Bangkok chess club open

Here are all the available games of the Malaysian players at the concluded Bangkok Chess Club open tournament in Chiangmai, Thailand. The event was won by India's grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly who won against the Australian grandmaster, Bobby Cheng, in the final round of the event. 

The Malaysian charge was led by Poh YuTian. The 13-year-old, who was awarded his Fide Master title not so long ago, maybe two months ago, has now achieved his first International Master norm when he held off a determined Australian grandmaster, David Smerdon, in the last round. 

There was also good news in the Challengers tournament as Kamaluddin Yusof was adjudged the champion on tie-break. Unfortunately, there are no published games from this section.

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.23"]

[Round "01"]

[White "Priasmoro, Novendra"]

[Black "Muzzaffar, Ahmad"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2512"]

[BlackElo "1897"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bd3 g5 12. fxg5 Ne5 13. Qe2 Nfg4 14. h3 hxg5 15. Bg3 Nxd3+ 16. cxd3 Ne5 17. Kb1 Bd7 18. Rc1 Qb8 19. Rc2 b5 20. Rhc1 b4 21. Nd1 g4 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Nc6 Qb5 24. Nxe7 Kxe7 25. Qxg4 Rag8 26. Qf3 Rh4 27. Ne3 Rf4 28. Qe2 Rg3 29. Rc5 Qb6 30. Qe1 Rg5 31. Ng4 f6 32. Qh4 Bb5 33. Qh7+ Kd6 34. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.24"]

[Round "03"]

[White "Sabri, Mohd Saprin"]

[Black "Ly, Moulthun"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "1998"]

[BlackElo "2481"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5 4. e3 dxe3 5. fxe3 cxb4 6. d4 e5 7. Nxe5 Bd6 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Re1 Bg4 13. Nbd2 Bh5 14. Qc2 a5 15. g3 a4 16. Rab1 b3 17. axb3 Nb4 18. Qc3 a3 19. Ba1 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Bb4 21. e4 Bxf3 22. Nxf3 a2 23. Rbd1 Bxe1 24. Rxe1 Nd7 25. d5 f6 26. Nd4 Qa5 27. Bc3 Nc5 28. Qf3 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 Nxe4 30. Bxa5 a1=Q+ 0-1

Image from Zhuo Ren's facebook 

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.24"]

[Round "03"]

[White "Lim, Zhuo Ren"]

[Black "Short, Nigel D"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2296"]

[BlackElo "2610"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. O-O Rb8 7. a4 a6 8. a5 Bd6 9. Nbd2 b5 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Nxc4 Nxc4 13. Qxc4 Rb4 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. Bd2 Rb5 16. Ra5 Be4 17. Qc1 Qa8 18. Qa1 Rxa5 19. Qxa5 Rb8 20. Bc3 h6 21. Ra1 Rb6 22. Qa4 Nd5 

23. Ne1 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Bb4 25. Bxb4 Rxb4 26. Qxa6 Qxa6 27. Rxa6 Rxd4 28. f3 Rd2 29. Ra8+ Kh7 30. e4 Nb4 31. Nf4 Nc6 32. b4 Nxb4 33. Rc8 Rd7 34. h4 g6 35. h5 g5 36. Ne2 Nc6 37. f4 Kg7 38. Kf2 Ne7 39. Rb8 c6 40. Ra8 g4 41. Ke3 c5 42. Ra5 c4 43. Rc5 Rd3+ 44. Kf2 Rf3+ 45. Ke1 Ng8 46. f5 exf5 47. exf5 Nf6 48. Rxc4 Rxf5 49. Nf4 Nxh5 50. Nxh5+ Rxh5 51. Rxg4+ Rg5 52. Ra4 Rxg3 53. Kf2 Rg5 54. Kf3 h5 55. Rb4 Rg4 56. Rb5 Kh6 57. Ra5 Rg1 58. Kf2 Rg5 59. Ra4 Rg4 60. Ra6+ Kg5 61. Ra5+ Kg6 62. Ra6+ Kg5 63. Ra5+ f5 64. Ra8 Rb4 65. Kf3 Rb3+ 66. Kg2 Kg4 67. Rg8+ Kf4 68. Rh8 Rg3+ 69. Kh2 Rg5 70. Kh3 Ke3 71. Ra8 Rg4 72. Ra3+ Kf4 73. Ra4+ Kg5 74. Ra8 Re4 75. Rg8+ Kf4 76. Rh8 Re1 77. Kg2 Re2+ 78. Kh3 Kf3 79. Rxh5 f4 80. Rf5 Ke4 81. Rf8 f3 82. Kg3 Rg2+ 83. Kh3 Ke3 84. Ra8 Rd2 85. Kg3 Rg2+ 86. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.24"]

[Round "03"]

[White "Gustafsson, Jan"]

[Black "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "2638"]

