Shi Jiazhuang of China Won the Dubai Cup

The 17th Asian Cities Chess Championship is over on last Thursday.

The team from China, Shi Jiazhuang, whose members are GM Yu Yangyi, GM Li Chao, Wan Yunguo and GM Wang Rui emerged as the champion. The team won all their nine rounds and scored the perfect 18 match points. Three players of the team were the Board Medal Winners while GM Li Chao, the team's second board player, was the best scorer with 8/9 points.

GM Yu Yangyo (most right) & GM Li Chao

Wan Yunguo & GM Wang Rui

chess-results.com

Report For Jakarta (3)

GiLoCatur had arrived back home about eight hours ago. Still feeling tired after spending four days in Jakarta both watching the 17th Asian Cities Chess Championship and exploring the city. It was a wonderful experience for GiLoCatur and family especially in attending an international chess tournament. 

Six rounds had been played. Three more rounds to go. 24 teams from 17 different ASIAN countries including Malaysia are taking part. 116 chess players including 10 from Malaysia are among the participants of the 17th edition vying for the Dubai Cup. 54 title players plus 4 Candidate Masters that include 18 Grandmasters and 2  WGMs are among the contestants spicing up the event. For GiLoCatur, GM Li Chao and Wesley So are the main attraction for the event. It would be more interesting and attractive if both GM Liem and GM Truong Son from Vietnam and GM Parimarjan from India could participate.

So, which team is leading at the moment? How the stars fared so far? Is there any upset? How the two Malaysian teams are doing?

Ranking after Round 6 - chess-results.com

Shi Jiazhuang, a team from China that includes GM Li Chao, is leading the pack at this moment. Li Chao's sterling 5.5/6 score helps the team to the perfect six wins with the full 12 points. GM Wesley So and his  second-seed Tagaytay team from Philippines is at the fourth place after losing twice to Palembang (Indonesia) and Astana (Kazakhstan) in the second and fourth round respectively. It is quite a rare occasion where a near-2700-FIDE-rated So had a defeat by 300-lower-rated opponent. Can Tagaytay recover in the last three rounds to climb up the ladder to earn the second spot? Can any other team stop Shi Jiazhuang to claim the championship?  

As for the Malaysian teams, Penang had won 2 and drew 1. Astana from Kazakhstan, Yangon from Myanmar and Erdenet from Mongolia were the three teams that a bit stronger team to beat for Penang. But it is an outstanding feat for Eng Chiam who drew with his Myanmar International Master opponent. He also drew with the 2400-rated Fide Master from Mongolia.

Meanwhile, Putrajaya team that includes Anis as the player placed last after just manage a draw against Seoul from Korea. Pavitranayagi and Andi Hartarto managed to score 2/6 and 2.5/6 points so far while the other three players - Anis, Nur Faqihah and Iman Sofea, have not won a single game. The three of them are among 15 participants who are unrated. Hope they can learn as much as possible and gain lots experience and exposure from the the tournament.

Round 7 Team Pairings - chess-results.com

In the next seventh round to start in one hour and a half, on the top board, Shi Jiazhuang will play against Tagaytay. It will be an interesting match on the top board between GM Yu Yangyi and GM Wesley So, two super GMs. Can So recovers from tiredness to show his chess brilliance against his equally strong opponent?

Penang will face the all-women Tarakan team from Indonesia led by WGM Irene Sukandar while Putrajaya will challenge the 17th seed, Sharjah team from UAE. BEST OF LUCK to both Malaysian teams.

Report From Jakarta (2)

It is 7.25am in Jakarta at the moment which 8.25am in Kuala Lumpur.

GiLoCatur is at the tournament's hotel lobby. Two players of the Sydney team are browsing the free internet to check their next round (Round 6) GiLoCatur believes. Some participants are having breakfast including Anis, GiLoCatur's daughter.

So, how's the the fifth round results? Which team is leading? How Li Chao's team performed? How Wesley So's Tagaytay performed? GiLoCatur will try update late coz' right now, GiLoCatur wants to explore Jakarta.


Kartika Chandra Hotel
7.35am

Report From Jakarta (1)

The unofficial result for the two Malaysian teams in the on-going Asian Cities Chess Championship for the fourth round is Penang won 2.5 - 1.5 against Dubai while Putrajaya drew with Seoul 2 points each. 

Both Pavitra and Andi Hartarto won their respective games. The former won against higher-rated Korean 1st board player. Meanwhile, the unrated Andi won against Korean Women Candidate Master. On the third board, Korean Fide Master with FIDE ratings 1987 is a strong opponent for Anis Fariha.    

The fifth round will start at 6.00pm local time which is one hour later than KL time.

GiLoCatur Had Landed In Jakarta

"Selamat Datang ke Jakarta, Pak!"

GiLoCatur was greeted when came out from AirAsia flight QZ 7695 and walking to Jakarta International Airport yesterday at around 7.30 o'clock. Yes, GiLoCatur had arrived (had landed) in Jakarta with wife and Fahim. It is GiLoCatur's first visit to Jakarta; not Indonesia. Actually, GiLoCatur had visited Indonesia twice - both to Sumatera. When was that? The first one was in 1974 when GiLoCatur was six years old via sea. The second visit was in 1994 (if not mistaken) via plane. Both visits were to a small village called Pulau Belimbiong, where both GiLoCatur's parents were born in 1917 and 1930.

GiLoCatur comes to Jakarta because to give moral support to Anis who is participating in the 17th Asian Cities Chess Championship being held in the city from 21st to 29th April. Anis plays for PUTRAJAYA team which is one of the 24 participating teams in the tournament. 

Fahim enjoying his first TRANSJAKARTA ride ...

From the airport, GiLoCatur went straight to Kartika Chandra  Hotel by a taxi which cost IDR 180,000. Since Anis was not playing in the third round, we met her at the lobby. After catching up with her for a couple of hours, GiLoCatur, wife and Fahim went to the hotel booked which is located quite far from the tournament's hotel. During the stay in Jakarta, GiLoCatur stays at IBIS Kemayoran Hotel that offers better price. The hotel is located in the northern part of the city. 

GiLoCatur is not worried about the taxi fare commuting to the tournament's hotel because the much cheaper TRANSJAKARTA will be the mode of transportation. Furthermore, sightseeing in Jakarta is much better using the busway. 

Today, which is Sunday, is the rest day. The tournament organizer had arranged a sightseeing activity for the participants and their accompanying party. GiLoCatur also joined the activity. GiLoCatur would like to share the following unique stall. Look delicious huh! Sure, it is. When you come to Jakarta, make sure you taste it once.  

Room 420
IBIS Jakarta Kemayoran