.bxc3 Nh5 14.Bh2 Bxc3 15.Ra2 Nb4 16.Bb3 Bxd3 17.Qe3 Bg7 18.g4 Nf6 19.Rd1 Nxa2 20.Bxa2 Bc2 21.Rc1 Bxa4 22.e5 dxe5 23.Bxe5 Nd7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Ng5 Rc8 26.Rc4 Bb5 27.Rf4 c4 28.Bb1 e5 29.Nxf7 Rxf7 [29...exf4 30.Nxd8 fxe3 31.Ne6+ Kg8 32.Nxf8 exd2 33.Bc2 Nxf8] 30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.Qf3+ Nf6 32.Ne4 Bc6 33.g5 Bxe4 34.Bxe4 c3 35.gxf6 Qxf6 36.Qd1 Rc7 37.Qb3+ Kg7 38.f3 Qg5+ 39.Kh2 Qd2+ 40.Kg3 Qd4 41.Qc2 h6 42.Qa2 Qg1+ 43.Qg2 Qxg2+ 44.Kxg2 c2 0–1

Rizal A Kamal (2000) - Norazlin Juarih [B01] Scandinavian defence
Catur OKU Hari Wilayah (3), 21.03.2010
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.c3 e6 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0–0 0–0 8.Re1 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Ne4 Nf6 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bg5 Nxd4 13.Bxf6 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 gxf6 15.Be4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Rad8 17.Qf1 Kh8 18.Qh3 Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Rg6 20.Rh4 Rg7 21.Rg1 Rdg8 22.Rhg4 f5 23.Qxh7+ 1–0

Rizal A Kamal (2000) - Mohd Faudzi Ahim [B27] Sicilian Hyper accelerated dragon
Catur OKU Hari Wilayah (5), 21.03.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 Ng8 6.c3 d6 7.exd6 exd6 8.0–0 d5 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Re1+ Ne7 11.a4 a6 12.Bd3 c4 13.Bc2 Nbc6 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bf4 0–0 16.Nbd2 Re8 17.Nf1 Bg4 18.h3 Bf5 19.Qd2 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 Na5 21.Re2 Nb3 22.Rae1 b5 23.Ng3 g5 24.Bxg5 fxg5 25.Nxg5 Qd7 26.Qxh7+ Kf8 27.Ne6+ Qxe6 28.Rxe6 Nf5 29.Qxf5+ Kg8 30.Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.Rxe8+ 1–0


Subramaniam Sivanesan - Rizal A Kamal (2000) [B84] Sicilian Najdorf Scheveningen
Catur OKU Hari Wilayah (6), 21.03.2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 0–0 9.0–0–0 Qc7 10.f3 b5 11.a3 Nc6 12.Na2 d5 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.e5 Nd7 15.f4 a5 16.Kb1 Bb7 17.Rhf1 Nb6 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.g4 b4 20.a4 b3 21.cxb3 Qxb3 22.Qc2 Qxc2+ 23.Kxc2 Rfc8+ 24.Kb1 Bc5 25.f5 Be3 26.Rf3 d4 27.Rff1 Bd5 28.Rd3 Be4 29.Rfd1 Rab8 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Rf1 Rb3 32.Rfd1 Rcb8 33.Ka1 Rxb2 34.Re1 Bf2 35.Rf1 Rxe2 36.Rdd1 Bd5 37.Nc1 Reb2 0–1

(C) Copyright to Rizal Ahmad Kamal 2010

BULETIN CATUR MAKSAK 2009

I had just finished keying in the MAKSAK 2009 chess games. Overall about 232 games. The price should be in the range of RM15 to RM 20. For early booking, sms to me 0192421346. Please inform anuone who may be interested.

KLANG PARADE CHESS CAMPIONSHIP 2010

I used to be the champion of this tournament back in 1999. May be I should consider to play in this tournament.

For further details, please contact the Marcom Department – Tel No. 03-33437889 (Siti Nor Faiza) or fax your entry form to 03-3343 7313.

CHESS BOOKS AND BULLETINS IN STOCK!

