Malaysian Masters 2009 - The third Q-final game

Below is the game between FM Nicholas Chan and NM Evan Timothy Capel held at DAT Chess Center this morning. Can NM Evan upset the Malaysian Top Active chess players, FM Nicholas? Let's follow the event held during this weekend and covered by Andrew Ooi aka Gilachess, Hairulov and experienced IM Jimmy Liew in their chess blogs.

Nicholas Chan (2403) - Evan Timothy Capel (2017) [D55]

Malaysian Masters 2009 DAT Chess Center, KL, 15.08.2009

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Ne4 10.Bf4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Ne5 Nd7 13.Bxh6 Nxe5 14.dxe5 f5 15.Bf4 g5 16.Bg3 Bc8 17.f4 g4 18.Qb3 Be6 19.e4 Qd7 20.Rad1 dxe4 21.Bc4 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Bxc4 23.Qxc4+ Qf7 24.e6 Qf6 25.Rd7 Rae8 26.e7+ Rf7 27.Rxc7 Rexe7 28.Rc8+ Kg7 29.Rd1 Qe6 30.Qa6 Rd7 31.Re1 Rf8 32.Rxc5 Rd2 33.Rc7+ Kg6 34.Qxa7 Rh8 35.Rg7+ Kf6 36.Rb7 Rxa2 37.Qxb6 Qxb6 38.Rxb6+ Kf7 39.c4 Rd8 40.Rf6+ Kxf6 41.Bh4+ Ke6 42.Bxd8 Rc2 43.Kg1 Rxc4 44.Bb6 Kd5 45.Kf2 Rc3 46.Be3 Ra3 47.Rd1+ Ke6 48.Bc5 Rc3 49.Rd6+ Kf7 50.Rf6+ Kg7 51.Rxf5 Rb3 52.Bd4+ Kh6 53.Re5 Ra3 54.Re8 1-0

Among the notable moves by FM Nicholas Chan, the Top 10 Malaysian Active chess players with FIDE rating of 2403, that realy impresses GiLoCatur are :

• move 30.Qa6 which was a preparation and orchestrated for move 32.Rxc5

• move 36.Rb7 is another interesting move. He had anticipated black move on 36. .. Rxa2 so came the exchange play after he gained a major piece i.e. a bishop and a pawn. This sort of anticipation and advance thinking and strategy that the young Malaysian chess players should learn from the senior and experienced Malaysian chess players.

• move 40.Rf6+ is another brilliant strategy in GiLoCatur's opinion. If the black king captures the rook, White still can get even by 'forking' the black's rook (GiLoCatur hopes the term is correct he he). But if otherwise, White can capture the f5 pawn.

• move 50.Rf6+ another one? amazing .. Black really did not see and anticipate on its 48. .. Rc3 move. To be among the top players, > 2350+, our young chess players should work and improve on this sort of advance or ahead counterplay. (GiLoCatur is not sure why NM Evan made such move, maybe he was on time pressure.) This time Black did not capture the rook. But it was already too late.