[BlackElo "2340"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be2 O-O 13. Nh4 Bxe2 14. Nxe2 Re8 15. Nf3 Ne4 16. b3 Qf6 17. Ned4 Ne5 18. Bb2 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qe5 20. Rfd1 Qh2+ 21. Kf1 Rac8 22. Ke2 Be5 23. Rac1 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 g6 25. Rc2 h5 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. g4 h4 28. a4 Rd6 29. g5 Rd8 30. Ba1 Nxg5 31. Qh1 Qxh1 32. Rxh1 Bg7 33. Nf3 Ne4 34. Bxg7 Kxg7 35. Rc1 Rd6 36. Rc7 Rb6 37. Nd4 a5 38. Rd7 Kf6 39. Kf3 Nd2+ 40. Kg4 Nxb3 41. Nxb3 Rxb3 42. Rxd5 Rb4+ 43. f4 Rxa4 44. Rb5 Ra1 45. Rb6+ Kg7 46. Rxb7 a4 47. Ra7 a3 48. Kxh4 a2 49. e4 Kf6 50. Ra6+ Ke7 51. f5 g5+ 52. Kh5 g4 0-1 (Refer to this story for more on this game.)

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.25"]

[Round "04"]

[White "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]

[Black "Navaratnam, Rohan Shan Tze"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2589"]

[BlackElo "2248"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Nc6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bg4 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bb2 Ne5 13. Rc1 Ba7 14. Na4 Re8 15. Nc5 Qd6 16. Nxb7 Qb4 17. Bxe5 Rxe5 18. Qe1 Qxe1 19. Rfxe1 Re7 20. Na5 Bb6 21. Nc6 Rc7 22. Nfe5 Be6 23. Nd4 Rac8 24. Nd3 Ne4 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26. Nf4 Bxd4 27. exd4 Rc2 28. Bxe4 dxe4 29. Rxe4 Bd7 30. Re7 Bb5 31. a4 Rc1+ 32. Kg2 Kf8 33. Ra7 Bf1+ 34. Kf3 Rc3+ 35. Ke4 Rxb3 36. d5 g5 37. Nh5 Rb2 38. Ke5 Rxf2 39. Ra8+ Ke7 40. d6+ Kd7 41. Nf6+ Kc6 42. d7 Re2+ 43. Kf5 Bh3+ 44. g4 1-0

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.25"]

[Round "04"]

[White "Melkumyan, Hrant"]

[Black "Lim, Zhuo Ren"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2645"]

[BlackElo "2296"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bc1 c6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. b4 Qe7 13. c5 Rd8 14. Qb3+ Kh8 15. Rd1 Nf8 16. Rxd8 Qxd8 17. h3 Nh6 18. Be3 Be6 19. Bc4 Qe8 20. b5 Nf7 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Rd1 f5 23. Qa4 f4 24. Bc1 Bxc4 25. Qxc4 Ne6 26. Ne2 g5 27. g4 Qe7 28. Ba3 Rd8 29. Rxd8+ Nfxd8 30. Nc1 Nd4 31. Nxd4 exd4 32. f3 Nf7 33. Nd3 Ne5 34. Nxe5 Bxe5 35. Kf1 Qb7 36. Bb4 h6 37. Ke2 Bg7 38. a4 Kh7 39. Kd3 Kh8 40. Kc2 Kh7 41. Bd2 Kh8 42. Be1 Kh7 43. h4 Kh8 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. Bf2 Qd7 46. a5 Kh7 47. a6 Kg6 48. Kd3 Qc8 49. Be1 Kh7 50. Ba5 Qb8 51. Bb4 Qc8 52. Kc2 Qb8 53. Ba3 Kh8 54. Qd3 Qc7 55. Bb4 Qb8 56. Qc4 Qc8 57. Bd2 Qb8 58. Bc1 Kh7 59. Bd2 Kh8 60. Be1 Kh7 61. Qb4 Qc8 62. Qa4 Qe6 63. Bd2 Kh8 64. Qb3 Qc8 65. Qc4 Qb8 66. Be1 Kh7 67. Bf2 Qd8 68. e5 Bxe5 69. Qd3+ Kg7 70. Qb3 Qa5 71. Qb7+ Kg6 72. Qxc6+ Bf6 73. Kd1 Qc3 74. Qe4+ Kh6 75. Be1 Qxc5 76. Qd3 Qe5 77. Bb4 Kg7 78. Kc2 Qc7+ 79. Kb3 Qc6 80. Ba3 Qd5+ 81. Kc2 Qc6+ 82. Kd2 Qa4 83. Ke2 Qe8+ 84. Kf1 Qa4 85. Kg2 Qc6 86. Bb4 Qd5 87. Be1 Bd8 88. Bf2 Bb6 89. Kf1 Kf6 90. Be1 Qc5 91. Bd2 Kg7 92. Ke2 Qe7+ 93. Kd1 Qe5 94. Qc4 Qc5 95. Qxc5 Bxc5 96. Kc2 Kf6 97. Ba5 Ke5 98. Bd8 Kd5 99. Kd3 Kc6 100. Bxg5 Bd6 101. Bf6 Kb6 102. g5 1-0

An instructional position after 103...Bxh2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.25"]