It is time for me to check my stock. I had been not advertising my chess books for sale for some time.

Title:The Giuoco Piano
Authors: Gufeld and Stetsko
Publisher: Batsford
My offered price: RM 80.00

Title:The Dynamic Caro Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6)
Authors: J Silman
Publisher: Summit Publishing
My offered price: RM 80.00











Title: Caro Kann Classical 4...Bf5
Authors: Gary Kasparov and Shakarov
Publisher: Macmiland Chess Library
My offered price: RM80.00







Title: The Complete Alekhine
Authors: Graham Burgess
Publisher: Batsford
My offered price: RM70.00








Title: Winning With The Najdorf
Authors: Daniel King
Publisher: Batsford
My offered price: RM75.00







Title: The Meran System
Authors: Steffen Pedersen
Publisher: GAMBIT
My offered price: RM85.00








Title: The Modern Morra: A dynamic weapon against the Sicilian
Authors: Hannes Langrock
Publisher: Russell Enterprise
My offered price: RM110.00










Title: Najdorf : Life and Games
Authors: Tomas Lissowski, A.Mikhalchiin,Miguel Najdorf
Publisher: Batsford Chess
My offered price: RM90.00







Title: Winning With The Schliemann
Authors: Mikhail Tseitlin
Publisher: Maxwell Macmillan Chess
My offered price: RM80.00









Title: Rethinking The Chess Pieces
Authors: Andy Soltis
Publisher: Batsford
My offered price: RM85.00





All pictures of books are taken from the various resource from the net, for description purpose.

Post only to Malaysia / Self collected

Contact / sms to Rizal A Kamal 019-2421346

I have also some other chess books and local chess bulletins for sale.

SUKAN KEWANGAN 2010

I received a news from Roslan Jais (KWSP chess and dart manager) saying that, this year, Sukan Kewangan which shall be hosted by Bank Negara shall includes chess as one of its games. The last time chess has been included was 2004 when KWSP was the host and simultaneously defended their title as the champion.


(Picture and logo of BNM taken from the web via google image search for illustrative purpose)

I involved with this event for the first time in 2002 when BSN as the favourite easily clinched the gold medal. However, in 2003, they lost their title to KWSP when Customs Department hosted this event. Meanwhile, as for the Customs, we (myself and my team mates) mantain our status quo as the silver medalist for 3 consercutive years. The last time however, most of the best board winners were from the Customs (including me on board one ahead of Abang Mohd Reduan of BSN - he lost to Mohd Rozali of LHDN).



Our main problem is however, to find a strong female player that not only strong but willing to learn and play chess for the Customs Department. It is extremely difficult to find even one female from Customs which fulfills this criteria. Unless, the host decided not to make fielding a female player as a compulsory, than this shall be a real chance to wrest the gold medal for us.

On the contrary, making such term, not compulsory to field a female player shall kill the career or at least the progress of some female chess players from certain departments under Ministry of Finance.

I actually prefer to put such condition where the female has their place in chess.

Here is one of a fine victory for me
[Event "Sukan Kewangan"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2004.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rizal A Kamal KASTAM"]
[Black "Rozali Ibrahim LHDN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2074"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 a6 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8.
Qxd6 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qb4 10. Qxb4 Nxb4 11. O-O-O Ng4 12. Be1 b5 13. h3 Ne5 14. f4
Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Rd4 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Bb7
20. Re5+ Kd7 21. Bb4 Rae8 22. Rc5 Re4 23. Rd1+ Ke6 24. f5+ Kf6 25. Bc3+ Kg5 26.
Rc7 Bc8 27. Rxf7 Rg8 28. g3 Bxf5 29. Rd5 g6 30. Bd2+ Kh5 31. Rxh7# 1-0



With this "refreshment" I hope all Customs Department chess player will wake up from their long hibernation and put only one target, to clinch the gold medal for the first time.

(c) Rizal Ahmad Kamal 2010

CHAMPION OF PUTRAJAYA

It is safe for me to say that I am a champion of Putrajaya 2010. Alhamdulillah... and nice 500 bucks.

