So glad to see a clear night sky at 10.52pm tonight. Moon had just attained its first quarter not more than 16 minutes earlier. And directly above it, a brilliant Jupiter. Here's how the moon and Jupiter look like through my camera.
Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Clear night
Thursday, 17 November 2022
Campaign observations
I see a lot of Barisan Nasional flags and banners in Bukit Mertajam and a reasonable number of Perikanan Perikatan Nasional flags too. But Pakatan Harapan flags? Only a handful, as far as I could see. Possibly outnumbered 50-1 by the other two parties combined. But it should be a foregone conclusion. Steven Sim, the incumbent Parliamentarian, should win hands down come polling day this Saturday. From his facebook page comes this explanation (the translation is mine, but not totally):
From the first day of PRU I've committed not to spend big money. This was my promise to the people. The money donated for the PRU campaign, I use as minimally as possible, the rest I make a fund to help the people π€π».Every day I'm with the photocopying volunteer team to fold leaflets at the office. Yes, they're not printed in colour at any printing shop. We photocopy them in black and white, make as many as we use so that there is no wastage. It's JIT, just-in-time. The photocopier is efficient, economical and saves cost by more than 90% ππ».
Our crooked T-shirts have become a hot item. We print them ourselves at the office and at home. These few days, friends everywhere had called to buy these T-shirts π. When I tell them the website jalanteruih.com they thought that they could buy it there, but we don't sell there either. Instead, we teach how to print the T-shirts ourselves π . Print for yourself, print with the kids at home, make it a family activity; we struggle for their generation. If you can still afford it, print the T-shirts for distribution to your friends ππ». Two pieces or 10 pieces, it doesn't matter. We make them together and tomorrow we can proudly tell our grandchildren that this crooked T-shirt was a sign of the struggle of Malaysians during PRU15.
Politics is not the game of the rich. Politics is the struggle of the common people. This is our battlefield, let us make it happen. The most important thing is to walk first πΆπ».
By the way, I was contacted by a DAP representative to enquire whether I could help out as a volunteer during polling day as I had done so during the last two general elections. But alas, I told her that although the spirit was still willing, the flesh was not. I'm recovering from an injury to my leg and would like to recuperate as much as I can without reaggravating the pain in the joint again.
Thursday, 10 November 2022
Ghulam Sarwar Yousof, RIP
I am utterly devastated to learn of the death yesterday of Prof Dr Ghulam Sarwar Yousof, a respected figure in academia, a literary giant and a cultural behemoth. The world's foremost authority on the makyong. Describing his life's work here would demand thousands upon thousands of words beyond my abilities. I shall confine myself to saying only what I know best.
It is very little known, but Ghulam Sarwar was the founding secretary of Penang Chess Association. It seemed like only yesterday but it had been 50 years since I first met him at the Penang Public Library in Farquhar Street where he was expounding to a group of chess enthusiasts why the Penang Chess Association should be formed. That was in March 1972. In the months that followed the founding, we exchanged heated letters in public through the Straits Echo newspaper; we were in disagreement how student chess in Penang should be progressing. Later in the year, he left for Hawai'i to pursue his Doctorate. After an illustrious career which took him around the world, he based himself in Kuala Lumpur but last month, he returned to stay in Penang. "For good," he said.
I was in communication with him again about 10 years ago, this time privately and in silent awe of his stature, and more lately, two months back. I was in the midst of preparing him an invitation to the Association's 50th anniversary next month when news came of his demise. I was so looking forward to meeting him again in December....
Rest in peace, Ghulam Sarwar. Without a doubt, the Penang chess community owes you its present success.
Wednesday, 9 November 2022
The eclipsed moon
After weeks of not seeing the moon due to immensely cloudy skies and rainy evenings, yesterday proved to be different. At about midnight, the clouds cleared up enough around the moon to allow me to take some quick snapshots of its fullness on my camera. But it was just too bad that I wasn't able to see the moon much earlier in the evening. It would have been a wonder to see the totally eclipsed moon rise in the eastern sky. But I was lucky to have caught the event streamed live through YouTube by the people in Semporna, East Malaysia. I managed to tune into their livestream minutes before the moon moved totally into the Earth's shadow.