[Round "04"]

[White "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Black "Nasuta, Grzegorz"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "2340"]

[BlackElo "2542"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. f4 Qa5 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Be2 e5 11. Nb3 Qc7 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Rhg1 b5 14. a3 Bb7 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Qd3 exf4 17. Nd4 g6 18. Rgf1 O-O 19. Rxf4 d5 20. Rdf1 Nxe4 21. Bg4 f5 22. Nxf5 gxf5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. Rxf5 Qc4 25. Nxd5 Bxd5 26. Qxd5+ Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Nc5 28. Re1 Bf8 29. Re3 Bg7 30. Ka2 Rc7 31. g4 a5 32. b4 axb4 33. axb4 Ra7+ 34. Ra3 Na4 35. Kb3 Rb7 36. c4 Nc3 37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. c5 Rf7 39. Rd3 Ne2 40. Kc2 Nd4+ 41. Kd2 Rf2+ 42. Kd1 Rf1+ 43. Kd2 Rf2+ 44. Kd1 Rf1+ 45. Kd2 Rb1 46. Ra7 Rxb4 47. Re3 Nb3+ 48. Ke2 Nxc5 49. Ree7 Rxg4 50. Kf3 Rg6 51. Rac7 Ne6 52. Rb7 Nd4+ 53. Kf2 Rg5 54. Red7 Ne6 55. h4 Rf5+ 56. Kg1 Kg6 57. Rd6 Bd4+ 58. Kh1 Kf6 59. Ra6 Bc3 60. Rb8 Re5 61. Rh8 Kg7 62. Rb8 b4 63. Rb7+ Kf6 64. Kg2 Re4 65. Rbb6 Be1 66. Kf3 Re5 67. Rb7 Bc3 68. Rh7 Kg6 69. Re7 Kf6 70. Rh7 Bd2 71. Rd6 Rf5+ 72. Ke4 Bf4 73. Rb6 Rh5 74. Rxb4 Rxh4 75. Kd5 Rh5+ 76. Kc6 Rc5+ 77. Kb7 h5 78. Rb1 Kg6 79. Rh8 Rc7+ 80. Ka8 Bg5 81. Rh1 Ng7 82. Rg1 Rc4 83. Kb7 Rg4 84. Rh1 h4 85. Kc6 Nh5 86. Rg8+ Kf5 87. Rf8+ Bf6 88. Rh2 Nf4 89. Ra8 Rg6 90. Kc5 h3 91. Ra4 Rh6 92. Rh1 Be5 93. Ra8 h2 94. Ra2 Ne6+ 95. Kc4 Rh3 96. Rg2 Ng5 97. Kb4 Ne4 98. Kc4 Nf6 99. Kc5 Ng4 100. Kb4 Rg3 101. Rxg3 Bxg3 102. Kc4 Nf2 103. Rxh2 Bxh2 104. Kd4 Be5+ 105. Kd5 Nd3 106. Kc6 Ke6 107. Kb6 Kd5 108. Kb7 Bd6 109. Kb6 Ne5 110. Kb7 Nc4 111. Ka7 Kc6 112. Ka8 Nb6+ 113. Ka7 Bc7 114. Ka6 Bb8 115. Ka5 Nd5 116. Ka4 Kc5 117. Kb3 Nb4 118. Kc3 Bf4 119. Kb3 Be5 120. Ka4 Kc4 121. Ka5 Bc7+ 122. Ka4 Bb6 123. Ka3 Nd3 124. Ka4 Nb2+ 125. Ka3 Kc3 126. Ka2 Kc2 127. Ka3 Bc5+ 128. Ka2 Nd3 129. Ka1 Bd6 130. Ka2 Nc1+ 0-1

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.26"]

[Round "05"]

[White "Arellano, Bryle"]

[Black "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "2136"]

[BlackElo "2340"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. cxd5 Nxg5 7. Nxg5 e6 8. Qd2 h6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. e3 c6 11. Bd3 a5 12. O-O O-O 13. h3 Re8 14. a3 Be6 15. b4 b5 16. Ne2 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Nd7 19. Qc2 Qb6 20. Nd2 Nf8 21. Nb3 Bc8 22. Nf4 h5 23. Ra8 Bd7 24. Qa2 Rxa8 25. Qxa8 Qc7 26. Nc5 Bh6 27. Ne2 Kg7 28. Nc1 Ne6 29. N1b3 Bg5 30. Nxe6+ Bxe6 31. Nc5 Bc8 32. Qa3 Bf6 33. Nb3 Qd6 34. Nc5 Qc7 35. Nb3 Be7 36. Qc1 Qd6 37. Nc5 Bd8 38. Bf1 Bc7 39. f4 Bf5 40. Bd3 Bc8 41. Bf1 h4 42. Be2 Bb6 43. Qc3 Qe7 44. Qd2 Bf5 45. Bd3 Bxc5 46. dxc5 Bxd3 47. Qxd3 Qf6 48. Qd4 Qxd4 49. exd4 Kf6 50. Kf2 Kf5 51. Kf3 f6 52. Ke3 g5 53. fxg5 fxg5 54. g4+ hxg3 55. Kf3 g2 56. Kxg2 Ke4 57. Kg3 Kxd4 58. Kg4 Ke4 59. Kxg5 d4 0-1

Position after 83. Kxg6. Can this game be won?

