ARKURNI - IIUMCHESSMASTER LATEST

This is the latest position in my duel with my ex-teammate Hanif Arkurni. White to move.

SMKCE CHESS PLAYERS

I selected several players to represent the school in this year's MSS for Tumpat district. Regrettably, there is only one category will be contested, i.e. under 18, and each school can only bring 6 players. Nevertheless, here are the lucky names:

1. Mohamad Ashari bin Seman (5 SH) - Captain
2. Ahmad Zul Khairi bin Md Noor (5 SK)

3. Muhammad Shahril bin Ismail (5 SK)

4. Siti Salmiah binti Abdul Rajab (5 SH)

5. Tg. Haryani Norlaini binti Tg. Hanafi (5 SH)

6. Nor Izzatul Elanie binti Mustafah (1 B)


They have already trained several basic concepts such as chess introduction, notation, checkmate patterns, techniques, and control of the centre. With only a week of training remaining, I have to prepare them for tournament play. I hope at least one of them will represent the district in the upcoming state competition.

UTP OPEN

Universiti Teknologi Petronas will be holding a national-rated chess competition later this month. The details as follows:

BUILDING THE BRIDGE

I managed to build a bridge, again (I did it against another online opponent here). This is a basic rook ending any chess player has to know by heart. It was quite easy to find it, through enough training. So, my young padawans, please don't play truant. Training continues this Sunday and please be ON TIME!

The critical endgame position started with the diagram:

After 46.Re4

Black eliminates one of White pawns by exchanging it with 46...h5! The game continues 47. gxh5 Rxh5 48. Rg4 g5 49. Kc3 Kb5 50. Kb3 Rh3+ 51. Kc2 Rh4

After 51...Rh4

Black kills any hope for White to win the game by exchanging the last pawn. From now on, it is Black who has all the initiative. 52. Rxg5+ Kxb4 53. Rg8 c5 54. Rb8+ Kc4 55. Kd2 Rh2+ 56. Ke3 Kc3 57. Rc8 c4 58. Rc7 Rh3+ 59. Ke2 Rd3 60. Rc8 Rd4 61. Ke3 Rh4 62. Ke2 Kc2 63. Ke3 c3 64. Rg8 Rh3+ 65. Ke2 Rh2+ 66. Ke1 Kc1 67. Rc8 c2 68. Rb8 Rh5

Starting the bridge

Rook on the 4th rank is the starting of 'The Bridge'. White is helpless. 69. Rb7 Re5+ 70. Kf2 Kd2 71. Rd7+ Kc3 72. Rc7+ Kd3 73. Rd7+ Kc4 0-1

The final position

CHESS IS BACK!

I cannot help but smile broadly when the DPM announced that RM89 mil will be allocated for sports development in school, and for the 24 sports under MSSM to be held unhindered. This is in line with his vision for sports to be a policy in schools. He has lived up to his words to help sports in school when he was shocked by Tunku Tan Sri Imran's revelation about the scrapped sports from MSSM calendar. All the efforts taken by the bloggers to condemn the exclusion of chess from the MSSM calendar have been fruitful. All the teachers and coaches will be very grateful and enthusiastic hearing this news, and all the students will be very eager to continue their training. See you in MSSM! Speaking of which, where will it be held this year?

TRAINING STARTED

SMKCE chess training officially started today. I am using the module I've developed myself for these students. Hopefully they will benefit from it. So far the module produced 2 state players from Gua Musang. I wonder whether they still use it this year?


Details of Tumpat district selection (subject to change):

• Date: 3 - 4 March 2010
• Venue: SK Kampong Laut

Details of Kelantan state selection (subject to change):

• Date: 8 - 10 April 2010
• Venue: Pasir Puteh