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| The 99.9-percent full moon photographed from my house at 12.10am |
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| The totally eclipsed full moon at 6.20pm as seen from Semporna in East Malaysia. The dark streaks were light wisps of clouds moving in Earth's atmosphere |
History of Penang, part four
From the Straits Echo of 27 August 1903, here is the fourth instalment of the newspaper's History of Penang. The first three parts of this story are available here: Part One | Part Two | Part Three.
HISTORY OF PENANG.
(Specially written for the Straits Echo.)CONTINUED FROM LAST TUESDAY)
Arabs, and descendants of Arabs, form another part of the community. There are but few families; they have a great number of dependents, they are strict Mahomedans, proud and unwilling to yield to any authority, they trade with all countries, and among the Malays with particular privileges. They are good friends and dangerous enemies.
The Buggesses, though few, inhabit here at present, yet as they come annually to trade and remain two or three months on shore to the number of one or two thousand, they are, during their residence, a part of our society. They are Mahomedans, a proud, warlike, independent people, easily irritated, and prone to revenge. Their vessels are always well provided with arms, which they use with dexterity and vigor. They are the best merchants among the Eastern Islands. They are better governed by patient and mild exhortation than by force. If they commit a trespass they are easily made sensible, and may be persuaded to render satisfaction; but they reluctantly yield to stern authority. They require to be carefully watched, and cautiously ruled. The great value of their cargoes, either in bullion or goods, with quantities of opium and piece goods they export, make their arrival much wished for by all mercantile people.
The Malays, comprehending a great variety of people from Queda, through the Malay Peninsula, the Islands, Sumatra and Java, form another considerable part of our inhabitants. They are for the most part indigent, ignorant of arts, manufactures, or trade: they are employed in cutting down woods, at which they are both expert and laborious, and in cultivating paddy. They may be divided into two orders, the one of husbandmen, who are quiet and inoffensive, and easily ruled. They are capable of no great exertions, but content themselves with planting paddy, sugarcane and a few fruit trees, the cultivation of which does not require much labour. The other order is employed in navigating prows. They are, in general, almost without exception, a bad description of people, addicted to smoking opium, gaming, and other vices; to rob and assassinate is only shameful when they fail of success. Ten or fifteen men will live in a small prow (to all appearance not large enough for six men). For months they will skulk in bays and rivers, where there are no inhabitants, watching for the unwary traders; they spend their whole time in sloth, and indolence, subsisting upon roots, wild yams and fish, and are only roused by the appearance of plunder, which, when they have obtained it, they return home, or to some other port, to spend it. Here they are obliged to part with a share of their plunder to some chief, under whose protection they squander the remainder, and again proceed in quest of new adventure. The feudal government of the Malays encourage these pirates. Every chief is desirous of procuring many desperate fellows to bring him in plunder and execute his revengeful purposes.
The remainder of our people are composed of the Honorable Company's Servants, and their servants, with a few European settlers, which, with the people from the shipping, constitutes an assembly of about twenty-five thousand souls who are always here.
To keep these several tribes in peace, settle their disputes, and prevent their destroying each other, it is necessary that a person should attend daily to receive and adjust their several complaints, which, if of a serious nature, or such as will admit of immediate relief, may be referred as follows:--
If of mercantile disputers, to a Court of Arbitration, composed of one of the Honorable Company's servants and four inhabitants.
If of territorial controversies, to the Board of Plantations.
If of wilful trespass, breach of peace, or personal injury, to the General Court.
Where the parties are strangers, and on the point of leaving the island, a General Court, of any three of the officers, may be summoned to decide upon the complaint.
