There was a time in the distant past when the Penang Chess Association used to sweep the top honours at the annual Merdeka team chess championship in Kuala Lumpur. Later, this event was assimilated into the Malaysia Chess Festival and the tournament thrown open to all teams regardless of whether they were local, foreign or mix teams. In a way, it debased the original objective of the Malaysian Chess Federation which was to offer the Deputy Prime Minister's challenge trophy to the best state team in the country./p>
Recently, I unearthed these pictures which were taken during the 18th Merdeka team chess championship. The event was played at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur from the 29th till the 31st of August, 1999.
The Putra World Trade Centre was a sprawling venue and going to the toilets would require a long walk from the playing hall. Cheating and coaching often took place in the toilets. I remember on one occasion - not necessarily at this particular event - I caught a player receiving tips from his father in the toilet. I wasn't an arbiter in the tournament and so, the only thing I could do was to inform one of the arbiters after trailing the player back to his seat. Unfortunately, I cannot recall what had happened next.
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