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.26"]

[Round "05"]

[White "Arfan, Aditya Bagus"]

[Black "Ang, Ern Jie Anderson"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2341"]

[BlackElo "2041"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Ne5 dxc4 7. Qxc4 Be6 8. Qc2 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. Re1 a5 13. Nd3 Na6 14. Nf4 Bc8 15. d4 Rd8 16. a3 Bh6 17. Nd3 Be6 18. e3 Rac8 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Nd5 21. Ba3 Ra8 22. Nd2 Nb6 23. b5 cxb5 24. Qxc7 Nxc7 25. Bxe7 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Re8 27. Bd6 Ncd5 28. Nc5 Nxe3 29. fxe3 Bxe3+ 30. Kh1 Bxd2 31. Ne4 Rd8 32. Be5 Nc4 33. Bf6 Re8 34. Be5 Rd8 35. Bf6 Re8 36. Nxd2 Nxd2 37. Bxb7 Bf5 38. d5 Ne4 39. Bd4 Rd8 40. Bc6 Nd6 41. Bf6 Rc8 42. Be7 Be4+ 43. Kg1 Nf5 44. Bf6 Ne3 45. Bb7 Nxd5 46. Bxc8 Nxf6 47. Ra5 Bd3 48. Ba6 h5 49. Bxb5 Bxb5 50. Rxb5 h4 51. gxh4 Kg7 52. Rb7 Nh5 53. Kf2 Nf6 54. Ke3 Nh5 55. Ke4 Nf6+ 56. Ke5 Ng4+ 57. Kf4 Nf6 58. Ra7 Nh5+ 59. Ke5 Nf6 60. Kd6 Ne4+ 61. Ke7 Nf6 62. Ra8 Nd5+ 63. Kd6 Nf6 64. Ra5 Ne4+ 65. Kd7 Nf6+ 66. Kc6 Nh5 67. Kd6 Nf6 68. Ra1 Ne4+ 69. Ke7 Nf6 70. Rf1 Ng8+ 71. Kd6 Nf6 72. h3 Ng8 73. h5 Nh6 74. Ke5 Nf5 75. hxg6 fxg6 76. Ra1 Ng3 77. Ra7+ Kh6 78. Kf6 Ne4+ 79. Kf7 Ng5+ 80. Kg8 Kh5 81. Ra5 Kh4 82. Kg7 Nxh3 83. Kxg6 Kg4 84. Ra4+ Nf4+ 85. Kf6 Kf3 86. Ke5 Ne2 87. Rb4 Ke3 88. Rb3+ Kf2 89. Ra3 Ng1 90. Ke4 Ne2 91. Ra2 Kf1 92. Kf3 Ng1+ 93. Ke3 Nh3 94. Rh2 Ng1 95. Rf2+ Ke1 96. Rf8 Nh3 97. Kf3 Ng1+ 98. Ke3 Nh3 99. Rh8 Ng1 100. Rh7 Kf1 101. Rh2 Ke1 102. Rf2 Nh3 103. Rf6 Ng1 104. Ra6 Kf1 105. Kf4 Kg2 106. Ra2+ Kf1 107. Kg4 Ne2 108. Kf3 Ng1+ 109. Ke3 Nh3 110. Rh2 Ng1 111. Rh1 Kg2 112. Ke4 Kxh1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.27"]

[Round "06"]

[White "Zhao, Zong-Yuan"]

[Black "Foudzi, Siti Zulaikha"]

[Result "1-0"]

[WhiteElo "2510"]

[BlackElo "2160"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bf4 Re8 10. Rd1 Nf8 11. Nc3 Ng6 12. Bc1 Bd6 13. Bg5 Be7 14. b3 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Be7 18. Ne5 Nf8 19. c5 f5 20. Nc3 Nd7 21. Ng6 Bf6 22. b4 Kh7 23. Ne5 Qc7 24. Nc4 Be7 25. b5 Nf6 26. Rab1 Nd5 27. Ne5 Bf6 28. Nc4 g6 29. Nd6 Rd8 30. bxc6 bxc6 31. Nxd5 exd5 32. Qa4 Be7 33. Nf7 Rf8 34. Ne5 Rf6 35. Re1 Bf8 36. Bf1 Re6 37. f4 Bg7 38. Rb4 Bxe5 39. fxe5 Rb8 40. Reb1 Rxb4 41. Qxb4 Re7 42. Qb8 Qxb8 43. Rxb8 Rc7 44. Kf2 Kg7 45. Ke3 Kf7 46. Be2 Ke7 47. h4 g5 48. Bh5 Kd8 49. Bg6 Ke7 50. Kf3 Ke6 51. hxg5 hxg5 52. g4 fxg4+ 53. Kxg4 Ba6 54. Kxg5 Rg7 55. Re8+ Re7 56. Bf5+ Kf7 57. Rh8 Kg7 58. Rh7+ Kf8 59. Kf6 Rxh7 60. Bxh7 Be2 61. Bg6 1-0