A regular form of administering Justice, is necessary, for the peace and welfare of the Society, and for the honour of the nation who granted them protection. It is likewise improper that the Superintendent should have it in his power to exercise an arbitrary judgment upon persons and things; whether this judgment is iniquitous or not the mode is still arbitrary and disagreeable to Society.
Begging that the subject of this letter may be taken into early consideration,
I have etc.,
(Sd.) Francis Light.
Fort Cornwallis, 25th January, 1794.
The above is the last document in the records bearing the honoured signature of Francis Light.
In response to this letter the Governor-General, Sir John Shore, (afterwards Lord Teignmouth) transmitted certain regulations some years later.
When the settlement was founded, the Colonists were surprised at the general absence of fever, but in the year following the superintendent was struck down with a malarial attack, which never appears to have left him, for his correspondence shows that he was subject to these attacks, the last of which terminated fatally at one o'clock in the morning of the 21st October 1794, to the great grief of the whole Island. There is no record of the event to be found, nor do the records, as they now exist, offer any testimony to the energy and ability with which he grappled with all the difficulties attendant on the formation of a settlement on an almost uninhabited Island, overrun with thick jungly vegetation.
In the middle of the Protestant Cemetery, Northam Road, may be seen a plain plastered brick tomb, into the top of which is let a cracked marble slab on which is the following weather-worn and almost illegible inscription:—
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The word "British” appears to have been put in place of another, probably “English," which is the word used in the tablet in the memorial tablet let into the wall of the canopy in St. George's Church-yard erected many years later by Robert Grieve Scott, descendant of the first settler.
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His loss was keenly felt by the native population, whom his well-known name and great popularity had attracted round him; and how well he knew the native character is shown in the foregoing letter wherein he describes that of each class of native soil the Island. It may have been that when writing this letter Capt. Light was sensible that his life was drawing to a close, as he was urgent for the appointment of some individual qualified to succeed him by a knowledge of the people, their language, and their customs, and insists on the necessity of training up a few officers to the local duties of the island, and it cannot be doubted that had his suggestions been carried out his successors would not have had trouble in governing the island.
There were simplicity, efficiency, and economy in the plan briefly yet ably sketched by him in his memorable letter, but neither simplicity nor economy were much studied in subsequent years either by the ruling powers in India or by the local authorities, and the simple Superintendent and his two or three assistants became a Governor-in-Council, with a large Civil Establishment and a Recorder with a costly Judicial Establishment.
Captain Light left two sons and three daughters and a wife to mourn his loss. His will is interesting as showing the care he took to arrange his affairs. To his relict, Martina Rozells, he left in life-rent "the paddy fields situated in Nibbon plain and containing one hundred orlongs of land or thereabouts, together with the houses, plantations, implements of husbandry and forty buffaloes ***** the pepper gardens with my garden house, plantations, and all the land by me cleared in that part of the island called Suffolk, as also the pepper garden and plantation forming by Chee Hong in Orange valley **** I give and bequeath unto the said Martina Rozells my Bungalow in George Town, with remainder to the children." His Malay bonds he willed to be delivered to his executors “to be by them recovered, and the money given to Martina, but I request the debtors may not be distressed for payment if their circumstances below." He gave his Batta slaves the choice of freedom, on payment of fifty dollars: gave liberty to several, but “not Esan she remains with Martina,” and remembered his English friends and executors, William Fairlie, of Calcutta, the "Prince of Indian Merchants," who acted as guardian to his children at Calcutta: James Scott and Thomas Pegou, with a “gold gurglet and bason." a "silver gurglet and bason" and a "watch, "respectively.
