by Lim Chong
Bogo-Indian Defence
13 April 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The late Larry Parr had contributed to the Selangor Open memoirs by Lim Chong. This article elucidates the 7th Selangor Open held way back in 1980 when IM Jimmy Liew made an impression on the local chess scene as it was written in 1998.
The Playing Fields of Selangor
By Larry Parr (1998)
Catur and I first became directly acquainted on the evening of August 22, 1980, at the 7th Selangor Open. Playing my first tournament game in several years, I pushed my e-pawn two squares and scored the full point in 18 moves after an opening that began 1. e4 c5 2. b3. I could not help thinking that catur, or chess as it’s played in Malaysia, is an easy game.
Boy, did I get that one wrong! None of us knew it at the time, but the 7th Selangor Open marked a coming of age – a competitive watershed – for chess in Malaysia. If foreign masters had won the first six Selangor Opens in a competition dating back to 1974, then a very young Jimmy Liew was about to become the first Malaysian to capture this country’s most prestigious – indeed, its de facto – national open title. He would score an undefeated 8-1 to finish a full point ahead of the two foreign runners-up, Singapore’s Chia Chee Seng and this writer, who also went undefeated.
The Selangor Open, which this year comes wrapped in a glittering 25th silver edition of numerous satellite events, emerged from the creative turmoil of the early 1970s following the deregistration of the old Malaysian Chess Association and the birth of the Malaysian Chess Federation. Fresh blood entered the ranks of chess leadership, and it somehow seemed natural that the energy and dedication of new MCF president Datuk Tan Chin Nam should also be expressed by leaders at the state level. Hence the 1st Selangor Open in 1974 and the 1st Penang Open shortly thereafter.
But as I was saying about the 7th Selangor Open: Not only did international master-to-be Liew win the event, he triumphed effortlessly. Going into the ninth and final round, he stood at 7.5-0.5 seventh round victory that spelled finis to foreign domination of a tournament that is rivalled in Malaysia only by the National Closed:
Figure 1 IM Jimmy Liew Chee Meng, Malaysia
Figure 2 White played 25. Bg5+ and black resigned.
In spite of the admirable attacking élan of Liew and other Malaysian players, one also noticed an interesting kind of ignorance in the opening and a fatal propensity to weaken squares in the ending.
Concerning the opening, many Malaysians back in the 1970s were already memorising the latest main lines of the trendiest openings. They were not, however, studying openings for understanding. As Black, I discovered that offbeat mixer debuts such as the Budapest Defence and Albin Counter Gambit cut a wide swath; and as White, the infamous Danish Gambit never once failed to confuse surprised opponents. Indeed, I played a Danish in the final round of the 1980 Selangor Open, defeating Indian master Ajai Choudhry, who would win the tournament the following year.
As for endings, fast times limits hit Malaysia 10 years before they came to bedevil the West. Most Malaysian players, I discovered, had never once in their chess career sat down to play a long, difficult endgame with slow secondary time controls. This absence of serious endgame practice showed over the board and helped this writer to save and even win several lost positions.
Still, I can testify that by 1980, winning a game against a good Malaysian player was no easy feat. My sense is that the early Selangor Opens, like the “playing fields of Eton”, were a training ground for young talent. Not only did the very best Malaysian players gather to test one another, but they also had the opportunity to meet foreign talent.
The list of winners of the first several Selangor fixtures includes Indonesian international master Dr Max Wotulo (three times), Filipino international master Luis Chiong and Russian attacking master K.K. Ivanov from the Soviet Embassy. Then, in 1983, English international master David Goodman would compete on the playing fields of Selangor. He imparted some valuable lessons, winning the tournament by a record margin of 1.5 points, scoring 8.5-0.5 (Mohd Noor Yahya got the draw).
The 1978 Selangor Open stands out as the strongest in the long series. Participants included IMs Chiong Rico Mascarinas from the Philippines; GM-to-be Murray Chandler from New Zealand; and IMs-to-be Craig Laird from New Zealand and Rafiq Khan from India.
The Malaysian contingent contained every top player except for Choo Min Wang, a two-time national champion and Malaysia’s first internationalist. I think Jimmy Liew’s supine loss to Mascarinas in this tournament, when compared with his hard-scrabble defence against strong American master Arthur Wang in the 1983 Selangor Open, tells a lot not only about his personal advancement but also a rising tide of tournament toughness that raised the level of most Malaysian chess ships.
To read more about the 40th Selangor Open 2013, please click here.