The grandmaster treated the game too casually
and was duly punished

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.27"]

[Round "06"]

[White "Short, Nigel D"]

[Black "Navaratnam, Rohan Shan Tze"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "2610"]

[BlackElo "2248"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Qd2 c6 7. O-O-O O-O 8. Bd3 b5 9. Nf3 Re8 10. Rde1 Na6 11. Ne5 Nb4 12. h4 a5 13. Kb1 Ng4 14. Bxh7+ Kxh7 15. Nxf7 Qd7 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 17. Ng5+ Kg8 18. f3 Nf6 19. Ne2 Qd6 20. g4 Bd7 21. h5 Nh7 22. Nxh7 Kxh7 23. Nf4 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Re8 25. Rxe8 Bxe8 26. a3 Na6 27. Nd3 b4 28. Qe3 Bd7 29. Ne5 Nc7 30. axb4 axb4 31. f4 Kg8 32. f5 Bc8 33. Ng6 Kh7 34. b3 Bd7 35. Kb2 Nb5 36. Ne5 Nc3 37. Qe1 c5 38. dxc5 Qxc5 39. Nxd7 Qa7 40. Qe6 Qa3# 0-1

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.27"]

[Round "06"]

[White "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Black "Klekowski, Maciej"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2340"]

[BlackElo "2466"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Bf4 d6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 e5 8. Be3 Nf6 9. c4 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. O-O a5 12. Qc2 Be6 13. Rad1 Kh8 14. h3 Nd7 15. Na4 Bg5 16. Qc1 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe7 18. Rd2 Nc5 19. Nxc5 dxc5 20. Be2 Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.28"]

[Round "07"]

[White "Lim, Zhuo Ren"]

[Black "Thompson, Ian D"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2296"]

[BlackElo "2106"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Be2 dxc4 9. O-O g6 10. Ne4 Qe7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. f4 O-O 13. Bxc4 Rd8 14. Qg4 Nf8 15. Qh3 Bd7 16. g4 Be8 17. g5 Nh7 18. gxh6 Bh8 19. Rf2 f5 20. Nc5 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Bf7 22. Rg2 Kh8 23. Kh1 g5 24. Rf1 Rg8 25. e4 b6 26. Nb3 f4 27. Qg4 Rg6 28. Rf3 Rd8 29. Kg1 a5 30. a4 Qe8 31. h4 Rxh6 32. hxg5 Bh5 33. gxh6 Bxg4 34. Rxg4 Qh5 35. Rfxf4 Qxh6 36. Rh4 Rg8+ 37. Kf2 Qg6 38. Rfg4 Qxg4 39. Rxg4 Rxg4 40. Bxe6 Rxe4 41. Bd7 c5 42. Bc6 Rf4+ 43. Kg3 Rf1 44. dxc5 bxc5 45. Nxa5 Nf8 46. Nc4 Ne6 47. a5 Nc7 48. b3 Kg7 49. Nd6 Ra1 50. Ba4 Kf8 51. Kf2 Ke7 52. Ke2 Ke6 53. Nc4 Kd5 54. Kd3 Na6 55. Kc3 Rg1 56. Bb5 Nc7 57. Bd7 Rg7 58. e6 Nxe6 59. Nb6+ Kd6 60. Bxe6 Kxe6 61. Kc4 Kd6 62. Kb5 Rg3 63. Nc4+ Kd5 64. Nb6+ Kd6 65. Nc4+ Kd5 66. Nb6+ Ke5 1/2-1/2

Yu Tian missed a great chance with 30...Nxf2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.28"]

[Round "07"]

[White "Sek, Konstantin"]

[Black "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2432"]

[BlackElo "2340"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. a4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. a5 O-O 9. d3 b5 10. axb6 a5 11. h3 Bb7 12. Bg5 Qxb6 13. Qd2 Rfb8 14. b3 Bc6 15. Ra2 Qb4 16. Qe1 Qb7 17. Qd2 Ra7 18. Rfa1 Rba8 19. Qe1 Nb6 20. Rb1 Qc7 21. Be3 Rb7 22. d4 Bxe4 23. dxc5 dxc5 24. Nb5 Qc8 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5 Nbd5 27. Bd2 Qb8 28. Ne1 Bf5 29. Rd1 Ne4 30. c4 Nb6 31. Be3 Rd7 32. Rxd7 Nxd7 33. Nd3 h5 34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 Be6 36. Bf3 f5 37. Qa6 Bf7 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Qc6 Nef6 40. Qa8 Qxa8 41. Bxa8 Ng4 42. Bxc5 Nge5 43. Nxe5 Nxc5 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. b4 Na6 46. c5 Be5 47. c6 Nc7 48. Nxc7 Bxc7 49. Bb7 Ke6 50. Bc8+ Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.28"]