His eldest son, William Light, was sent to England at an early age, to the care of George Doughty Esq., High Sheriff of Suffolk, and became afterwards Colonel Light, having distinguished himself greatly in the Peninsular War, where he was present in forty-three actions of the Campaign and ending in becoming Aide-de-Camp to Lord Wellington “the Great Duke." He was the first Surveyor-General of South Australia and founder of the City of Adelaide where a monument of freestone, at a cost of £466, was erected over his tomb by his grateful fellow-pioneer colonists. and in 1876 the following inscription was placed on it:
His memory, however, is not forgotten, for a picturesque ceremony takes place on the election of each Mayor of Adelaide when the "Memory of Colonel Light” is solemnly pledged in Colonial wine in a silver cup.His second son Francis Lanoon Light afterwards became Resident of Muntok in Banka when the British held that Island, with Java and Sumatra. He married a Javanese lady Charlotte Arboni, and had two sons (1) William Light, and (2) Robert Rollo Light— a godson of Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie, one of the conquerors of Java.
The latter was father of Francis Light, now of Ayer Kuning, Perak, and of several daughters. Lanoon Light died at Penang October 5th 1823, and had a daughter, Sarah Martinah, who married at Penang June 29th 1835, to George Matthew Koenitz of Ceylon, with issue.
Captain Light’s eldest daughter Sarah Light married at Calcutta December 28th 1794 General James Welsh of the Madras Army, a distinguished officer who died on January 24th 1861, having published his “Military Reminiscences” (2 vols.) 1830. She died at Waltair July 24th 1839, being described as “still lovely to the end.” They had one son (who died unmarried) and six daughters.
Mary Light, the second daughter of Francis Light, married at Calcutta, March the 9th 1805, George Boyd Esq., of Katulee and Pulma, Bengal, at one timea very wealthy indigo-planter, who died on May 15th, 1856, leaving issue (with two sons who died unmarried) and six daughters.
Anne (Lukey) Light, married on October, 1809, Charles Hunter, Esq., M.D., Hon. East India Co.’s service, who died, a member of the Calcutta Medical Board May 6th, 1831. He was a son of David Hunter, of Burnside N.B.
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(To be continued)
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
Soapbox derby in the 70s
I came across these old pictures from a contact print. Obviously taken in the late 1970s. I was at Gurney Drive with two of my ex-colleagues from Ban Hin Lee Bank and we were taking pictures of a Scout soapbox derby. Many schools were involved and the organisers managed to close off a portion of Gurney Drive for the races. It will be almost impossible to pull this off now. At that time, I was using a Canon A1 film camera with a f1.4 50mm standard lens, not one of the multitudes of digital cameras we see now. Anyway, I noticed now that the PFS Scouts were also participating. I wonder whether they do such activities nowadays.
Friday, 4 November 2022
Fathers with erections
Every few years, I seem to come across some hilarious local instances of the English language being used awkwardly on business signboards. I remember encountering a sign in George Town that said GLASS Museum but from my point of view, the letters had been covered up partially and all I saw was ASS Museum.
It was in 2002 that the English chess grandmaster, Nigel Short, came to Penang and I was waiting for him at the CitiTel in Penang Road. One of the outlets in the hotel was a florist bearing the name, DE'FLOWER HOUSE. Needless to say, Short and I had a good laugh seeing it. A year later when I happened to be back in this hotel, the shop's proprietor had removed the offending DE' from the sign.
About 10 years ago in Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Sultan, I was amused to see the signboard above a shop there with the name DESPOTIC. Whatever they were selling, I wasn't particularly keen to find out.
Then just last night while walking along Gurney Drive here in George Town, there was this shop that prided itself on being called DAD'S WOODS. Now, I don't know whether the owners were aware of it, maybe they are, but having a WOOD is slang. I had posted this picture on facebook but so far, nobody seemed to have caught onto this shop's unintentional(?) gaffe.
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
History of Penang, part three
From the Straits Echo of 25 August 1903, here is the third instalment of the newspaper's History of Penang. Click here for Part One and Part Two of this story.
HISTORY OF PENANG.
(Specially written for the Straits Echo.)CONTINUED FROM 18TH AUGUST)
Capt. Light was so pleased with the success of his little expedition that he commemorated his victory by naming his second son, “Lanoon" Light,who afterwards became Resident of Muntok in Banka, when the British held that island, with Java and Sumatra.
