66 teams have registered participation in this year's 29th Astro Merdeka Rapid Open Team Championship 2009 . The Opening Ceremony held on the 29th Aug 2009 was graced by YB Dato' Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports pictured above receiving a memento from our MCF President Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib. He showed talent in a chess encounter with our Dato Tan Chin Nam and hopefully will provide impetus in the development of chess to the next higher level