Here comes again another milestone celebrating Selangor Open Chess Tournament for 39 consecutive years in running which also known as "Royal Selangor Open Chess Tournament" since 1983 until 2008. This tournament may not be able to last until today if not for the strong corporate support from Royal Selangor in sponsoring this event.
Selangor Open has been accorded the longest running tournament in Malaysia by The Malaysia Book of Records in 2000. Since its inception in 1974, this event has attracted foreign participations from countries like Russia, India, England, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Uzbekistan, New Zealand, and many others.
Foreign players continue their total domination in this event by winning the first six editions with Indonesian IM Dr. Max Wotulo winning thrice. The foreign domination only came to an end when IM-to-be Jimmy Liew won the 7th edition. As a result from Jimmy win, the year 1980 was marked as a significant year to be remembered for our local players and signal the beginning of a new era of chess development in Malaysia. Nevertheless, Ajai Choudhry continued back foreign domination when he won the 8th edition. However, Jimmy again came to the rescue of local players when he wrested back the title in the following year before losing it to Englishmen IM David Goodman in the 10th edition.
Jimmy began his supremacy by virtue of his IM strength by then to win for 4 consecutive years from the 12th to 15th edition before lost back the title into foreign hand. This time it is IM F. Mirabeau who won the 16th edition. Nevertheless, Jimmy won another two times i.e. 19th and 26th edition to become the "best of the best" among the winners by winning a record of 8 times in 38 editions.
In the 1990s, we saw the emerging of Mok Tze Meng who won in the 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th and 30th edition to become the next best player after Jimmy with a record of 5 wins so far. Other local winners are Nicholas Chan (31st, 36th, 37th, 38th edition), Lim Yee Weng (25th & 35th edition) Peter Long (20th edition), Nor Azmi (21st edition), Mohd. Kamal Abdullah (22nd edition), Anas Nazreen Bakri (32nd edition) and Lim Chuin Hoong (34th edition).
In the year 2000 when CAS is celebrating its 27th Selangor Open, again we saw another set of total foreign domination. This time was the Philippines led by GM Eugene Torre, GM Antonio Rogelio, Ronaldo Nolte, and IM Rico Mascarinas. Meawhile, our local representatives are four-time winner Mok Tze Meng and one-time winner Lim Yee Weng together with a string of national players.
With the participation from the four Filipinos in the 27th Selangor Open, once and again it has shown that the Selangor Open event has never failed to capture the attention of foreign chess players. No wonder the Selangor Open has been dubbed as the de facto Malaysia Open over the years that are without the Malaysia Open being organise. Lets Selangor Open to continue its spirit and tradition into the future generations.
While, the 28th edition saw participation came from both local and Singaporean players only. Mohd Saprin Sabri emerged winner for the first time. Next, the 29th edition won by Fikrul Saifuddin, an Indonesian whom many local players regarded him as the strongest non-FIDE rated chess player in the country at that time.
The 31st edition saw participation from Brunei National Champion AK Hira, Selangor Open winner Mok Tze Meng (5 championships) and Saprin, National Champions Siti Zulaikha and Nicholas Chan, and many other top national players. After a gruelling 9-round, CAS is very please to see the moment of waiting for a home-grown youngster, FM Nicholas Chan, to become the Selangor Open champion has finally arrived. He left the country shortly after that to pursue his study in medicine. Upon returning back to Malaysia, he went on to win the title three years in-a-row from 2009 to 2011.
The achievement of Chan is a best way to show the success of CAS Chess Training Excellent Programme which started as a brainchild of two people i.e. Mrs. Jackie Wong and former top-ranked National player Peter Long. While, Lim Tse Pin is assigned as the chief engineer to carry out this project in 1996 as part of his maiden assignment since joining the Association Council. By 2006, this programme had completed 10 editions successfully and churned out many national champions and age-group champions. Nevertheless, this programme will never exist in the first place if not for strong corporate support from Royal Selangor. A big thank you to Royal Selangor for 26 years support.
CAS has continued to organise the 36th and 37th edition with her own funds at a cost of using one-quarter of available fund that was built since 1983. At the going rate, CAS funds will be wiped out completely by 2015.
In 2011, CAS has made a pledge to the chess community to seek for donations. A donor who wishes to remain anonymous has stepped forward to rescue the 38th edition by donating RM 10,000/=. As for this year edition, the same donor has pledged to underwrite any shortfall from the on-going fundraising exercise for this event. We at CAS are thankful to all donors who have contributed towards continuity of this event as the longest running tournament in Malaysia.
