Blog GilaChess

Wish I could have blog updates on the on going Para games between 18th September to 22 September taking place at MITEC KL. Anyway here is a video of our Malaysian team sparring at Hotel Seri Pacific.

When was the last time any Malaysian gave a World Champion a good fight in chess? Some discussion in Facebook pointed to games where Peter Long beat World Women Champion Xie Jun over a decade ago. Perhaps that's the closest.

It's for that reason, and just like Yeoh Li Tian's attainment of Malaysia's first GM norm, this recent results against no less than former World Champion, Anand Viswanathan in the World Cup was also outstanding!

Usually at this time during the penultimate round of the Malaysian Open there would be a clear leader. However for the first time this year, thing are not so clear as there are 11 joint leaders !

They are :

1. GM Venkatesh M.R.
2. GM Ma Qun
3. GM Fang Yuxiang
4. GM Tran Tuan Minh
5. GM Zhou Jianchao
6. IM Tan Justin
7. GM Vishnu Prasanna. V
8. GM Yu Ruiyuan
9. GM Nguyen Duc Hoa
10. IM Abdusattorov Nodirbek
11. GM Laylo Darwin

Crossreference table after 8 rounds:-



GM Zhou Jianchao



GM Fang Yuxiang



GM Fang Yuxiang



GM Ma Qun


IM Abdusattorov Nodirbek


GM Tran Tuan Minh


GM Vishnu Prasanna. V

IM Justin Tan

Everything is broadcasted via the phone. All this is made possible by Acid Ape Chess app which has the ability to connect to a Bluetooth DGT chess board and Youtube Gaming Live to help broadcast the game.

Go to http://live.catur.org to see 8 boards (traditional wired connections to a PC) and the totally wireless DGT board without using a PC(at bottom most board).

Psychologically the worst thing I can imagine happening to any chess player in a tournament. This happened to WGM Irene Sukhandar Kharisma recently.


Also, please no hate comment  chess player that refused the draw suggestion from the arbiters. It's perfectly his or her right to refuse. However, personally I think most people (including me) will be sympathetic and reduce Irene's worry and burden by giving her the draw.

The lesson ? Be more vigilant of your belongings. Maybe find a hotel safe or leave your valuables with a trusted friend or arbiter during the tournament.




Incidentally, Irene is a "regular" to the Malaysian Chess Festival in the early years.
Here's a picture from 2012.