I was seeded as the top seeding in this match despite the defending champion Hairulov did participate in this very same tournament.

Frankly speaking, my preparation was specifically to anticipate (predict) Hairulov's possible openings (the London, Barry attack, King Indian Fianchettoe) and defences systems Scandinavian Qd6, Slav central variation. That were all that I had managed to read. However, preparing against Hairulov alone who had experiences a vast repertoire of opening systems and defence systems is not easy, and I did not able to prepare all of them. Therefore, the risk management approach is used here.

However, seeing Hairulov unexpectedly lost to the Hariz Syami in the crucial 5 rounds, made my preparation remain unused. On the othe hand, facing Hariz who was also with 5 points in the penultimate final round means that I had no choice but to win the game. Actually, the arbiter had printed out the standings which shows that, I would win the tournament (even if I draw) by the tie break, but it would not be a true champion to share the same point and yet wins more money (it is quite unfair somehow).

I was fortunate to have the white pieces. Therefore, without ample time to worry, I just pushed my e-pawn two steps and it was the beginning of the final victory!

[Event "Putrajaya Komuniti - 20 minutes tournament"]
[Date "2010.03.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rizal A Kamal"]
[Black "Hariz Syami"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09 Pirc Austrian attack"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. e5! After this, white has the space advantage 8...dxe5 9. fxe5 Nd5 10. Nxd5 cxd5 11. c3 e6 12. Be3 Nb6 13. b3
Simply stopping any possible counterplay

13...Bd7 14. Qd2 Re8 15.Bh6 Bh8 16. Ng5 Re7 17. Qf4 Be8 keeping on pressuring

18. Qh4 Suddenly the attack shifted towards the h-pawn and black is helpless

18...Qc7 19. Rac1 (D) Nd7
The tempting sacrifice Bf8 is now can be answered by Nxf8 guarding the h7

20. Nxh7! The sacrifice and the beginning of the end

20...Nxe5 21. Nf6+! Bxf6 22. Qxf6 Nf3+ 23. Rxf3 1-0


(c) Copyright to Rizal Ahmad Kamal 2010

Malaysian Women In Chess - part 2

As promised, I present some of the interesting point in my personal collection of game against the female chess players in Malaysia. Let me begin with Alia Anin Azwa Bakri who became the 1st champion of sukan wanita in 2007 and I must consider this as the greatest achivement as this event carries biggest number of participants of female chess players. Even in National closed, the largest number of participants, as far as I concerned from my involvement since 1999 to 2006, had never achieved more than 16 players!

[Event "Merdeka Rapid"]
[Date "2007"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Alia Anin Azwa PUTERI MSIA"]
[Black "Rizal A Kamal NUSA MAHKOTA"]

I achieved a very comfortable position after as in the left diagram after
1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qe2 Re8 10. e4 c6 11. h3 Nc5 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. Be3 Ne6 14. Rad1 Nh5 15. Qd2 Rd8 16. Qc1 Nd4 17. Ne1 Be6 18. Bd3 Rd7 19. Nc2 Rad8 20. Ne1 Nf4 (D)

Here Alia tried to free herself a bit by exchanging one of my menacing knights
21. Bxf4exf4 22. f3 Qe5
The black Queen suddenly burst into the scene


23. Nc2 Qg5 24. Kh1 Qh5 25. Ne2 Nxe2 26. Bxe2 Bf8
The subtle retreat which Alia only realized the real point of it after 27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Rd1 Bxh3 29. Rxd7 Bxd7+ 30. Kg1 Bc5+ 0-1



About 10 years before the above game I have a nice win against the Uzbek's WFM Irina Gorshkova (at that time FIDE rated 2115) considering at that time, I was unrated.

In the diagram, I had just played 20..f6 with the intention of giving the black square Bishop a route to retreat to e8 if needed and stopping any possible invasion via Ne5. To my surprise, she played the horrible 21.b4 which I prompted reply with 21...Nc3 winning white's Queen. Seeing this, Gorshkova resigned immediately.












