The UPSI Chess Open

The UPSI Chess Open is one of GiLoCatur's favourite local chess tournaments. As far as GiLoCatur remembers the tourney is normally being held in the month of October.  Its first edition began in 2007. So, this year it will be the sixth edition.

For those not in the know, UPSI is a Malay acronym for Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris or in English, Sultan Idris Education University. The university is situated in Tanjong Malim town which is famous for its PAU. GiLoCatur strongly believes all the Malaysian readers know what PAU is. But how about foreign visitors? 

GiLoCatur just learnt that PAU is BAOZI in English. Interesting eh! Please visit Mr Wikipedia here to learn what baozi or pau is.  

Back to the UPSI Chess Open, why it is a favourite tournament for GiLoCatur. The answer is simply due to its time control or format. It has longer time control compared to the common one-day rapid chess tourney. It is either 45-minute or 60-minute per player. It has been a tradition that the chess tournament is held for two days. 

GiLoCatur had attended three editions - 2008, 2009 and 2011, out of its total five. The first edition was  a miss because GiLoCatur was yet in the Malaysian chess scene. While neither GiLoCatur nor the kids took part in its fourth edition in 2010 since GiLoCatur and wife went to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage.

2008

Not only both Fikri and Anis took part in the UPSI open that year, but also did GiLoCatur. The tourney was held on 25th and 26th of October. While Fikri and Anis participated in the Under 12 section, GiLoCatur  who was just rated at 939 at that time played in the Open category. GiLoCatur's best game in the 2nd edition that year was in the fourth round against Sahir Sarifdin of 17ChessClub who was about 700 points higher in the national ratings. Click here if you want to know what was the score accumulated by GiLoCatur. Below is the complete game.

Sahir Sarifdin (1655) - Saleh Abd Latif (939) [C44]
2nd UPSI Chess Open (4.15), 26.10.2008

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.d3 h6 4.Be3 Nf6 5.h3 b6 6.Be2 Bb7 7.Nbd2 Bc5 8.Bxc5 bxc5 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 Rb8 11.b3 Bc8 12.Nc4 Be6 13.Nfd2 Qd7 14.Kh2 h5 15.Ne3 g5 16.f3 g4 17.h4 Ke7 18.g3 gxf3 19.Bxf3 Ng4+ 20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.Nxg4 Qxg4 22.Qxg4 hxg4 23.Rf2 Rbg8 24.Raf1 Nd8 25.Nc4 Rh7 26.Ne3 Rxh4+ 27.Kg2 Rh7 28.Nd5+ Kf8 29.Nf6 Rgg7 30.Nxh7+ Rxh7 31.Rh1 Rg7 32.Rh8+ Ke7 33.Rf5 Ne6 34.Ra8 Rh7 35.Rxa7 Kd7 36.a4 Kc6 37.b4 Kb6 38.Ra8 c6 39.Rg8 cxb4 40.cxb4 Nd4 41.Rfg5 Nc2 42.Kg1 Ne3 1-0

2009

GiLoCatur did not participate in the 3rd edition in 2009. GiLoCatur just focussed on blogging and monitoring the kids' games. Fahim made his debut appearance that year in the UPSI Open. He joined his elder sister, Anis, in the Primary School (Under 12) category. Meanwhile, Fikri who turned 13th in that year was playing in the Secondary School category. Unlike his younger sister and brother, Fikri made to the podium receiving his winning prizes. The score of all the three GiLoCatur's children in the 2009 edition could be found here.

GiLoCatur could still remember that Fireyrook had snapped few photos of GiLoCatur wearing new GiLoCatur shirt. Check out the photo gallery here and here of the third UPSI Open.

2011

GiLoCatur could not bear not to participate in the 5th edition last year. After not playing for two editions i.e. 3rd and 4th, GiLoCatur who had improved from 900+ to 1400+ in the national ratings joined more than 100 participants in the Open category as well as Fikri, GiLoCatur's eldest child. What was GiLoCatur's performance in the tournament? Who were the champions in that 5th edition? Check it out! Here and  Here.

2012

It will be the 6th edition of the UPSI Open this year. The chess competition will kick off in about three weeks from now. The time control as per its flyer is 60-minute-per player of seven SWISS rounds. Unfortunately and most probably, GiLoCatur and the kids will not take part this year. The kids have to concentrate on their final exams during the period. GiLoCatur has been waiting for the tourney since last year. But what to do. GiLoCatur has to give more priority to the kids' academic.

But GiLoCatur believes many other Malaysian chess players will take part, right?

For further details on the 6th UPSI Chess Open, please visit this fb link.

CAIYOK NG6 AND ZAIASRON!

KL Open or its long name, DYTM Raja Nazrin Shah International Open Chess Championship, will kick off this morning at 9 o'clock. None of GiLoCatur's children take part like last year where GiLoCatur's daughter took part. 