Good News! IM Jimmy Liew, our country first International Master, has confirmed his participation in the 39th Selangor Open.
Jimmy has won the most number of times in Selangor Open history. He first won the title on the 7th edition in the year 1980, and his second title on the 9th edition. 3 yrs later, he won it again, by then has also added an IM title under his belt. He continues to win the title for the next 3 years.
This make him the first person to win the Selangor Open for 4 years in-a-row, a New Championship Record (that still standing until today) was set that surpasses the record of 3 years in-a-row set by IM Dr. Max Wotulo in 1977.
4 years later, Jimmy once again added the 19th edition to his collection of glittering silverware oops .... should be called pewterware since Royal Selangor is THE Sponsor from 10th edition to 35th edition. In 1999, Jimmy once again had captured the 26th Selangor Open and has extended his own winning record to 8 times.
This could well be a National Record for The Most Number of Wins ever recorded in a Single Chess Championship.
CAS is pleased to announce that Selangor Open, a FIDE-rated and National-rated event, will be held from 1st May to 6th May 2012. There is a change in the schedule format if compares with previous years. It is to accomodate more working adults and school going children to take part in this event.
The first 2 rounds will be played on 1st May (Labour Day). Rd 1 @ 2PM followed by Rd 2 @ 7PM. As for Rd 3 to Rd 5, it will start at 7PM on each following day. Then, Rd 6 and Rd 7 on 5th May (Saturday) followed by Rd 8 & Rd 9 on Sunday.
CAS hopes this schedule will be able to attract more people from chess community to support this self-funded event (as of today). The main prize for this event has been extended to top 15 (instead of top 10 winners). Also, CAS is offering top 3 teams (Gold medals, Silver medals and Bronze medals) for IPT/School category. Each IPT/School must send 4 players to be eligible for the prizes.
Entries with payment receives by 23rd April shall entitled to RM 30 discount. In addition, a further 20% discount shall be given to IPT/Schools that send at least 4 players.
CAS hopes all chess bloggers / coaches / academies / associations in Malaysia can lend the support to advertise this Oldest Chess Event in Malaysia in chess blogs and share with as many chess friends as possible to make this event a success.
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You may click here to get a copy of infosheet in pdf format.
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Round 6 Result:
The result for Round 5:
As at this evening, the event has attracted 98 players who have completed the pre-registration process. Payment shall be made on the tournament day, 28th April before 5.30pm at the venue, DATCC, 4th floor, Wilayah Complex, KL. For those who yet to register, you may do so by sending an email to selangorchess@gmail.com by today midnight without incurring any penalty.
The pre-tournament favourites are:
1. 31st, 36th and 37th edition Selangor Open Champion FM Nicholas Chan with elo 2375;
2. IM Srinath Narayanan from INDIA with elo 2310;
3. 8 times Selangor Open Champion IM Jimmy Liew with elo 2302;