[Round "07"]

[White "Navaratnam, Rohan Shan Tze"]

[Black "Kvon, Andrey"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2248"]

[BlackElo "2527"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. O-O Rb8 7. a4 a6 8. a5 Bd6 9. Nbd2 b5 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. e4 Nfd7 12. Qc2 O-O 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Rb4 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Bd2 Rb5 17. Be3 Qa8 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. Nc4 Bb4 20. Na3 Ra5 21. Bd2 c5 22. Nc4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Bxd2 24. Qxd2 Rd8 25. Nd6 Nf6 26. Nxb7 Rxd4 27. Qa5 Qxb7 28. e5 Ne4 29. Re1 f5 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Bxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.29"]

[Round "08"]

[White "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Black "Bach, Ngoc Thuy Duong"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2340"]

[BlackElo "2164"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Be2 Rg8 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Rhe1 Bd7 14. Qg3 g5 15. f5 e5 16. Nb3 Bc6 17. Bc4 Rc8 18. Na1 Kf8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 b5 21. Kb1 Kg7 22. Qd3 Qa7 23. c3 a5 24. Nc2 Rb8 25. Ne3 Rgc8 26. h4 b4 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. c4 a4 29. Rh1 Rh8 30. Qe2 a3 31. b3 Rxh1 32. Rxh1 Qd4 33. Rd1 Qc5 34. Rh1 Qd4 35. Rd1 Qc5 36. Rh1 Qd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.29"]

[Round "08"]

[White "Zhao, Zong-Yuan"]

[Black "Navaratnam, Rohan Shan Tze"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2510"]

[BlackElo "2248"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 Qb6 6. dxc5 Qxb2 7. Rb1 Qc3 8. Bb5 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 Qxc5 11. e5 Nd7 12. c4 a6 13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nbd4 Qc7 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Rb1 Qc7 19. Rc1 Qb7 20. Rb1 Qc7 1/2-1/2

Position after 36. Qxf2. An absorbing game by
Zhuo Ren.

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.29"]

[Round "09"]

[White "Lim, Zhuo Ren"]

[Black "Zhao, Zong-Yuan"]

[Result "*"]

[WhiteElo "2296"]

[BlackElo "2510"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 a6 8. a4 Qe7 9. Bf4 Bg7 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O Rb8 13. Re1 Nh5 14. Bh2 f5 15. Nd2 Nhf6 16. Nc4 Ne8 17. a5 Ne5 18. Nb6 Nf6 19. Ra3 Bd7 20. Rb3 h5 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. Rb6 Be5 25. Rf1 Bxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Qe5+ 27. Kh1 Bxh3 28. gxh3 Rf3 29. Rg1 Rxh3+ 30. Kg2 Rh2+ 31. Kf1 Rf8 32. Qe1 Qf6 33. Ke2 Rxf2+ 34. Kd1 h4 35. Rxb7 h3 36. Qxf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.29"]

[Round "09"]

[White "Navaratnam, Rohan Shan Tze"]

[Black "Ly, Moulthun"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "2248"]

[BlackElo "2481"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nf3 exd4 7. exd4 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qc4 10. Be3 O-O-O 11. Qb3 Qxb3 12. axb3 Nge7 13. O-O a6 14. Rfd1 h6 15. g3 Kb8 16. Bg2 Na7 17. Ra4 Bd6 18. Ne4 Nd5 19. Bc1 Nb5 20. Nxd6 Rxd6 21. Re1 Rhd8 22. h4 Nb6 23. Bf4 R6d7 24. Bh3 Nxd4 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. Re7 Nd5 27. Rxf7 Nxf4 28. gxf4 R8d6 29. h5 Rf6 30. Rxg7 Rdxf4 31. Rg2 Rf3 32. Bd7 Rxb3 33. f4 Rxf4 34. Rg6 Rd4 35. Be6 Rxb2 36. Rxh6 Rd1# 0-1

Position after 29...Rd8.
A practically winning advantage for Smerdon
but he let it all slip away.

[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Chiangmai"]

[Date "2022.10.29"]

[Round "09"]

[White "Smerdon, David C"]

[Black "Poh, Yu Tian"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[WhiteElo "2508"]

[BlackElo "2340"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bxd7+ Bxd7 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 Bc6 8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5 d5 10. Nbd2 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 cxd4 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qxf6 Rg8 14. Qxd4 Qd7 15. Rad1 O-O-O 16. g3 Qc7 17. c4 dxc4 18. Qa7 e6 19. Nxc4 Bc5 20. Qa8+ Qb8 21. Qxb8+ Kxb8 22. Ne5 Ka7 23. Kg2 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 f6 25. Nc4 Rc8 26. Rd7 Bxf2 27. b3 Bc5 28. Rxh7 e5 29. Kf3 Rd8 30. Rf7 Rd1 31. h4 Rf1+ 32. Ke4 Re1+ 33. Kd5 Bf2 34. h5 e4 35. Rxf6 e3 36. Ke4 b5 37. Rf7+ Kb8 38. Ne5 Bxg3 39. Nd3 Rh1 40. Kxe3 Rxh5 41. Nb4 Rh6 42. Nd5 Rc6 43. Kd4 Bc7 44. Nb4 Rh6 45. Nd5 Rc6 46. Rf6 Rxf6 47. Nxf6 Kb7 48. Kd5 Bg3 49. Ne4 Bh2 50. Nc5+ Kb6 51. Nd7+ Kc7 52. Nc5 Kb6 53. a4 bxa4 54. bxa4 Ka5 55. Nxa6 1/2-1/2

