My Chess Life

WAN NURHAZIRAH, THE DARLING OF TUMPAT

Wan Nurhazirah created a sensation when she beat Wan Zarif Sofea in Round 4 of the tournament. Moreover, Zarif's agony was limited to only 15 moves by the time she was checkmated. Although the game was far from a masterpiece, it was surely a memorable one for the Tumpat lass.

MSSK Kelantan
Round 4
White: Wan Nurhazirah (PPD Tumpat)
Black: Wan Zarif Sofea (PPD Pasir Puteh)

Annotation by Cikgu Azizul

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 d5 4.e3

Zarif tried to seduce Nurhazirah into playing the French, but the latter comfortably stayed within the realm of the Queen's Gambit.

4... Nc6

This is rather an awkward move. Queen's Knight usually develops after the c-pawn advance so that the Queen has more breathing space.

5.Be2 h6

Before the game, Nurhazirah told me that Zarif likes to play moves like h6 and a6. I explained to her that such moves are unnecessary and weakening, and advised her to continue with her development.

6.O-O Be7 7.Nc3 Ne4

Now this move created a pawn weakness for Black. After the exchange of Knights, the advanced e-pawn will be hard to defend.

8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Nd2 f5

An ugly move, but quite necessary if she was to defend the e-pawn. Now the weakness of 5... h6 will be apparent.

10.Nb3?!
An inaccuracy. A check at h5 was mandatory.

10... b6??

Zarif failed to see the danger. Luckily Nurhazirah did not miss the chance to check for the second time. Now Black's position crumbled.

11.Bh5+ Kd7 12.d5 exd5 13.Qxd5+ Bd6 14.Qxf5+ Ke7 15.Qf7# 1-0

Finished in style. Congratulations!