Another nice victory was against Khairunnisa Wahiduddin. The Event was Merdeka (Rapid) 2005. I still remember that my opponent was quite surprise when I took out scoresheet to record this game, considering it is only a rapid game. But it was a rapid with increment! Therefore, why should hurry?

After 25. fxe5 fxe5 26. Re1 we reached a very critical point (D)
26...exd4!
I confess that, during this game, I had seen the combination right up to the end, thus I ignored my knight

27. Rxe4 dxc3+ 28. Kf1 b5 29. Rxa4
This was what I had been anticipated.
29...c2! not 29... bxa4 30. bxc3 and white may play on

After 29... c2! the forced sequence of the winning line is 30. Rc1 Rd1+ 31. Ke2 Rxc1 32. Kd2 bxa4 33. Kxc1 Be3+ 34.Nd2 Bxd2+ 35. Kxd2 c1=Q+> Seeing this coming, Khairunnisa stopped the clock to avoid further blood spilt and prefered to hand over her Kingdom instead!


In my encounter against Khairunnisa's elder sibling, I faced the rare (in Malaysian chess scene) Mac Cutcheon of the French defence. The event took place in Merdeka Rapid 2007, in Round 9.

After the start 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 black blundered in the opening with 8..Nxd2 Correct were (8... g6) or the dubious but quite playable (8... Kf8). Therefore I took the g-pawn 9. Qxg7 The game continued 9...Rf8 10. Kxd2 Qh4 11. g3 Qg5+ 12. Qxg5 hxg5

Nurulhuda must be relieved with the Queens swap, but after 13. h4 Rh8 14. h5 the flame of the attacking fire is far from being extinguished. She tried 14...c5 15. Be2 Nc6 16. Ke3 Ke7 17. Rb1 c4

And now came the paradoxical knight move ala Karpov 18. Nh3! f6 19. f4 gxf4+
20. Nxf4! (Diagram left)

Afterward, Gregory Lau, who was watching this game expressed his impressive feeling about this capture to me.

27..Kf7 21. Ng6 Rg8 22. Rhf1 f5 23. g4 Ne7 24. Nxe7 Kxe7 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bf3 b6 27. Bxd5 1-0
After this fork, black has nothing more to show












Before I stop, (I may continue with Malaysian Women In Chess - part 3) I present here my only encounter against our most outstanding WFM. At that time, she was only an NWM, but she was already very strong.

The event was the Malay Masters 2000 [Round "5"] which I participated for the first and last time, as this was no longer exhist in our local chess calendar. (Some other tournament whic had also reached the extinct status are: Malay open, Dato' Sabbaruddin Chik (Sactor) team open (organized by UIAM), and Labour Day team tournament (used to be Arab-Malaysian Labour Day) )

In this occassion, Siti Zulaikha answered my 1. e4 with 1.. e5, already a small surprise considering that Ismail Ahmad used to tell me, Siti had never played anything else except what he taught, the modern / pirc defence.

After 2. Nf3, I was even more surprise to the reply 1...Nf6. I still remember that, during that time, I had extensively studied the Petroff due to my anticipation of facing the strong Azhari Md Nor who, during that time employed the Petroff regularly. (We did met in the last round, but he switched to the Sicilian and we agreed for a short draw)

After 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O Siti Zulaikha played the weird 8...f5 After the game I told her, normally black plays f5 with the bishop on e6

After 9. c4 c6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qa4+ Nd7 12. Ne5 a trap was set. Here Zulaikha played the natural 12...Bd6 and to her dismay, discovered that after 13. Nxd7! (D)

she had to lose a piece as 13..Qxd7 was not possible due to the pinning 14.Bb5 winning black's Queen.
Our game continued with 13.. Kf7 14. Ne5+ Bxe5 15. dxe5 Re8 16. Qd4 Kg8 17. Nc3 Bf7 18. Re1 Qh4 19. Re2 Qd8 20. Be3 h6 21. Rd1 b6 22. Bb5 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Rf8 24. Red2 Rc8 25. c4 Rc5 26. Qd3 Rc8 27. cxd5 f4

Siti Zulaikha tried her best to win back some material, but from this point I had seen the coming 2 pawns marching theme.
28. Bxf4 Bh5 29. Bg3
I just ignore the Rook and keep my small material edge
29...Bxd1 30. Rxd1 Rc5 31. d6 Qc8 32. Qb3+ Kh7 33. e6 Rc3 34.
Qb1+ Kh8 35. e7 1-0

At the end, black decided she had enough.



