Penang Open Coverage

GiLoCatur knows that many Malaysian chess enthusiasts are following the Penang Open. They want the updates and results to be put up online as immediately as possible. They seek for coverage. 

As a chess blogger, GiLoCatur also wants to make the coverage as best and fast as possible. This is for the benefits of the Malaysian chess specifically. GiLoCatur believes other Malaysian chess bloggers like Gilachess and Fireyrook also want the same thing. But we have our own limitation and obstacles. 

For example, Fireyrook right now is having a family vacation in Terengganu (based on his facebook updates). But he tries to cover the event on his own busy time. Gilachess came down to Penang on the second last day, most probably from his own pocket money and after settling his work.

GiLoCatur has to find time to make the coverage. GiLoCatur has to manage the needs like the travelling, lodging and food for the family especially for both Fikri and Anis who are playing in the event. The budget needs to be taken care of ( ... smiling ...). GiLoCatur also has to share the broadband with wife because she needs to do her study assignments. Surely, GiLoCatur needs to monitor the children when they are playing. Like other chess parents, GiLoCatur is also nervous, tension, and worry when the children are playing. It is very tiring during a chess tournament for a chess parent.

What GiLoCatur wants to highlight is PLEASE DO NOT CONDEMN THE CHESS BLOGGERS. GIVE MORAL SUPPORT AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACKS. It does not necessarily a compliment or a praise. 

KOMEN, PANDANGAN, FEEDBACK DAN KRITIKAN ADALAH DIALU-ALUKAN. TETAPI BERHEMAHLAH BILA MEMBERI SEPERTI DITUNTUT OLEH BUDAYA MASYARAKAT KITA.  It hurts GiLoCatur when reading in shout box negative and abusive comments to fellow chess bloggers like Gilachess, Hairulov and Fireyrook.

Enough with that, check out also below blog on the Penang Open (GiLoCatur assumes) created by Gilachess, the Malaysian otai chess blogger. You can find Gilachess' trademark interactive final ranking cross table for both Open and Challengers sections and photos. 

http://penangopen.blogspot.com/

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - DIMAKILING OLIVER is the Champion for the Open Section

DIMAKILING OLIVER is the champion in the 3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Open held from Tuesday, 6th until today, 10th December 2011. He scored 8/9 points from seven wins and two draws. In the final round today, a draw is enough for him to claim the championship with one point difference. Another Filipino, Olay Edgar Reggie, is the first runner up after winning on tie break over the tournament's top seed, IM Nguyen Van Huy from Vietnam.

Top 20 Final Ranking - Penang Open

Eight Malaysian chess players are among the top 20 in the tournament. Malaysian chess wonder kid, 12-year-old Yeoh Li Tian, is the best Malaysian player after winning the fifth spot with 6.5/9 points. In the fifth round, Li Tian recorded an amazing win over Filipino IM, Dableo Ronald who has FIDE ratings of 2445. It would be more amazing if he could win over Vietnamese IM, Nguyen Van Huy.

The second best Malaysian is NM Tan Khai Boon. A draw in the final round with the eventual champion has pushed him to the sixth spot. IM Mas Hafizulhelmi and FM Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong are 8th and 12th respectively. The former is the best six (6) pointers.

Click here for the complete final ranking.

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - GEENEISH is the Champion for the Challengers

Based on the Final Ranking results from chess-results.com, GEENEISH SIVALINGAM is the champion in the Challengers section for this year edition. He won his final round against Soh Isaak Ethan Hong Han who has 1/2 point more. 

Geeneish won seven games and drew two of them. Very impressive. The players he drew with are Mohd Faizal Roslan and Mat Zaki Yeop in the third and sixth round respectively. Still very clear in GiLoCatur's memory the double rook endgame in his match against veteran player, Mat Zaki. (Ofcourse, because GiLoCatur captured it on photo ... LOL). Congratulation to him.

Below is the Top 20 Final Ranking. 

Top 20 Final Ranking for Challengers setcion 

Tin Jun Hao, the defending champion, is placed tenth with 6.5/9 points.

 To view the complete Final Ranking, go to this link.

R3 T3 - Mat Zaki (black) vs Geeneish (white)

GiLoCatur thought black had advantage after its both rooks had been placed at the white's back rank. Black's King is very active but open (vulnerable) for white attack. Any comment? 

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - R9 Challengers Top 10 Boards Unofficial Results

The final round of the 3rd Penang Heritage City International chess tournament - Open and Challengers, are going to end. Some matches are completed.

Below is the unofficial results for the Challengers section top 10 boards as the time of writing. Two more boards are still playing including the top board which will decide who will become the champion. Coincidentally, the important match is between a Malaysian and a Singaporean player. On the top board, it looks that white is winning. 

Geeneish (white)

VS

Soh (black)

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - The Family Battle

On the fourth day of the tournament, people may not notice that there is a family battle - between TIN versus SALEH. In the morning round in the Open section, TIN Jingyao (FIDE 1986) played white against Fikri SALEH. The former who is a Singaporean Fide Master won the match. In the afternoon, Jingyao's younger sister, Ruiqi, played white against Fikri's younger sister, Anis Fariha. The TIN's daughter won the game.

Fikri (left) versus Jingyao (right)

GiLoCatur was still in Penang when Ruiqi and Anis Fariha started their match at Table 4. By the time they finished the game, GiLoCatur and wife had already touched down the LCCT located in Sepang near the KLIA airport. 

Round 8 - Anis Fariha (left) versus Ruiqi (right)

GiLoCatur started to know and notice about Ruiqi during the KL Open tournament. In fact, she had played Anis in the eighth round playing white. Ruiqi who is currently rated at 1574 won the game. So, it is 2  - 0 between them.

