Have You Surfed "Catur Indonesia" Blog?

While surfing the internet especially looking for chess-related news and info, GiLoCatur incidently went to an Indonesian chess blog. Among the recent blog entries are about the success of the Indonesian chess team in the recently concluded 27th SEA Games held in Myanmar. The Indonesian chess team managed to win 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 7 Bronze medals, totaling to 16 medals. With these number of medals won, lots of updates and photos can be found in the blog. GiLoCatur is very jealous the same scenario is not happening to the Malaysian chess community. GiLoCatur wonders when Malaysia is going to enjoy this kind of moment in chess.

The statement from the head of PERCASI really impresses GiLoCatur. He said that the best performance should be achieved based on will, survival (fighting) and passion for chess and Red-White, referring to the Indonesian flag.

“Kami tidak akan mengiming-imingi atlet catur junior berprestasi dengan bonus materi atau uang, tetapi akan memperhatikan kelanjutan prestasi mereka dengan membiayainya ke turnamen-turnamen catur Internasional yang levelnya lebih tinggi! Prestasi terbaik harus dicapai berdasarkan kemauan, perjuangan, dan kecintaan terhadap olahraga Catur dan Merah-Putih, bukan karena “disogok” bonus uang atau diiming-imingi hadiah!"

Another interesting update in the Indonesian chess blog is about their young chess players who take part in the World Youth Chess Championship or its acronym WYCC held in UAE. Indonesia is sending ten junior chess players - five boys and five girls to the chess tournament. Only one of them is self-sponsored where the rest is either sponsored by PERCASI, Indonesian chess association, or RIAU chess association.

GiLoCatur is quite familiar with two of the Indonesian chess junior players. Both are WFM Aay Aisyah Anisa and CM Azarya Jodi Setyaki. When GiLoCatur started to know these two Indonesian chess players? The answer is AAG 2012. For those who do not know what AAG stands for, it means Asean Age Group chess tournament. All the three GiLoCatur's children took part in the AAG 2012 which was held in Hue City, Vietnam. Both Aisyah and Azarya played in the U14 category, their respective girls and boys section. 

As GiLoCatur remembers, it is in this chess tournament that both of them got their respective title. Unrated, Aisyah was ranked 10th in the standard event. After two straight wins in the first two rounds, she was in the top board in the third round. She stayed on the top board until the final round. She won six consecutive rounds. After the final round, Aisyah emerged as the champion scoring impressive 8/9 points. 

Aisyah (left) with red shirt

Aisyah smiling when photo being taken by GiLoCatur

She could not continue her superb performance in next both rapid and blitz events. Our WFM Nur Najiha was the obstacle where Aisyah lost in both events in the second round. (Note: In the standard event, Najiha played in the G20 (Girls Under 20) event.) GiLoCatur managed to have a short chit chat with Aisyah before one of the rounds start.

While Azarya got GiLoCatur's attention when he was among the top boards in the Boys U14 event beside FM Paulo Bersamina of Philipines, Tran Minh Thang of Vietnam and Rohan Ahuja of India. After the final round, Azarya scored 6.5/9 points and was third in the final ranking. He had the same score with an unrated Vietnamese player and thus was the silver medal winners and both were awarded the CM title. In the rapid event, Azarya came strong and emerged top. He tied with 6/7 points with Paulo Bersamina. He was fifth place in the nine-round blitz event.

Azarya (right) played against his Filipino opponent, Paulo Bersamina (left) in AAG2012

How is the performance of the Indonesia junior chess players in the WYCC? Click here to find out. And here to know the results of the Malaysian junior chess players.

Sepang Rapid Chess Open - 4

As per in below Round 6 pairings, Li Tian and Ian Udani fought on the top board to decide the champion of the tournament. As GiLoCatur remembers it, the game ended in a draw. So, both scored 5/6 points. Li Tian emerged on the top due to better tie break.

Round 6 pairings

Some of the winners with the organizer

Congratulation to all the winners. Syabas & tahniah to the organizing crew.

Photo of the winners can be found in GiLoCatur's Fan Club facebook.

Sepang Rapid Chess Open - 3

Below is the pairings of the fifth round of the Sepang Rapid Chess Open being held at Sekolah Agama Desa Putra, Kg Sungai Merab Dalam, Selangor.

Round 5 pairings

On the top table, two pinoys are playing against each other. Castellano drew with Li Tian in previous round while Ian Udani beat Hairulov. Kamaluddin aka Abg Bro defeated his younger opponent, Fadzil Nayan. 

Sepang Rapid Chess Open - 2

the particpants - 1

the particpants - 2

Hampers for the winners

... more photos at GiLoCatur Fan Club facebook

Sepang Chess Rapid Open - 1

Desa Putra, Sepang

Saturday 21/12/2013

GiLoCatur and family is currently at the venue of the Sepang Rapid Open chess championship. The fourth round is currently on-going. After Round 3, three players are leading with three full points. They are Castellano Christopher of Phillipines, Li Tian and Hairul Abdul Hamid, a Malaysian chess blogger. Both Li Tian and Castellano are playing on the top board while Hairul is challenged by Ian Udani on second board.

the championship's banner

Ian Udani (white) vs Hairul (black)

Top seed, Castellano (black) vs Li Tian (white)

All GiLoCatur's children are among 40+ participants. Fikri who just completed his SPM examination last month is playing his second tournament after after taking a break for several months. He continues his good momentum after winning the Under 18 category two weeks ago collecting 2 and 1/2 points. He is playing  white on the third board. Nationally-Rated at 1624, Fikri is the 20th seed. 

the results of Round 3 

New UPSI Chess Open Champion

Finally, the new champion emerges at the UPSI Chess Open. GiLoCatur gets the news from the facebook. So, it is still unofficial. Both IM Mas and Ian Udani who were earlier edition champions can not stop the new champion. Do you know who is the new champion? It is known among the local netizens as Nf6. His full name is Mohd Saprin Sabri. Congratulation to him!

