updates on Amber Chess 2007

I think Kramnik just won the event earlier. Latest results shows at AmberChess website shows Kramnik drew, Anand drew and Ivanchuk lost so that means Kramnik going into the final round with 2 points advantage wins the event before last game!

Congratulations to Kramnik!!

Mission Accomplished!!

Bravo!! as I managed to accomplish the project of automation downloads of reports from SSL web applications! Well, nothing new about the technology except I am the first one from the company that managed such project! Congratulations to myself! :D =)

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

Streamyx finally...

Finally got my streamyx installed and now posting my first post with streamyx. Not so good but not so bad as well cause its far better compare to dial up. At least I got to do something I wish for a long time ago. Now I can play chess online, play online games and can proceed to develop websites.

Just finished playing a few games at FreeChess.org just now. The last time I played online was 2,3 years ago. Finally I could play some blitz...

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

34th Selangor Open

CAS is organising the 34th edition of the Selangor Open at Wilayah
Complex, 2nd floor. Champion will receives RM 1,800 Cash, 2nd
position will receives RM 1,200 cash, 3rd prize is RM 700 cash, and
up to other cash prizes up to 10th position.

27th April (Fri) Rd 1 @ 6.00 PM (After Office hours)
28th April (Sat) Rd 2 @ 9.30 AM (Weekend)
28th April (Sat) Rd 3 @ 3.00 PM (Weekend)
29th April (Sun) Rd 4 @ 9.30 AM (Weekend)
29th April (Sun) Rd 5 @ 3.00 PM (Weekend)
30th April (Mon) REST DAY (Working / Schooling Day)
1st May (Tue) Rd 6 @ 9.30 AM (Public Holiday i.e. Labour Day & Wesak
Day)
1st May (Tue) Rd 6 @ 3.00 PM (Public Holiday)
2nd May (Wed) Rd 8 @ 9.00 AM (Public Holiday i.e. Labour Day & Wesak
Day)
2nd May (Wed) Rd 9 @ 2.00 PM (Public Holiday)

Entry Fee for this FIDE rated event: RM 50 (CAS Members/FIDE-
rated/Ladies) OR RM 80 (Others)

For pre-registration >> email your name to selangorchess@gmail.com

Insufficient Energy...

Working overtime and playing in chess tournament the next day is always a bad choice and combination as I was almost energy-less by round 7 of the 8 rounds tournament. Luckily my round 8 opponent was kind enough to offer me a draw and thus we finished the tournament with 3rd for him and 9th for me...

The 1.5 days of NEC Computers Community Open House 2007 finishes successfully where I had worked overtime for 2 days... More pictures to come for this event...

My aim for for CLHS Open was quite low as I had exhausted myself with the works but the end result was fine except the terrible lost on round 6.

Until then,
Eu Hong

My WebSite

Dear All,

I am in the process of creating my own website and planning to add a dedicated subdomain for chess. eg. chess.domainname.com

The initial plan is as follow:
- news about local events and foreign events.
- chess columns
- chess discussion forum

Please leave your suggestions on what you think about this and any other improvement or content.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Tan Eu Hong

Another Sad News

A news from ChessBase.com mentioned about a chess column on Washington Post had been cut short. Another lost for the chess fans.

Read the full story at ChessBase.com.

New Highest Tactics Rating

It had been exactly 3 months ago when I achieved my highest rating at Chess Tactics Server with 1667 on 20 Dec 06. Today, I done it again to reach 1677 after struggling around 1600~1650 for 3 months. Higher rating come along with high solving speed and of course higher accuracy of solving it. My success rate thus increase to 80.4% after 10,995 tries. This however does not always reflect in actual over-the-board play especially in shorter time control games as I lost all my 5 minutes blitz against Chuah and Khai Boon during PFS open... I think I cannot play blitz... hehehe...

My latest CTS ProfileLatest ranking among Malaysian Tacticians
Top 10 ranking among all active tacticiansand finally I am ranked 207 in the "world".

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

NEC COMPUTERS COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE - 23 & 24 MARCH 2007 - Everyone's Invited

NEC COMPUTERS ASIA PACIFIC
COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE 2007
At
Plot 119, Jalan Perusahaan, Bukit Tengah Industrial Park,
14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang
On
23 MARCH 2007 FROM 3:00 PM TO 7:00 PM
24 MARCH 2007 FROM 10:00 AM TO 7:00 PM

THIS INVITATION IS EXTENDED TO YOU and YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, RELATIVES, FRIENDS & BUSINESS CONTACTS
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE EVENT.Location Map:See you there!!

Nemesis Broken!!

Penang Free School Open (PFS Open) was over yesterday. The event was carried out successfully except the number of participants was lesser than what usually expected. Only 80+ turned up and the organiser was very generous having giving out a total of 40 prizes!

The tournament started with Tan Khai Boon as first seed, Chuah Heng Meng second, me third, Lim Cheng Teik forth and Victor Hong fifth. The top seed was upset on round 3 while I later lost at round 4. Cheng Teik later lost to Chuah and finally we went into the final round with me playing white against Chuah while Cheng Teik taking White against Khai Boon. My game was an early draw while Khai Boon and Cheng Teik play out until they reach a K+Q+P vs K+Q+2P with favor to Khai Boon but both players is having time trouble and had to settle for a draw when Cheng Teik gives perpetual checks.

