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By Emran Mohd Tamil

From its inception, the ICE FIDE Rated Under 1600 Series has attracted a total of 320 participants from the five editions held so far. They are not only from Malaysia but India, China and the Philippines!

Since it is an open tournament, just limited to those with a FIDE Rating 1600 and below, age does not matter and anyone can take part.

Our first champion is the 8 years old prodigy Anderson Ang. Since then only Iwan Spassky Schani managed to win it twice, for the first time in the second edition and then again in the fifth edition.

In the third edition it was Wael Abu Garad from China and in the third it was Leo Romitman from the Philippines.

The series has so far produced 53 new FIDE Rated players (which is the main objective for those unrated) and these numbers have greatly exceeded our objectives.

While my co-organiser Shin Azwan and I have been credited with popularizing this format (eight rounds with the time control 30+30), we drew our inspiration from the efforts of Justin Pereira with the Kajang Classical held in December 2017 and then by Cikgu Rose Imah Ina with the SKBJ Classical in February 2018.

Our first ICE FIDE Rated Under 1600 was in March 2018 and has been held almost monthly since then.

We would like here to also acknowledge and thank IA Peter Long for his guidance and also for his sponsorship of the use of the tournament hall at the Institute for Chess Excellence which is also a Regional Asian Chess Federation Academy.

This weekend of 1-2 September will see the sixth edition of ICE FIDE Rated Under 1600 and we are excited to see who our next champion will be.

Registration is still open and can be made via WhatsApp to +60 19 667 5675.

By Andrew Ooi

China’s Wang Hao won this title 13 years go as a prodigy, and finally returning to play, this time as  a 2700 Grandmaster, he again took the title, scoring eight points out of a possible nine with seven wins and two draws.

Second place was taken by Iran’s brilliant young talent Alireza Firouzja with seven points and a better tie-break over third placed Filipino veteran Darwin Laylo.

The Top 20:

1. Wang Hao 8; 2-3. Firouzja Alireza & Laylo Darwin 7; 4-13. Dimakiling Oliver, Idani Pouya, Deepan Chakkravarthy J. , Karthikeyan P., Bersamina Paulo, Firman Syah Farid, Fang Yuxiang, Taher Yoseph Theolifus, Kuybokarov Temur & Saduakassova Dinara; 14-20. Andyka Pitra, Le Tuan Minh, Yeoh Li Tian, Chan Nicholas, Dang Hoang Son, Yu Ruiyuan & Miciano John Marvin.

Photo is of former China No. 1 Wang Hao together with long time Malaysian chess patron Dato’ Tan Chin Nam who is also the sponsor.

Full results at: http://chess-results.com/tnr371453.aspx?lan=1

The 4th National team championship 2018 was played over seven rounds using the Swiss System and then a final four knockout.

Thapathali Chess Park claimed the victory and the NPR 150000 prize while Lalitpur Sports Club, Goldengate Int College, Gajurmukhi Chess Club were second, third and fourth respectively, also winning NPR 75000, NPR 50000 and NPR 30000 respectively

This very successful championship was organized by Nepal chess Association and managed by Lalitpur Sports Club.

Singapore Chess has lost another faithful servant in IM & IA Giam Choo Kwee, Player, Trainer, Organiser and Sponsor.

Below is Junior Tay’s tribute for the many in Singapore and around the region that knew the man and his great passion for chess.

https://www.chess.com/blog/juniortay/im-giam-choo-kwee-1942-2018-fearless-tactician-much-respected-organizer-and-trainer

The 1st CAP Taipei International Youth Chess Open was jointly organised by Chinese Taipei Chess Association and Taoyuan Chess Association from 11th to 16th August 2018 in the county of Taoyuan – 20 minutes away from Taoyuan International Airport. The venue was the 5-star Orchard Park Hotel.

There were categories for U7 U9 U11 U13 U15 U17 U19 and Open. A total of 63 players from 6 federations competed for the total prize fund of US $10,000.

Prof Liu Ko-fei, founder and current president of the federation proudly announced that this will be a new feature on their calendar. Prof Liu, who personally underwrite the financial cost, said he was very satisfied with the overall organisation as well as from the support of the players and their parents. The next edition will be scheduled for July 2019.