[ It seems 8 is the "Ong" number for Ruiqi and otherwise for Anis Fariha. Both faced each other in the eighth round in two tourneys - KL Open and Penang Open. ]   

Ruiqi is a strong player as shown by below results. She only lost and drew once each. She lost to Mohd Faizal Roslan in the fifth round playing black.

List of Ruiqi's opponents

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - Random Matches

Below are several random matches GiLoCatur extracted from the Chess Bulletin.

match 1

match 2

match 3

In the first round, Nik Farouqi who is rated at 2070 had an upset defeat against his much lower-rated opponent. 

match 4

Do not afraid to take part in internationally standard chess tournament even if you lack exposure or just regular rapid chess player. Alias Hanafi proves that he can win against a "Mat Salleh" and higher-rated opponent. Check out his game below.

match 5

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - Chess Buletin

Two of GiLoCatur's children, Fikri and Anis, are participating in the Penang Open. At the time of this writing, they are playing their seventh round. It has passed the one hour mark. Actually, this is the first time that GiLoCatur and the kids participate in the tournament which is also known as the Penang Heritage City International Chess tournament. 

As far as GiLoCatur remembers, GiLoCatur and the kids have participated only in three chess tournaments in Penang. National Age Group (NAG) two years ago, MSSM Chess Championship in last June and the 3rd Penang Open.

Penang Chess Association or its short name, PCA, led by its President, Mr Lee Ewe Ghee, lives up to its reputation in organizing chess events. 

Among the commendable efforts done in the tournament.

Spectators are allowed in the tournament hall

The decision to allow spectators to be in the tournament hall is very commendable. Coaches and parents can monitor the players games and progress. The majority of the participants especially in the Challengers sections are kids and teenagers. Spectators including the amateur and junior players can also watch the masters and chess pro playing. Spectators must appreciate this by not making noise and interrupt the participants like taking pictures using flash light.

Fikri played his same-age Indonesian opponent in Round 5

Players Names

It is very common in internationally standard chess tournaments, players name with their national flags are put on table near the table numbers. For GiLoCatur, the players name in this Penang Open (only in the Open section; not in the Challengers section) increases the prestige. Fikri commented that he is so proud to be playing in this tournament and Open section even though he has much better chance to be on the podium in the Challengers category.

Penang Open chess bulletin front cover

Chess Bulletin  

This morning, chess bulletin has been distributed to all the players for both sections. It is simple; not fancy, BUT important to all participants. BRAVO to the organizer and the volunteers who key in the record sheets into PGN database. It is not an easy job. GiLoCatur could watch them doing the key in at their notebooks in the tournament hall. GiLoCatur hopes other standards chess tournaments held in Malaysia can distribute the chess bulletin before the event ends.

Syabas and well done to the Penang Open organizing crew members.

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - Day 2 Photo Gallery

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3 - IM Chiong (PHI) versus Lim Kian Hwa (1/2 - 1/2)

photo 4 - Fairin (left) versus IM Lahiri Atanu (IND)

photo 5

photo 6

photo 7

photo 8 - Challengers section

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - Day 2

Four of the total nine rounds had completed. GiLoCatur and family left the tournament hall quite late because Anis, GiLoCatur's daughter, were among the six last players (meaning, three boards) in the Challengers section to finish their games. Both boards 3 and 5 were finished at about the same time. The last board to finish is board 14 between Teh De Zen and Lim Yu Chia. Their match resulted in a draw. 

Anis was playing on board 3. His opponent was Ramone Mikgail Kok. Meanwhile, Kelly Lim Pei Ying of Penang won the board 5 battle. He She defeated Daniel Iskandar Noor Akbar. (note: what a big grammatical error! It's like a blunder in chess. :(  - 10 Dec 11, 12.12am )

Teh De Juan is leading the Challengers section, which the majority of participants are youngsters, with the perfect 4/4 score having better tie break than three other players who have similar score. Trailing half point, five other players including Anis are vying to be among the leaders by the end of the third day.

Let's find out later.

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - Indonesian Youngster Drew With IM Mas

Round 2, Table 5 - Sean Winshand Cuhendi vs IM Mas

Indonesian youngster drew with IM Mas in the fifth round. He stopped IM Mas from being in the perfect 2/2 score list.

3rd Penang Heritage City International Open - Round 2 Pairings

Round 2 is going to start. Click here to check the pairings for the Open section.

Click here to check the pairings for the Challengers section.

3rd Penang Heritage City International Chess Tournament - 1st Round

The first round of the 3rd Penang Heritage City - both Open and Challengers, had started this morning. More than 200 chess players are taking part including two of GiLoCatur's children - Fikri and Anis Fariha. The former is playing in the Open section while the later takes part in the Challengers section.

photo 1 - get ready for the first round

photo 2 - Challengers section

Anis Fariha, GiLoCatur's only daughter is playing in the Challengers category. She won her first round match against Ang Jing Xuan. Seeded 14th, Anis played white.

photo 3 - parents can't wait the tourney to start

photo 4 - Amir Qayyim (left) vs Iskandar Abdullah (SIN)

Amir Qayyim (above picture), the son of the reigning Malay champion, Mohd Saprin, also takes part in the tournament. He is playing in the Open section while his younger brother is playing in the Challengers section.

photo 5 - Fikri (right) against Mari Joseph Turqueza (PHI)

GiLoCatur's eldest son, Fikri, was paired against a Filipino player at table #12 whose Elo ratings is 2277. More than 500 ratings gap. The match is already over when Fikri 0, Mari Joseph 1.

The official results has not come out yet. One upset result acknowledged by GiLoCatur is the match at table 23 between unrated Ang Zhen Yuan and Nik Ahmad Farouqi who has 2070 Elo ratings. Woud there many more upsets? Check out this blog more often or follow GiLoCatur's twitter.