KL Open is now open to Malaysian players.

I have been asked by Dato Sri Edmund Santhara, The President of KLCA, to quote him saying that you can now apply to join the KL Open directly by issuing a bankers draft of RM200 to KLCA.

I am still trying to work out the process of how this bankers draft can reach KLCA. Please follow this blog for updates. I will let you know as soon as I know.

All my best to Malaysian players wanting to improve their chess the proper way.

Updates on MCF Council.

Here.

Indonesia Open- Live link.

I heard our current NM Aron Teh will be playing at this event. So we will be following it. But we will also be following the event because our training partner FM Paulo Bersamina is also playing. We will be meeting him in Manila later this month. Good luck Aron and Good luck Paulo. May the force be with the both of you.

So enjoy the games. Here is the link. Here.

Off to Langkawi.

See you guys after the weekend. See here.

World Youth U16 Olympiad.

Ref: Here.

I have personally found that peer learning is the best way to develop your chess fast. This is a team event and the boys and girls need to work at learning together in order to put up a challenge against their opponents. There is no Olympiad for the U20's but this is a great opportunity for parents to sign up their U16 children for this event. Do hurry and sign up as the dateline is approaching.

All my best in your chess development.

An appeal from Selangor Chess.

Ref: Here.

The list of inactive players. This list makes for interesting reading. Actually I have had feedback from some strong players in the past, including former National Masters on that list, that one of the reasons why they don't play in classical events anymore is because they believe there is a closed shop for the senior squad.

There are signs that this may be changing. Read this carefully. Here. Midway; from the line, MCF Council.....

So there may be more places offered from National Close and it also sounds like nobody "automatically" qualifies just because of title or high rating. There is hope yet for a level playing field guys and gals; that it will be based on your chess skills alone.

I have also been informed that the dates for National Close cannot be confirmed at the moment as PRU may fall on the 11th of May. So wait for the announcement but start preparing now. It is very unlikely that it will happen on the 3rd as previously announced by Peter so Selangor Open will be a good place to warm up for National Close. See you guys there.

Good luck and all my best in your chess development.

Kedah rapid chess tournament.

Results here.

Live games from table 1 here. From 9am tomorrow.

The senior Malaysian squad selection criteria as explained to me.

A council member of MCF was kind enough to help clarify the selection criteria to me last night. So this is what I have been informed. The top 3 from National Close is automatically in the Malaysian squad and they will play in the Masters with the 6 on the active list plus last year's National Champion Roshan. So altogether 10 players allowed in the Masters.

The top 3 from National Close is guaranteed their places on the Malaysian senior squad even if they end up bottom of the Masters. So that means that there will be 2 places culled from the 6 plus 1 after the Masters.

After thinking about it this morning, it does represent an increase in internal competition. And that is good. Could it be better? Perhaps. Probably. But I think this is still a step forward.

Now the interesting thing is this. The 6 plus 1 can choose to risk playing in the Masters by automatic entry and see 2 of their numbers culled or they can choose to play at National Close and be guaranteed their places should they end up top 3. As far as I can see, this is perhaps a difficult decision for Roshan.

The question is this. If say Roshan decides to play in National Close, will the invitation be extended to the player positioned 7th on the active list which is Li Tian onwards? I hope that will be the case.

Then we will see a good Masters.

The Strongest Malaysian Juniors 2012.

A very very big Congratulations to NJM Fong Yit San and NWJM Tan Li Ting.

The undisputed strongest Malaysian male and female junior for the year 2012. 

I will write a deeper evaluation later but let me just mention a few things here quickly. It was an honour to take part in this well fought event after absence from Tournament chess for a complete year apart from a rapid event at Datmo mid year. This year Jimmy had also enrolled one of his students to contest as well. Good for you Jimmy. So we had students from Jimmy, Jax Tham, Peter and FGM entered Mark. This is the way. Contest on the table and not via PR campaigns and designed fat numbers to make dubious claims. Unconstitutional bannings of strong players produced by others just because you cannot produce strong players yourself should also be addressed by MCF.

The table has spoken for this year and all should accept the results and acclaim these 2 Champions as our strongest Juniors 2012.

A well run Tournament and Najib should be proud of this event.

Congratulations Roshan.

Here.

Incredible run. I hope you get the perfect 9. All my best.