(c) Rizal Ahmad Kamal 2010

Malaysian Women In Chess

When I am writing this, it is already known that the first Malaysian Woman Masters final shall be held very soon and it is between Alia Anin Azwa and Nur Nabila Azman Hisham. I had met Alia twice in the local competition. It was a draw in our first encounter and I won the second one quite nicely despite it was a rapid game in Merdeka team tournament. Meanwhile, I had never faced Nur Nabila across the board, but his father, Azman Hisham is one of my good friends at chess.

I have some fine recollection against the women players in Malaysia. I had beat IWM Irina Gorshkova (She is actually an Uzbekistan. The encounter took place in Terengganu Open 1997), NWM Nurul Huda, NWM Khairunnisa, NWM (at that time) Siti Zulaikha. However, I suffered a defeat in the hand of WCM Nurshazwani and only managed to draw gainst her in the second encounter. Against NWM Roslina Marmono in the recent DATCC 2nd league team tournament ended with a draw. I used to beat her sister Mardiana Marmono, a few years back.

Some other names need to be mentioned here are Zeti Ajemi, Samantha Lee, Haslindah Ruslan and Hazuin Hussain, whom I used to beat all of them. If the chess enthusiast may remember, Effaliana (the sibling of Effalini) is also one of the most bitter rival in the early days of my chess career (if I can so call it a career).

However, during the prime time of some of notable names such as IWM Audrey Wong, Seto Wai Ling, Geraldine John Putra, J.Punithavathy, NWM Eliza Hanum, NWM Eliza Hanim; despite having been in the same tournament (some of them) I had never faced them across the board and therefore there is no recollection of their games against me.

I also used to train several female chess players when I was at the University (UIAM). Most of them are no longer in contact with the chess pieces. Some of them are Azrina Torman, Amal Farhah, Faizah Khamis, Salizatul Aizah, Nadiaa Zamil, Nurul Hikmah and Nurhaliza Zainal. However, only Mumtaz Muhammad (sibling of Mizan Muhammad) had the real chance to become the NWM when she had the crushing winning position against Siti Zulaikha in one of the National Closed series a few years back (She lost the game at the end). The last news was she had safely delivered a baby. I think, hoping her to re-emerge into the local scene is something next to impossible.

I also used to coach one of a KL players (MSSMKL) Shalini, privately.

And in the latest female pupils are from the OKUs. They are Nur Fieqha, Norain Fatihah, Athirah, Nini, Aqilah Syahirah, Intan Juliana. Of course not to forget, I did share my knowledge (not directly coaching) with the coaches of Para games KL09 athletes; Roslina Marmono and Asmah Ahmad Hambadley.

- To be continued with my games against the very best female chess players-

KOLEJ TUN SYED ZAHIRUDDIN CHESS TOURNAMENT

(This picture is taken by my good colleague's blog - Razali Ng6)

In round 5, my personal encounter was against Azrul Aminurrasyid Abu Bakar (pic) from the team UPSI Grand. From my point of view, it is a model game on how to refute an unothodox opening.

Azrul Aminurrasyid Abu Bakar -

Rizal A Kamal (2000)

[A01] Nimzowitsch Larsen opening
UM Open Tun Syed Zahiruddin (5), 2010
1.e3 already a samll surprise, but as this is a rapid game (25 minutes) therefore I could not react slowly and proceeded naturally heading for the King Indian set piece formation.