Based on the pairings of Round 1 here, 82 players including ten (10) Grand Masters (GM) will take part in the tournament. GiLoCatur would like to wish "Good Luck" to all the participants especially the following two chess buddies. SALUTE TO ALL THE TWENTY (27) MALAYSIANS WHO DARE TO TAKE PART IN THE TOURNAMENT!

Zali or Ng6 of RHB

Zaiasron of BSN

A Suspense Moment for Malaysian women's Team in Round 10

It is several minutes to midnight in Malaysia. It is near to 7 o'clock in Istanbul, Turkey.

It is a very suspense moment watching the match between Malaysia and its ASEAN neighbour, Philippine. The score is now 1.5 point each. Malaysia was trailing 0.5 to 1.5 point when Camilia lost to her higher-rated opponent and Nabila drew on board 2. Thank god, Li Ting provided the important one point to equalize. Now, Malaysia is depending on its first board player, Najiha. Her win will make Malaysia and its chess community happy and joyous. Her defeat will make Malaysia lost the match to the Philippines. If she draws, both countries will share the match point. 

What it is gonna be? GO Najiha GO!

The final battle

40th Istanbul Chess Olympiad - Round 8

It is 1.10 am o'clock right now. GiLoCatur is still awake following the Malaysian teams playing the eighth round.

In the women section, Malaysia is paired against Bosnia & Herzegovina (BIH) at table number 26. On paper, Malaysia has lower chance to win the match since its ranking is much lower than its opponent. Malaysia is ranked 83rd while Bosnia & Herzegovina is the 39th seed.

But with the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh", Najiha, Nabila, Li Ting and Camilia had made Malaysia proud by winning over their opponents 3 to 1. 

Playing on board 4, Camilia made her 200-ratings-higher opponent resign at move 26th. Her win gave Malaysia one important point. 

Board 4

Malaysia was up 2 - 0 when later Najiha upset her WIM opponent. It is really a big win for her since she beats a 400-rating-higher opponent. GiLoCatur was confident that Najiha would win after 41st move she gained winning advantage.

Board 1

When Malaysia was up 2 - 0, a crucial half point would seal the victory for Malaysia. It was a suspense moment whether both Nabila and Li Ting could at least draw against their respective opponent. Then Nabila who also played on board 2 in the 39th Moscow Chess Olympiad made sure that Malaysia won when she drew with her WFM opponent, Aleksandra Dimitrijevic. 

Board 2

Board 3

Li Ting made the victory for the Malaysian women squad sweeter when she also drew with her rated-at-2066 WFM opponent, Dijana Dengler. 

It was an excellent performance indeed. GiLoCatur wishes that  the Malaysian electronic and print media write about this. 

Syabas & tahniah! Keep it up. 

It was a double joy for Malaysia since its men's team had thrashed Libya with 3.5 - 1 score. 

MMU ICO - Photo Gallery

Enjoy ten photos below that GiLoCatur snapped during the MMU International Chess Open that just concluded.

Razali Hamzah aka Ng6 against his red-shirt opponent

Fikri (Left) played a Filipino opponent named  Jimson Bitoon

GiLoCatur's office mate, Benny, faced Efren Bagamasbad (yellow shirt)

The game of Kamaluddin Yusof aka Abang Bro always attract spectators

The match between top seed, Eden Diano, and WFM Alia

[3/9/2012, 12.00pm - The above was the last match of the sixth round. WFM Alia who represented Malaysian in the 39th Women Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk managed to held draw her 2400-rated opponent. Alia had only her king while her Filipino opponent had a king and one pawn. A good result for Alia in the MMU ICO.  GiLoCatur hopes Alia will keep playing and be active in chess tournament. ]

Ahmad Fadzil Nayan, 4th place

Ahmad Fadzil just came back from Portugal after participating in the World University Chess Championship a week ago. His performance is quite commendable when he scored one win, six draws and two defeats to collect 4/9 points. Click here to see further.

The second runner-up, 2400-rated Eden Diano

The first runner-up, Kamaluddin Yusof 

The champion - Nelson Villanneva

closing ceremony

The Final Ranking of MMU ICO

2 September 2012, midnight

GiLoCatur just arrived home less than two hours ago  after participating in the MMU International Chess Open or its abbreviation, ICO. To those who do not know what MMU means, MMU stands for Multi Media University. GiLoCatur and the kids were among 64 participants who took part in the two-day chess tournament held at its Malacca (Melaka) campus. Actually, it is the third time that GiLoCatur and the kids played in the MMU ICO. 

Who emerged top of the table? Who are the participants besides GiLoCatur and the kids?  Check out below final ranking.

The Final Ranking of MMU ICO