On the 24th August, 1792, the Superintendent announced, in a despatch to the Government of Bengal, the discovery of tin at Bukit Timah. The island settlement continued to prosper very rapidly and its population increased by, leaps and bounds, the Chinese at this time numbering about 3,000.
On the 25th January, 1794, Capt. Light, always having the Settlement's interest at heart, penned an ever-memorable despatch to Sir John Shore, Governor-General of India, pointing out, interalia, that “a regular form of administering justice is necessary both for the peace and welfare of the society and for the honour of the nation who had granted them protection. It is likewise improper that the Superintendent should have it in his power to exercise an arbitrary judgment upon persons and things; whether this judgment is iniquitous or not, the mode is still arbitrary and disagreeable to society." This remarkable despatch, filling almost a ream of foolscap, showed at once the high character of the man, and the whole tone of it bore testimony to the singleness of purpose and administrative ability of a high order that characterized this great pioneer of Greater Britain.
Two circumstances appear to have been prominently brought forward in 1793 in support of the representations made to the Supreme Government, and thence to the Home authorities, for the establishment of a Court of Judicature of some kind in Prince of Wales Island. The first of these is of a civil nature, threatening to involve Captain Light in law proceedings before the Supreme Court in Calcutta. It is then described in a despatch from Bengal to the Court of Directors in May 1793, in which it is also stated that the Company's Advocate-General had been instructed to defend Captain Light. The Court,in reply, approved of the Advocate-General being so employed and stated that "the subject of a Court of Judicature of Prince of Wales' Island will be taken into early consideration." It does not appear whether the suit against Captain Light was prosecuted, nor is there any further notice of the matter to be found in available records.
Mr.Wright, father-in-law of the late Mrs. Wright, who died in 1883, aged 100 years, and who resided on the Island as a merchant, having died intestate, his effects were sold in the usual manner by Messrs. Gardyne and Lindsay, who were employed by Captain Light on that occasion, and the proceeds were divided proportionately among Mr. Wright's creditors on the island. After all the payments had been made Messrs Perreau and Palling, of Calcutta, stated to Captain Light in a letter dated 29th April, 1791, that they had taken out letters of administration from the Supreme Court for the estate of Wright, and they transmitted) to the Superintendent a Power of Attorney to act for them in recovering the property of the estate with the copy of a Bond for 20,000 rupees granted by Mr. Wright to them, observing that by virtue of their having become administrators they were entitled to payment before any of the other creditors. On receipt of the letter Capt. Light called upon Messrs Gardyne and Lindsay to send in their accounts, and he remitted the balance of cash to Messrs. Perreau and Palling. The subject then lay dormant for sometime, until, upon Mr. Gardyne going to Bengal, Messrs. Perreau and Palling claimed from him the property he had applied for according to Capt. Light's directions, and compelled him to give bail in an action to be brought against him during the next term--18th May,1793.
The other occurrence Is of a criminal nature, and relates to the murder of one European by another.It appears that a Mr. Smithers was owner of a small vessel called the Little Davy and that lie himself resided(whether permanently or temporarily is not stated) on one of the Nicobar Islands. The vessel appears to have been in charge of a man named Sudds and at anchor off Smitlfer’s place of residence. For some reason or other Smithers determined to take command of the vessel for himself,and after a few days he appears to have commenced a series of brutal severities on the man Sudds. He was about to have him tied up and flogged when Sudds seized a hammer and struck him with it on the head, causing instant death. Sudds then took command, but how the vessel was brought to Penang, or how Sudds was taken into custody, does not appear. The matter was duly enquired into on the 2nd July, 1793, at Fort Cornwallis by two military officers. Lieutenants Norman Macalister and Robert Duff, appointed for that purpose by Captain Light, and the man was found guilty of the offence. The prisoner was detained in custody until the 30th September 1793,whenhe was sent to Calcutta for trial, but was there discharged soon after, there being primarily no power in the Court to deal with him.The Advocate-General of Calcutta, who had been referred to for his opinion of the case, in a letter dated 26th September, 1793, informed the Secretary to Government of India that, apart from their regularity of the proceedings, there Was no evidence to support the charge and no law by which the well-meant directions of the Superintendent of Prince of Wales' Island could be supported, as far as they related to the trial or punishment of murder or any other crimes at that Island.