Saprin aka Nf6 (left)

UPSI Chess Open Update

Thanks to Kaber for uploading the pairing and results of the UPSI chess open at www.chess-results.com. GiLoCatur could follow the tournament. Actually, at the time of this blog entry, GiLoCatur and wife are at SM Sains Alam Shah, Cheras visiting GiLoCatur's eldest son, Fikri, who in less than two weeks will sit for SPM examination. 

Why only GiLoCatur and wife, eh? Where is Fahim? In fact, Fahim is having a scout camping in Shah Alam. His camping will end tomorrow. 

Back to the UPSI chess open, GiLoCatur believes the fourth round is on going. Three rounds had completed. There are three categories in which the participants take part. In the age-group categories, the top six players live up to their ranking where they are paired against each other on the top three boards. 

Click below links to find out the results of the first three rounds. 

Kejohanan Catur Terbuka UPSI 2013 -Sekolah Rendah

Kejohanan Catur Terbuka UPSI 2013 -Sekolah Menengah

In the Open category, Ian Udani attempts to making another history to once again become the champion. He is ranked second. The best bet to stop Ian is IM Mas who is the top seed in this year edition. For sure, IM Mas also wants to put his name in the record to score another victory as the champion. As GiLoCatur recall, there are only three names who have become the UPSI chess open champions. Ian, IM Mas and Syakir. 

Kejohanan Catur Terbuka UPSI 2013 -OPEN

We will find out the answer after the tournament completes its final round tomorrow. 

photo from fb of Ezmi Mahmood aka Hero

4.00PM,
SMS Alam Shah, Cheras, KL

Good Luck To All Participants In The UPSI Chess Open

GiLoCatur would like to wish GOOD LUCK and ENJOY THE GAME to all the participants who will take part in the UPSI chess open which first round will start tomorrow morning. Once again, GiLoCatur and family have to miss one of GiLoCatur's local chess tournaments. 

In this blog, GiLoCatur has been writing about the past UPSI chess tournaments quite a lot especially the editions in which GiLoCatur attended. Key in "UPSI chess open" in the Search This Blog field, you will get the list of entries on the tournament.

A question comes into GiLoCatur's mind, "Is Ian Udani participating in this year edition?" Why such question? It is because for GiLoCatur, Ian is very synonymous with the tournament. Ian has been very successful in the tournament. Go to this entry to find out. 

UPSI chess open flyer

By the way, do you know what edition would be this year?

Are You "HERO"?

Can you spot the "HERO" in below pictures? It is pretty obvious, right?

In what local chess tournament that the "HERO" took part? Anyone can give the answer? Oh, you need a clue? The chess tournament has been held in tradition in the month of October. In fact, for this year edition it will be held on this coming weekend, from 25th to 27th October. Does it help?

New National Chess Rating ID

What is your latest national chess ratings?

The above questions is for the Malaysian chess player. The October or Quarter 3 (Q3) release had been published by the Malaysian rating officer, Lim Tse Pin, in his chess blog (here) several days ago. For the info, 19 chess events had been submitted for the national rating. Please go to Tse Pin's chess blog to find the list of the nationally-rated chess events. In fact, a chess rating ID has also been introduced starting this Q3. It is a 9-Alphanumeric ID. It is something new. BRAVO for the effort.

Below is the national chess rating ID for GiLoCatur's family:

MCR000212 - Fikri

MCR000591 - Anis Fariha

MCR000386 - Fahim Al-Faqeh

MCR000479 - GiLoCatur 

What is your national chess rating ID?

Rating wise, only Fahim's changed. He took part in two nationally-rated local chess tournaments namely KUSESS Team Open and Swensen Age Group. Fortunately, Fahim gained points in both tournaments. He gained 29.4 in the former and 17.4 in the latter. Thus, having accumulated 47 points in total, Fahim's national rating improves from 1482 to 1529. 

So, what is the national chess rating of GiLoCatur? The answer is 3 more points to 1500. Get it? GiLoCatur hopes to take part in at least one nationally-rated chess event in Quarter 4 and managed to pass the 1500 mark. 

Both Fikri and Anis have not been playing in chess tournaments since the MSSM chess championship. They have big examination this year. As of now, Anis had taken her PMR exam, while Fikri has less than one month for his SPM exam. Fikri is rated at 1624 nationally while his sister, Anis, is rated at 1466.

Beside the national chess rating, there is another chess rating being used in Malaysia. It is Cerdik Catur Rating or CCR in acronym. Neither GiLoCatur nor GiLoCatur's children has the CCR. It is because we have yet participate in any CCrated-chess event. Except Fikri, we will have CCR after taking part in the "Kejohanan Catur Rekreasi Alam Sekitar FRIM" next month.