Mr Ignatius Leong, the brainchild of this event and CEO of Chess Asia Pacific Ltd, announced plans to organise 2 more new events (Taiwan International Open and Taiwan International Rapid Team) next year – along the lines of the Malaysian Chess Festival.

GMs Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE, Daniil Dubov of Russia and Anton Korobov of Ukraine shared first place with 7.5 points each out of 9 rounds in the Abu Dhabi Masters Chess Championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Salem used the Sicilian Defense against GM Aravindh Chitambaram of India, sacrificed his Queen on the 31^st move and forced resignation on the 38^th move with a Knight fork recovering material. Dubov outmaneuvered the Nimzo Indian defense of GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, won the Queen on the 46^th move and sealed the win on the 80^th move. Korobov and Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia played to a friendly draw in 10 moves of a Reti opening.

In the Bucchjolz tie break system, Dubov emerged first followed by Korobov in second and Salem in third. Sargissian placed 4^th alone with 7 points. Eleven players follow with 6.5 each, namely Cheparinov and Jojua Davit of Georgia, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Wang Hao of China, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Amin Bassem of Egypt, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, Murali Karthikeyan, Debashis Das and Harsha Bharathakoti of India and 14-year-old GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.

In the Open division of 236 players, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan tied for first with 8 points each. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India won with 8 points out of 9 rounds.

Over $61,000 in cash prizes were at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council .

A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries saw action in the Masters event. The Festival consisted of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.

Replay games on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.

Photo caption:

Salem_Areavindh.jpg: GM Saleh A.R. Salem of  the UAE (left) beat GM Aravindh Chitambaram of India (photo by Kevin Sarmiento).

Dubov_Cheparinov.jpg: GM Daniiel Dubov of Russia (left) beat GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia (photo by Kevin Sarmiento).

Sargissian_Korobov.jpg: GM Anton Korbov of Ukraine (right) drew with GM Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia (photo by Kevin Sarmiento).

 

Anton Korobov of Ukraine beat second seed Richard Rapport of Hungary to grab solo lead after the penultimate round of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Korobov, two time Ukraine champion and 2010 Abu Dhabi Masters champion, crushed the Queen’s Indian defense of Rapport. The Ukrainian sacrificed a pawn on the 26^th move and forced an exchange of Queens to transpose to a favorable endgame. Unable to prevent pawn promotion, Rapport resigned on the 54^th move. The win gave Korobov 7 points out of 8 rounds in the race for the top prize of $13,000.

GMs Saleh A.R. Salem of the UAE and Daniil Dubov of Russia drew in 20 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense to share second slot at 6.5 points together with GMs Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and GM Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia.

Sargissian smashed the English Opening of GM Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran in a marathon 74 moves with a Rook and pawn endgame. Cheparinov destroyed the Sicilian defense of GM Murali Karthikeyan of India in 56 moves with a minor piece endgame.

In the Open division of 236 players, three players maintained their lead with 7 points each after the penultimate 8th round, namely Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India won with a final score of 8 points out of 9 rounds.

Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council .

A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.

Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.

GM Saleh A. R. Salem of the UAE beat top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam to climb back to a share of the lead with two others in the homestretch of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Salem crushed the Queen’s Indian defense of the Vietnamese with a Knight sacrifice on the 26^th move. The Emirati capitalized on the black square weakness and threatened inevitable mate to force resignation on the 39^th move. The win gave Salem 6 points out of 7 rounds together with GMs Daniil Dubov of Russia and Anton Korobov of Ukrraine who drew with each other in 18 moves of a Closed Catalan.

Six grandmasters follow with 5.5 points each in the race for the top prize of $13,000, namely Murali Karthikeyan and Arvindh Chithambaram of India, second seed Richard Rapport of Hungary, Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran.

Karthikeyan smashed the Sicilian Defense of GM Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia in 53 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame. Chitambaram needed a marathon 72 moves of a Scotch Game to beat Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine. Rapport beat GM Amin Tabatabaei of Iran in 22 moves of a Guioco Piano. Cheparinov used the Gruenfeld Defense to beat GM Daniele Vocaturo of Iraly in 52 moves. Sargissian punished the irregular opening of GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia in 51 moves. Maghsoodloo used the Queen’s Gambit Declined to beat GM S.L. Narayanan of India in 52 moves.