The full text of Captain Light's despatch, above referred to, is as follows.—
“To the Governor-General in Council, Bengal.
“Honorable Sir—-From the present populousness of the Settlement and the daily increase of its inhabitants, circumstances repeatedly occur tending to show the necessity of establishing a more regular form of Government than that which exists at present under the sole administration of one person. From the great number of strangers, constantly coming and going, a strict police is essentially requisite. From the great diversity of inhabitants differing in religion, laws, language and customs, and constant and patient attention to their various complaints must be afforded and from the increasing acquisition of new settlers, to portion them out lands, to fix boundaries, and encourage their industry, by administering to their more urgent necessities, which of itself is a. sufficient employment for one person, a part of the Superintendent's time must be occupied.
"In the letter from your Honorable Board bearing the date 24th January 1787, in case of the removal of the Superintendent by death or otherwise it is directed that he be succeeded by the Commanding Officer of the Troops. This for a temporary relief may suffice, but as the power by this event both civil, military, or judicial, will be vested in the hands of one person, without any intermediate authority on the spot, either to control or to advise, it appears to me that if continued, especially in a commercial settlement like this, many cases would occur novel to a military officer, and disagreeable circumstances might soon arise which would; evince the absolute necessity of separating these powers. In consequence whereof if a Civil Servant be sent from the Residency he will for a considerable time be incapable of transacting the duties of this station except by means of an Interpreter, and as he must be unacquainted with the customs and manners of the people he is to govern, he will be liable to the imposition of designing people to the prejudice of the public. From these several reasons it appears to me necessary for Government to appoint a successor to the present Superintendent that he may acquire in due time a competent knowledge of the people, their language and their customs.
“Very few people residing here, excepting the Choolias were ever acquainted with European Governments. Brought up under the Feudal Laws and customs they cannot at once change opinions that they have imbibed from their infancy. To endeavour to subject these people to our strict military law and discipline would soon depopulate the island of all the most wealthy and useful inhabitants. A mild, and at the same time, an active Government, is necessary. The inhabitants must at all times have recourse to the Chief, and as they are composed of many different nations, they are jealous of each other, and will not submit their cause to the decision of one whom they think is a partial administrator. The administration of Justice will therefore, for some years, continue to be a troublesome and fatiguing office, which makes it necessary that the person who is to execute the duties of it should be acquainted with persons and circumstances before he enters upon it. Mr. Pegou has been here a long time, is well qualified as a successor in the Civil Department, but in order to have a regular train of succession and to have persons capable of executing the several trusts necessary to lie reposed in them by Government. I recommend the following mode for your consideration.
“That the Superintendent may have three assistants, one as Assistant and Cash- keeper, one as Paymaster and Accountant, and one as Collector and Registrar of Lands and People.
“That each of these assistants should alternately act as Justice of the Peace monthly, and once a month a General Court should assemble, consisting of the Superintendent as President, two assistants, two military officers and two of the most responsible inhabitants, to try all criminal cases.
“The office of Collector may appear unnecessary where there is no landed revenue, but the plantations, particularly pepper, are increasing so fast that it will afford employment for one person to examine and register them, previous to a tax being laid. A Board of Plantations might be established, to meet occasionally, at which this officer should preside to determine upon the making of roads, division of the lands, the adjustment of boundaries, and the encouragement of agriculture; their determinations, when sanctioned by the Superintendent, to be carried into execution, unless it should be so far creative of expense as to render it an object worthy to be previously reported to your Honourable Board. To execute the duties of all these departments with success and precision without more assistants I find impracticable.