After 1...Nf6 2.b3 g6 3.Bb2 Bg7 4.Bc4 I decided to change to the Gruenfeld formation by playing 4...d5

The game continued 5.Bd3 0–0 6.h3 Nc6 7.Ne2 a6 8.g4 e5 9.Ng3 Re8 10.Nc3

Here, I decided to sacrifice a pawn 10...e4 11.Bf1 d4! for the innitiative

12.Nce2 Nd5 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.exd4 Nf4! 15.c3

White tried to hang onto his extra pawn

15..b6! A nice little finnesse with the intention of fianchettoeing the Bishop and simultaneously completing the development. 15...Nd3+ is premature as 16.Bxd3 exd3+ 17.Kf1 and black has nothing special to show.

16.Qc2 but now, thing had been a little different, and yet it gave me the nice shot 16...Nd3+! see the right diagram

17.Ke2 Qf6! 18.Nxe4 Nxf2! The white King had walked straight into an absolute pin

19.Bg2 Nxh1 A Rook for a knight? Why not?

20.Bxh1 Bb7 21.Rf1 Qe6

22.d3 f5 23.gxf5 gxf5 24.Rg1 fxe4

During the game, I was worried about the possible combination beginning with 25.d5 Qxd5? 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 and 27.c4+ winning black's Queen. However, after the game, I saw the correct reply to 25.d5, that is to play 25...exd3++ (Double check!)

The rest is a matter of technique and need no comment 25.dxe4 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 Qxe4+ 27.Qxe4 Rxe4+ 28.Kd3 Rae8 29.Rg3 Kf7 30.c4 c5 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.dxc5+ Kf7 33.cxb6 Re3+ 34.Kd4 Re2 35.Kc3 Ke6 36.b4 Kd6 37.a4 Kc6 38.a5 R8e3+ 39.Kd4 Rxb2 40.b5+ axb5 41.cxb5+ Rxb5 42.Kxe3 Rxa5 43.Kf3 Kxb6 0–1

KOLEJ TUN SYED ZAHIRUDDIN CHESS TOURNAMENT

My game against Nge Jia Xuan in the final round:

After 16. Nh4, (Diagram) my opponent suddenly blundered an important pawn by playing 16...Kh8?

Therefore, I took the pawn 17.Bxf7 Rf8 18.Ng6+Nxg6 19.Bxg6

Now, black tried something like 19...Bc8 20.Nf5 Ng8 very passive indeed. And now, I played the agressive 21.Rg3. After 21..Qc6, with the intention of exchanging off my attacking knight

I produced a nice tactical shot 22.Nxg7! which demolishes black's King sanctuary. The knight is taboo due to 22...Kxg7?? fails to 23.Be8 dis. check!

The game proceeded with 22...Rf6 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.exf5 Rdf8 and now comes 25.Qh5 Qd7 26.Rg4 c5 27.Rh4 d5 28.Re1..

Black tried to breach the center via 28...d4 29.cxd4 exd4 30.Rhe4! absolute control on the e-file.

The game did not last long. After 30..c4, white finishes black with the neat 31.Re7!

1-0 Black resigned

KOLEJ TUN SYED ZAHIRUDDIN CHESS TOURNAMENT

My game against IM Mas Hafizulhelmi


Reaching the above position, with a pawn down and I was down to my last less than 5 minutes against IM Mas Hafizulhelmi, Malaysia no.1 player, I just put 1...Bf2 when Mas, after a few seconds or so thought bashed out 2.g4!? which somehow stunned me. I was only expected 2.g3.

Immediately I erred by playing 2...Bg3? and Mas calmly retreated his Rook 3.Rd2 and in this desperate time trouble and a few hanging pieces I desperado the Rook to no avail 3..Rxe5 4.fxe5 and lost a piece and the game in a few more moves.

After the game, Mohd Irman, who was playing on board two (Mas' 2nd board team mate) asked me, I saw ...Bf2 and seemed like black could win. I paused for a moment, because in a short post morterm after the game with Mas, we did not come to this point, instead focussing on the opening strategy innacuracy (black did not play ..g6 as early as possible).