4. Ian Udani from Phillipines with elo 2288.
Please send your name to selangorchess@gmail.com if you would like to take part in this event. The pre-registration deadline (without penalty) is extended to today, 25th April 2011.
The names as follow:
01. Muhd Faqih Aminuddin
02. Raja Bazil Bot Raja Badli
03. Afiq Mohd Jamil
04. Muhd Ihsan Syahiran Mohd Najib
05. Mark Siew
06. Mat Zaki Yeop
07. Liew Ashton
08. Sotimin Muhalip
09. Alan Lai
10. Abang Mohd Reduan
11. Hasidin Abdul Rashid
12. Haslindah Ruslan
13. Bustaman Harun
14. Kughan Ravindran
15. Arif Mohd Jamil
16. Sim Chung Seng
17. Abdul Rahim Ramli
18. Ismail Ahmad
19. IM Jimmy Liew
20. Anis Nabilah Ahmad Zuhdi
21. Izzanuddin Irman Aminuddin
22. Ruzenan Abu Bakar
23. Jax Tham Tick Hong
24. Suniil Kalivanan
25. Noor Hafiz Mohd Nor
26. Dawson Tan Soon Wei
27. Dilwen Ding
28. Amier Hamzah Mohd Zuhri
29. Goh Xin Yen
30. Ng Wei Kiang
31. IM Srinath Narayanan
32. Sean Ooi - Paid
33. Viknesh Viajantheran - Paid
34. Ian Udani
35. Daryl Wong Cheng Lim - Paid
36. Poon Jit Wai - Paid
37. Derek Poon Guo Liong - Paid
38. Jaron Tan Xe Yung - Paid
39. Shahrizal Shamsuddin
40. Tariq Ziad Abdul Razak
41. FM Nicholas Chan
42. Vinton Wong
43. Ethan Wong
44. Muhd Syazwan Zulkifli
45. Natasha Kavina Sundra Rajoo
46. Tan Yong Zhao - Paid
47. Ho Chen Ee - Paid
48. Chew Zhi Jing - Paid
49. Chew Zhi Qi - Paid
50. Muhd Amzar Danish Chairil
51. Wong Yinn Long
52. Lee Zhi Wei - Paid
53. Kamaluddin Yusof
54. Ng Shi Yang
55. Ahmad Eizran Ezra
56. Bausch Koh Sian Kuan - Paid
57. Mohd Irfan Haqqim Azhar
58. Mohd Syakir Shazmeer Azhar
59. Puteri Munajjah Azhar
60. Puteri Rifqah Fahada Azhar
61. Tan Ri Hong - Paid
62. Lucas Matthew Dutton
63. Fong Choong Ee
64. Fong Yit Ho
65. Fong Yit San
66. Jeffrey Tan Soon Keat
67. Hemant Sathish
68. Aina Farzana Che Mohd
69. Gabriel Soong
70. Lim Ming Kang
71. Lim Ming Xian
72. Suhaidi Mustafa
73. Mohan Raj Balasupramaniam
74. Max Wong Zi Quan
75. Wong Zi Qi
76. Chin Shun Yi - Paid
77. Emir Rusyaidi Ahmad Nazari - Paid
78. Ellie Emira Syamimi Ahmad Nazari - Paid
79. Sumanth Subramaniam
80. Shreyes Subramaniam
81. Sarika Subramaniam
82. Michellejeet Kaur
83. Nur Nabila Azman Hisham
84. Nur Najiha Azman Hisham
85. Muhd Nabil Azman Hisham
86. Muhd Najwan Azman Hisham
87. Kamalarifin Wahiduddin
88. Syazrin Abdul Rahman
89. Chew Yaw Chong
90. Ee Sun-Xin
91. Low Zhen Yu Cyrus
92. Muhd Danish Hisyam
93. Tan Li Ting
94. Tan Jun Feng
95. Lim Zhuo Ren
96. Fairul Yusoff
97. Raja Bazli Bot Raja Badli
98. Leong Hao Wee
99. ?
This FIDE-rated event (also a nationally rated event) will be organised from 28th Apr to 2nd May 2011 at DATCC, 4th floor, Wilayah Complex, KL. The total prize fund for this event is RM 7,500 with the 38th Selangor Open Champion to receive RM 2,500 in cash.
Confirmation of Participation (28th Apr) >> 4 PM to 5.30PM;
28th Apr >> Round 1: 6.30 PM to 10.30 PM;
29th Apr >> Round 2: 9 AM to 1 PM;
29th Apr >> Round 3: 3 PM to 7 PM;
30th Apr >> Round 4: 9 AM to 1 PM;
30th Apr >> Round 5: 3 PM to 7 PM;
01st May >> Round 6: 9 AM to 1 PM;
01st May >> Round 7: 3 PM to 7 PM;
02nd May >> Round 8: 8.30 AM to 12.30 PM;
02nd May >> Round 9: 2 PM to 6 PM;
Closing Ceremony >> 6.30 PM.
Registration fee:
1. CAS Members with FIDE rating >> RM 70;
2. CAS Members without FIDE rating >> RM 80;
3. Others with FIDE rating >> RM 90;
4. Others without FIDE rating >> RM 100;
5. Schools/Institutions of Higher Learning that send at least 4 players will receive 20% discount.
The final list of the pre-registered names as follow:
1 Andrew Ooi Boon Seng 1514
2 Andrew Soong Loc Yang (U15) 1460
3 Andrew Yap 1390
4 Ashman Raziuddin
5 Bausch Koh Sian Kuan (U12) 1233
6 Chan Sheng Yip 1362
7 Che Muhd Hafiz Che Ismail 1527
8 Cheah Cheok Fung 1832
9 Chek Kin Keuw 1543
10 Chong Kwai Kun 1536
11 Chong Yan Meng (U15) 1516
12 Crivoi Alexandru 2127
13 Derek Poon Guo Liong (U15) 1454
14 Dominic Lee Kuang Wei (U15) 1222
15 Emir Rusyaidi Ahmad Nazari (U12) 1359
16 Fariz Shafruddin 1902
17 Gabriel Soong Mun Hey (U15) 1408
18 Hasidin Abdul Rashid 1459
19 Hisyamiza Ismail (U12) 1200
20 Ian Udani 2130
21 Iskandar Danial Adam (U15) 1179
22 Ismail Ahmad 1884
23 Izuddin Ahayat 1545
24 Keegan Lim Ming Ze (U15) 1123
25 Kiernan Lim Ming Jun (U15) 1177
26 Kong Dak Nam (U12) 1207
27 Kughan Ravindran 1191
28 Lee Zhi Wei (U12) 1276
29 Lee Zhi Yan (U12) 1175
30 Lim Chong 1437
31 Lim Ming Kang (U12) 1426
32 Lokman Hakim Abdullah 1455
33 Lum Zhun Hoong 1393
34 Mohan Raj Balasupramaniam 1492
35 Mohd Fadli Zakaria 1784
36 Mohd Irwan Syah 1347
37 Mohd Zullghafari Saparmin 1433
38 Mok Khye Zen (U12) 1079
39 Mok Shu Zing (U12G) 1318
40 Muhd Asyraaf Said Muhd Khalil
41 Ng Jen Sheng (U12) 1426
42 Nguyen, Tien Thanh
43 Peter Wirija 1603
44 Poon Jit Wai 1530
45 Rahman, Ziaur 2467
46 Shamsuddin Sabri 1397
47 Shum Rui Yuan (U12) 1360
48 Sim Chung Seng 1366
49 Suhaimi Mustafa Albakri 1661
50 Syazrin Abd Rahman 1512
51 Tan Ken Wei 1782
52 Tang Wei Chiat 1581
53 Tasmin, Sultana
54 Teh Wee Zhun 1455
55 Tharoun Sharma Ravindran (U15) 1242
56 Victoar Imanueol Simon 1411
57 Wan Mohd Fazli Wan Nawawi 1652
58 Wan Tarmizi Wan Sulaiman 1588
59 William Choo 1505
60 Zaidan Zulkipli 1776
61 Ziaur, Thaksin
Please report yourself to the tournament venue by 9AM. CAS hopes to see all the names listed above will turn up for the event and enjoy the tournament ........
The pre-registration process has received 34 names so far with 4 days to go before the event date. A very slow start leading to the event that offers up to 25 prizes and it's a nationally rated event for the period April to June 2010.
The list as follow:
1. Sim Chung Seng
2. Mohd Irwan Syah
3. Andrew Yap
4. VICTOAR IMANUEOL A/L SIMON
5. Kughan Ravindran
6. Emir Rusyaidi Ahmad Nazari
7. Wan Tarmizi Wan Sulaiman
8. syazrin abd rahman
9. Hasidin Abdul Rashid
10. Ashman Raziuddin
11. Iskandar Danial Adam
12. Wan Mohd Fazli Wan Nawawi
13. NGUYEN TIEN THANH
14. Peter Wirija
15. Lum Zhun Hoong
16. Shum Rui Yuan (U12)
17. Shamsuddin Sabri
18. Mohan Raj
19. Crivoi Alexandru
20. Ismail ahmad
22. Hisyamiza Ismail (U12)
23. Bausch Koh Sian Kuan (U12) pd50
24. Teh Wee Zhun
25. Dominic Lee (U15)
26. Lee zhi Yan (U12)
27. Lee Zhi Wei (U12)
28. Izuddin Ahayat
29. William Choo
30. GM Ziaur Rahman
31. Sultana Tashmin
32. Taksin Ziaur
33. Poon Jit Wai _pd20
34. Tan Ken Wei
For those who wish to take part in this event, please send your name to selangorchess@gmail.com by 11th June (FRIDAY). Thank you.
Rd 4 saw several interesting results being produced. IM Jimmy Liew lost to WCM Nur Nabila on Table 2, newly elected Vice-president of CAS NM Yeoh Chin Seng drew with WFM Nur Najiha on Table 3. A good performance for Azman's children.
MSSWP Chief Trainer Shamsuddin defeated NJM Muhd Tariq on Table 7. Yeoh Li Tian was outplayed by Jimmy in Rd3.
For those who wish to be part of the oldest chess tournament in Malaysia but yet to pre-register yourself for the event.
Don't worry, you may do a walk-in registration tomorrow at the tournament venue (DATCC @ 4th floor, Wilayah Complex, KL) between 12noon and 1.30pm. A surcharge of RM 20 (as per advertised) will be imposed as late fee on top of the entrance fee.