“That you may be better enabled to judge of our society I shall endeavour to give you an idea of the people who compose it.
“The Chinese constitute the most valuable part of our inhabitants. They are men, women, and children, about 3000, they possess the different trades of carpenters, masons, and smiths, are traders, shopkeepers and planters. They employ small vessels and prows and send adventurers to the surrounding countries. They are the only people of the East from whom a revenue may be raised without expense and extraordinary efforts of government.
“They are a valuable acquisition, but, speaking a language which no other people understand, they are able to form parties and combinations in the most secret manner against any regulations of Government which they disapprove, and were they as brave as intelligent, they would be dangerous subjects; but their want of courage will make them bear many impositions before they rebel. They are indefatigable in the pursuit of money, and like the Europeans they spend it in purchasing those articles which gratify their appetites. They don't wait until they have acquired a large fortune to return to their native country, but send annually a part of their profits to their families. This is so general that a poor labourer will work with double labour to acquire two or three dollars to remit to China. As soon as they acquire a little money, they obtain a wife and go on in a regular domestic mode to the end of their existence. They have every where people to teach their children, and sometimes they send males to China to complete their education. The females are always kept at home with the greatest strictness until they are married; they then enjoy greater liberty. They are excessively fond of gaming—there is no restraining them from it. This leads them into many distresses, and frequently ends in their ruin.
“The second class of our. inhabitants consists of the Choolias, or people from the several ports on the Coast of Coromandel. The greater part of these have long been inhabitants of Queda and some of them were born there. They are all shopkeepers or coolies. About one thousand are settled here, some with families. The vessels from the Coast bring over annually 1,500 or 2,000 men, who, by traffic and various kinds of labour, obtain a few dollars with which they return to their homes and are succeeded by others.
“This is rather a drain upon the stock of the islands, but as they are subjects of the company it ultimately tends to the general good. The general, character of these people is too well-known to need any further comments excepting that those who have lived longer with the Malays are more vicious than those who come immediately, from the coast. Neither of them are worthy of much confidence or fear as subjects.
“The Siamese and Burmans, the same in religion and customs but differing in language, form another part of our inhabitants. They are about one hundred in number. Many of them are converts to the Roman Church. They are moderately industrious and chiefly employed in cultivation.
(To be continued).
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Tuesday, 1 November 2022
Almost new
I built my present desktop computer from scratch about nine years ago when my eyesight was better. The motherboard is a Gigabyte Z87-D3HP but I'm only using a fourth generation Intel i3 processor. I wasn't looking for anything high-end - I'm no gamer - but only a modest set-up that could satisfy my need to play audio files and view videos. No huge processing needs required. When Windows 10 was introduced in 2015, my desktop upgraded to this operating system quite seamlessly. And it went through countless automatic updates through the years. I didn't have to touch anything much. Very contented, actually.
Initially, I thought of building another desktop but then baulked at the work involved. Then I remembered that I had an unused solid-state drive (SSD) somewhere in the house. Purchased it a long time ago but I didn't find the need to open my desktop's casing. To do that, I would have to pull all the cables from the back of the motherboard and it was something I was quite reluctant to do. But here, inevitably, there was no other choice for me than to do just that!
So now, I have a SSD fixed up as my new C:/ drive and the old harddisks in the desktop have been converted into my storage devices. I had to replug all the cables one-by-one carefully and then reinstal Windows 10, the drivers and also all my essential programs. Too bad my set-up prevented me from upgrading to Windows 11; I would have done that too if I could.
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| A whole mess of wires and cables inside the casing |
Sunday, 30 October 2022
Bangkok chess club open
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"]
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"]
[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]
[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]
[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]
[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]
[Event "Bangkok Chess Open 2022"]
[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 |
[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 |
[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? |
[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 |
[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 |
[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. |
[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. |
[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
Saturday, 29 October 2022
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 |
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