True after the correct 2...Ng3+ 3.Kg2 Nxe4 Black might had won because 4.Qxe4 loses to 4..Qxg5+ 5.Kxf2 and 5...Qxd7 winning the exchange. But I suspect, as Mas have sufficient time on his clock, he may found 4.Rxb7 (instead of 4.Qxe4?) and suddenly all black pieces are hanging. Now not 4...f5?? which loses on the spot to 5.Qb3+, but 4..Nc5. If 5.Rc7 Ne6 and it is clear that black is hanging on a very tight rope

Kejohanan Catur Kolej Tun Zahiruddin
Final Ranking
Rank	Team	Gam.	+	=	-	Pts.	MP
1	SMS Gold	6	5	1	0	19	11
2	Nameless	6	5	0	1	17½	10
3	Seahorse	6	3	2	1	17	8
4	N9 Warriors	6	4	2	0	16½	10
5	Team AU	6	4	1	1	16½	9
6	Prepare To Lose	6	2	4	0	16	8
7	Engkomemengterer	6	3	2	1	16	8
8	University Malaysia Team 1	6	4	1	1	15	9
9	Ikan Bilis	6	4	1	1	15	9
10	Skylift	6	3	1	2	15	7
11	Rorschach	6	4	0	2	14½	8
12	Youngsters Wrath	6	4	0	2	14½	8
13	Akatsuki	6	3	1	2	14½	7
14	17 Chess Club	6	3	1	2	14	7
15	Penyayur Dungun	6	3	0	3	14	6
16	Team Family	6	4	0	2	13½	8
17	Bloggers United	6	3	1	2	13½	7
18	Swordfish	6	2	3	1	13	7
19	Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris Grand	6	3	0	3	13	6
20	Kastam DiRaja Malaysia	6	3	0	3	13	6
21	4th Steps	6	3	1	2	12½	7
22	SMK Dato Onn	6	3	0	3	12	6
23	Black Pearl	6	2	0	4	12	4
24	Universiti Pertanian Malaysia	6	2	2	2	11½	6
25	Islamic University Mustang A	6	3	0	3	11½	6
26	Majlis Perbandaran Klang	6	3	0	3	11	6
27	University Malaysia Team 2	6	3	0	3	11	6
28	Abang Kacak	6	2	0	4	11	4
29	Gigi Naga	6	3	0	3	10	6
30	Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris Gambit	6	2	1	3	10	5
31	Skyhawk	6	2	0	4	10	4
32	SMK Desa Petaling A	6	1	2	3	10	4
33	Islamic University Mustang C	6	1	2	3	9½	4
34	Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris Dragon	6	3	0	3	9	6
35	Islamic University Mustang B	6	2	1	3	9	5
36	Silent Killer	6	1	2	3	9	4
37	Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris Queen	6	1	2	3	9	4
38	Happy Family	6	1	2	3	9	4
39	Sekolah Datuk Abdul Razak Seremban	6	1	0	5	9	2
40	Islamic University Mustang D	6	2	1	3	8½	5
41	Chess Craze	6	1	0	5	8	2
42	SMK Desa Petaling B	6	1	1	4	7	3
43	SMK Desa Petaling C	6	1	0	5	5½	2
44	The Greenies	6	0	0	6	2	0

Early today I participated in the Kejohanan Catur Kolej Tun Zahiruddin. I brought my colleagues in the Customs Department. I decided to expose and indirectly force them to join the real training of chess. As expected, the outcome was not an outstanding achievement, however, to be ranked at the 20th placed among 44 other teams, without any preparation, training or whatsoever, is something to be praised as a modest achievement.

14. Kastam DiRaja Malaysia (13 Pts./6MP)
Bo.	Name	Rtg	FED	1	2	3	4	5	6	Pts	Gam.	%	Rtg-Ø
1	Rizal Ahmad Kamal	1995	MAS	1	0	1	1	1	1	5	6	83.3	1737
2	Mohd Khairie Mazlan	0	MAS	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	6	50.0	1693
3	Rosli Husin	1484	MAS	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	6	33.3	1600
4	Azizan Abdul Aziz	1367	MAS	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	6	50.0	1600

It is true that, only I remain semi active in the national level. My personal score is 5/6, well... not bad. I lost to Malaysia no.1, IM Mas Hafizulhelmi. He has his own class. I shall analysed some of the important positions in my games later.