In the Open division of 236 players, five players maintained their lead with 6 points each after 7 rounds, namely  Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan, Datar Sohan of India, Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan. In the juniors for under-16 players, IM D. Gubesh of India grabbed solo lead with 7.5 points out of 8 rounds.

Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.

GM Daniil Dubov of Russia and GM Anton Korobov of Ukraine beat their respective opponents to share the lead with 5.5 points each after 6 rounds of the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Masters championship at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu  Dhabi.

Dubov, 22, turned back the Reti opening of Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia. sacrificing the exchange on the 36^th move to weave a mating net with Queen and Rook and force resignation on the 40^th move. Korobov, 23, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Masters champion and two-time Ukrainian champion, crushed the Symmetrical opening of Chinese GM Wang Hao, threatening mate on the 35^th move.

Erstwhile co-leader GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE is in third slot with 5 points after settling for a draw in 20 moves against the Trompovsky Attack of GM Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine.

Wang, Pantsulaia and Kravtsiv trail with 4.5 points together with 13 other GMs in the race for the top prize of $13,000. Four Indians are tied with them, namely Murali Karthikeyan, S.L. Narayanan, Chithambaram Aravindh and IM Sarin Nihal of India. Also tied at 4.5 points each are top seed Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia, Daniele Vocaturo of Italy, Ivan Cheparinov of Georgia, Parham Maghsoodloo and Amin Tabatabaei of Iran, Mads Andersen of Denmark.

In the Open division of 236 players, four players share the lead with 5.5 points each after six rounds, namely Datar Sohan of India, Sameer Loay of Jordan, Jemal Overzdurdiyeva of Turkmenistan, Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan.

In the juniors for under-16 players, Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan grabbed solo lead with perfect 7 points followed by IM D. Gubesh of India in second slot with 6.5 points out of 7 rounds.

Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE beat GM Amin Bassem of Egypt to surge into the lead with four others after five rounds of the Abu Dhabi Chess Masters at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

In a Ruy Lopez game, Salem penetrated with his Rook on the seventh rank on the 22^nd move and trapped the Egyptian’s king in the center to threaten inevitable mate on the 41st move. The win gave Salem 4.5 points out of 5 rounds to share the lead with GMs Wang Hao of China, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia, Anton Korobov of Ukraine and Daniil Dubov of Russia.

GM Salem A.R. Saleh of the UAE (left) beat GM Amin Bassem of Egypt

 

Wang crushed the King’s Indian defense of Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo in 37 moves of a Rook and pawn endgame. Pantsulaia used the Reti opening to beat GM Nigel Short of England in 40 moves. Korobov smashed the Slav defense of GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt with a mating net in only 29 moves. Dobov, erstwhile solo leader, was held to a draw by Vladimir Fedoseev in 30 moves of a Queen’s Gambit.

Wang Hao beat Maghsoodloo Parham

 

Levan Pantsulaia beat Nigel Short

 

Anton Korobov beat Ahmed Adly

 

Fedoseev trails with 4 points together with 5 others, namely GMs S.L. Narayanan of India, Richard Rapport of Hungary, Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukarine, Gabriel Sargissian of Armenia and Daniele Vocaturo of Italy.

In the Open division of 236 players, Datar Soham of India and Mohammad Al Saleh of Syria are tied for the lead with 5 points in as many rounds. In the juniors for under-16 players, I.R.Sirhan and V. Pranav of India and Kazybek Umbetov of Kazakhstan share the lead with perfect 5 point slates.

Over $61,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the tournament organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council.

A strong field of 47 grandmasters, 30 International Masters, 7 Woman Grandmasters, 6 Woman International Masters, 20 FIDE Masters and 2 Woman FIDE Masters in a record field of 158 players from 32 countries are competing in the Masters event. The Festival consists of an elite Masters championship for players rated above 2100, an Open tournament for those rated below 2100 and a Junior championship for players under 16 years of age.

Watch games live on chess24.com. Look for ADchess in Youtube for running commentary by GM Viorel Iordachescu. Visit chess-results.com to download games.