 

Commemorative Wu Lien-Teh exhibition

I attended the opening ceremony of a commemorative exhibition on the life of Dr Wu Lien-Teh last week, and I duly went to the function hall at the Kwong Wah Yit Poh premises in Presgrave Street yesterday for the event. I have to say that the ceremony was very well organised and they had even invited the new Chinese Consul in Penang to attend. There was also a huge crowd, notably from two Chinese schools - Sek Men Jenis Kebangsaan Jit Sin and Sek Men Jenis Kebangsaan Heng Ee. None came from Penang Free School, however, as possibly no effort was made by the organisers to inform Wu Lien-Teh's own school. The exhibition runs until tomorrow (30 October 2022).

What a coup by the secretary of the Wu Lien-Teh Society who managed to get all the VIPs to hold a scroll of Wi Lien-Teh's portrait. This wasn't in the script at all. Among the personalities I can identify are Wu Lien-Teh Society president Anwar Fasal, Loke Gim Tay, Penang exco member Chong Eng, the new Chinese Consul whose name escapes me and Dr Doraisamy from the Malaysia-China Friendship Association.

We wanted to take a picture with the Chinese Consul and the Penang exco member, but someone else happened to be on the stage at the same time and we couldn't ask him to leave

This lady here was the curator of the whole exhibition

In this and the following pictures are various pictures taken of the exhibition

Loke Gim Tay playing the role of guide to the pupils from Jit Sin and Heng Ee 

Siang Jin's art

I haven't been able to go down to Kuala Lumpur to view my friend's solo art exhibition but I am happy that he has been receiving lots of good feedback in the newspapers. Plus, many of our old schoolmates from both primary and secondary schools have gone to support Siang Jin, not to mention too the general public.

Revelry night

Originally, i had wanted this story to be part of my recollection of the events that occurred on the 21st of October this year. But on reflection, I would want to separate the solemn and formal morning from the revelry at the end of the days. Hence, a decision to make the OFA annual dinner a separate story by itself.

If I had felt upbeat while at the Speech Day, the OFA annual dinner was THE event that was definitely exhilarating. It raised the temperature of all Old Frees that attended the function. Right from the word Go when the Free School Band struck up the strains of the School Rally, from the moment when Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow took the stage to preach his election-tinged message to the diners, the atmosphere in the ballroom of the St Giles Wembley was electric. People who had not met one another for two to three years on account of the pandemic greeted one another with such camaraderie and friendship. One of my chess friends described the occasion as filled with "boisterous laughter, hearty chats and regular yum seng toasts." I myself must have renewed my acquaintance with more people in a single night than in the first 10 months of this year. That was the power of the OFA annual dinner and I am glad that I was there. 

Loh Lean Kang and I discovered these three boys who had attended our leadership workshop in 2018. They are now in Form Six but unfortunately, the Free School no longer has Science classes and they are forced to continue their sixth form at the nearby Zainal Abidin school.

My schoolmates with our spouses. Standing, left to right: myself, Ho Siang Juan and Tan Kok Yong. Seated, left to right: Wong Chye Chye, Ooi Kah Theang and Lee Hock Siew.

My wife and I with Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong, easily one of the oldest, if not already the oldest, member of The Old Frees' Association who attended the annual dinner. Befitting his age, his feet were now unsteady but he was still game enough to be on stage to celebrate the cutting of the anniversary cake.

The School Band provided the initial entertainment at the function starting with, of course, the School Rally

Penang boy in Bangkok Chess Club Open

The 2022 edition of the Bangkok Open chess tournament has started and there is a big group of 21 Malaysians participating in the Open and Challenger events. Leading the Malaysians' charge in the Open tournament is 13-year-old Poh Yu Tian (newly minted FIDE Master with a current rating of 2340) and in the third round, he scored a sloppy but precious victory against German grandmaster Jan Gustafsson (rated at 2638). I said sloppy because Yu Tian could have finished off Gustafsson much earlier when he had caught the German by the balls but for a series of blunders by both players, the German got off the hook. However in an endgame position which looked likely drawn, the German played the final blunder of the game and lost. With three points from three games, he will now meet a Polish grandmaster, Grzegorz Nasuta (rated 2542), in the fourth round. We shall all be cheering Yu Tian on.

[Event "Bangkok Open 2022"]

[Site "Shangri-La Hotel, Chiangmai, Thailand"]

[Date "2022.10.24"]

[Round "32"]

[Board "3"]

[White "Jan Gustafsson"]

[Black "Poh Yu Tian"]

[Result "0-1"]

[EventCountry "THA"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be2 O-O 13. Nh4 Bxe2 14. Nxe2 Re8 15. Nf3 Ne4 16. b3 Qf6 17. Ned4 Ne5 18. Bb2? (18. Ne1 Bb4 19. Bb2 Qa6 20. a3 Nd2 21. Nef3 Nexf3+ 22. Nxf3 Qxf1+ 23. Qxf1 Nxf1 24. axb4 Nxe3) 18...Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 Qe5 20. Rfd1?! (Inaccurate. 20. Qf4 Qxf4 21. exf4 Bxf4 22. Rfe1 f6 23. Re2 Rac8 24. Rd1 Kf7 25. g3 Be5 26. Kg2 Red8) 20...Qh2+ 21. Kf1 Rac8 22. Ke2 Be5 23. Rac1 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 g6 25. Rc2 h5 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. g4?! (27. h4 Qxh4) 27. ... h4 28. a4 Rd6?? (Big blunder. 28...Bg3 was best. After 28...Rd6?? White could have gained the upper hand with 29. Rc8+ Kg7 30. Qf4.) 29. g5?? (Returning the favour.) 29...Rd8 30. Ba1 Nxg5?? (Third blunder in the game. 30...Re8 31. Bb2 a6 32. Ba1 Bg3 33. Rf1 Bb8 34. Rc1 Be5 35. Bb2 Bg7 36. Ba1 Nxg5 37. Qh1) 31. Qh1 Qxh1 32. Rxh1 Bg7 33. Nf3 Ne4 34. Bxg7 Kxg7 35. Rc1 Rd6 36. Rc7 Rb6 37. Nd4 a5 38. Rd7 Kf6 39. Kf3 Nd2+ 40. Kg4 Nxb3 41. Nxb3 Rxb3 42. Rxd5 Rb4+ 43. f4 Rxa4 44. Rb5 Ra1 45. Rb6+ Kg7 46. Rxb7 a4 47. Ra7 a3 48. Kxh4 a2 49. e4 Kf6 50. Ra6+ Ke7 51. f5?? (The final blunder. 51. Ra5 was best.) 51...g5+ (It took Yu Tian one minute 29 seconds to find this winning move.) (see diagram) 52. Kh5 g4 (And another one minute 17 seconds for him to confirm that this pawn push was indeed winning.) 0-1

Marching towards the Centenary

The 21st of October is a very busy but special day for me. For the past decade or so, I find my demeanour undergo three distinct mood changes as the day progresses from morning to night. My schedule starts off very solemnly enough as I fit in a visit to the old heritage Protestant Cemetary in Northam Road. There, I would join the Prefects and teachers of Penang Free School and Hutchings Secondary School for the annual commemorative service for Robert Sparke Hutchings. The service is led by the Ministers from the nearby St Geroge's Church and normally, I notice the presence of some other Old Frees as well as a few parishioners from the Church.

The Free School Prefects and their Senior Assistant, Leonard Selva

Revd Ho Kong Eng and Revd Tim Nichols leading the commemorative service

The School Prefects with their past and present Senior Assistants, Ho Nean Chan and Leonard Selva

The Old Frees at the conclusion of the service

Three of the Old Frees who had participated in a past PFS leadership workshop. Former School Headboy, Inesh, on the right

Another group picture of the Old Frees

Front view of Hutchings' grave

Side view of Hutchings' grave

The text of the Order of Service (top and bottom)

Inclusive of the singing of the school songs, the service ended after 15 minutes

The recording is, unfortunately, not clear as I had forgotten to adjust the camera's setting. But it was still possible to follow the service from start to finish.

From the Protestant Cemetary, I proceeded to the Free School for their 206th anniversary Speech Day. In the last 13 years, I've only missed Speech Day once in 2018. Last year's Speech Day was a very low-key event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and was held at the Penang Digital Library at the far end of the school field. In fact, it was almost cancelled until The Old Frees' Association impressed on the previous Headmaster that it must be held to uphold the tradition to mark the School's anniversary. But this year, the situation is almost back to normal and Speech Day was again held at the Pinhorn Hall with a new Penang Governor and Headmaster marking the formal occasion. My mood was decidedly upbeat - a change from the solemnity of the visit to Hutchings' grave - when I arrived at the Free School and put on my jacket.

Myself with Dr PP Shah and Johnny Ooi

Arrival of the Penang Governor. It would be Ahmad Fuzi's first time at a Penang Free School
Speech Day after being appointed to this position last year.

Greeted by the School's kompang and Chinese drums

The Guard of Honour awaits him too

The story behind this ceremony is that traditionally, the Free School pupils wear metal badges on their shirt but somehow along the way, the metal badges gave way to cloth badges. In the last few years, there was an effort to bring the metal badges back into usage as it was recognised as a school tradition. But let me say that during my time in Free School, none of us wore any badge - metal or cloth - on our tunic. Free School boys stood out by not wearing any badge at all.

TO BE CONTINUED.....