For myself, I had my nemesis of not winning any prize at PFS Open broken when I finished 4th on the final standing due to better tie breaks, the prize we get for 4th-6th is the same, so make no difference. However, I created another nemesis when I lost to Holmes again! This is the third time in a row I lost to him and that sum up to 1 win and 3 loses for me. Hmm...

Well, I had my pre-tournament objectives and goals met so I can conclude that the tournament result is good for me except without any remarkable win over any of the strong players, I guess that happens when there are only 7 rounds and the top seeds had some upset result in the earlier rounds...

Top 6 Standing of PFS Open 2007:
Champion: Chuah Heng Meng, 6.5/7
2nd: Victor Hong, 6/7
3rd: Steven Hoh, 6/7
4th: Tan Eu Hong, 5.5/7
5th: Lim Cheng Teik, 5.5/7
6th: Tan Khai Boon, 5.5/7

Coming up next: CLHS Open 2007 on 25th March which means this coming Sunday.
Refer PCA Official Website for more on results and new PCA tournaments.

Until then,
Eu Hong

PFS Open 07 tomorrow

PFS Open is tomorrow! I have not play in any tournament since USM Open Team 07 which was 2 months ago. I guess I am kind of rusty consider my amount of time spent with chess lately. No game played for the 2 months' period, only solving puzzles at CTS on irregular basis... too bad...

By the way, my progress at Chess Tactics Server (CTS) for the pass week.
Standing among registered Malaysian tacticians.
Hence, the objective for me on PFS Open 07 is to squeeze into top 10 of final standing. No more no less.

May the force be with me.

Best regards,
Eu Hong

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 6

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 6
Previous installment, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

---

Previously on part 5, our friend went missing.

Here I had a new mission, namely to find the missing soul! After wondering around the crowd for awhile, I found the pro hiding, aiming and shooting again. (shooting picture of course). On the same time, another guy just call him via cellphone and ask him to go home... However, we still took pictures along the way back to the spot to gather.

To the place our car was parked, an ancient looking door which is still under decoration
The parking area was still very crowded and we had to help looking around for our driver to move the car out. For his hardwork, the driver deserve a picture.
There we go, moving down hill slowly as cars were going up and down on a very narrow road so everyone must drive slowly to avoid collision.Scene with heavy traffic and the clock showing 10.45pm

Midway thru, at the mid-hill area again.This time we were moving fast so most of the image I got was blur which made another kind of art...
Gate and roof with "moving" light.

Before the exit, there was a stagewith people performing, singing I assumed but the quality was......

We were on the main road now, and a final view of Kek Lok Si from far.This picture was taken while the car was still moving. Not bad right? my technique... :P Notice the photo, it looks like Kek Lok Si was "floating", the hanging garden? No, the blue and yellow light accross and the lamp posts was just a few meters from our car while Kek Lok Si was actually around a kilometer away and the dark area at the bottom indicate the cliff of the hill where Kek Lok Si located.

Finally, that's all of the interesting views from my Chap Goh Meh spent at Kek Lok Si.

Until then, more posts to come on my next visit to other interesting place.

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

Advertisement of Something About Everything

I just discovered this item while surfing earlier. May be some advertisement can boast the traffic?? Time will tell...

MCC Round 8 - Lucky Win

It had been some moments ago since I was seriously involved in my daily activities. Today, many activities was resumed as well as workout and chess. Here is my first win at Malaysian Chess Challenge 06 after playing badly for days.

Tan Eu Hong (2043) - Sri Shiva Kumar [B18]
AMBank Malaysian Chess Challenge, 25.08.2006

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 Caro-Kann Defence again. Incidently, I had some discussion on this variation with my teammate during Merdeka Open a week ago. That descussion ended in my favour with my pawn on d4-c5 squares and knight on d6 which was dominating. Few days later at the penultimate round of the Merdeka Open, I won again with such configuration though that was only a rapid game. Here, today, my 1600 national rated opponent allowed that to happen again providing me another win (though some luck was finally required) which sum up to 4 wins against the Caro-Kann Defence including round 1 of this event and my practice game against my friend.

6.Nf3 h6 7.Bd3 [7.Ne5 Nf6 (7...Bh7 8.Qh5 g6 9.Qf3 f6 10.Bc4 e6 (10...fxe5 11.Qf7+ Kd7 12.Qe6+ Ke8 (12...Kc7 13.Qxe5++- ) 13.Ne4 Na6 14.Qxe5 g5 15.Qxh8 Bxe4 16.Qxg8 Qxd4 17.Qf7+ Kd7 18.Qe6+ Kc7 19.c3+- ) ) 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bd3 Qb6 10.Bxg6+ Kd8 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Re1+- ]

7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 e6 I avoided the mainline which usually had this position 2 moves later where White's pawn on h5 and Black's knight on f6 or d7. White's pawn will be slightly over-extent and is harder for a player of my standard to play for a win as Black only need to defend accurately, exchange into endgame and pick up the h5-pawn.

9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 Nd7 12.Rfe1 Ne7?! [12...Ngf6 this is better as White cannot play Ne4 without allowing the knight to be exchanged off. The Black's knights can later move toward the centre, for example ...Nd5, ...N7f6 with an equal position.]

13.c4 0-0 14.Ne4! White is playing toward the aforementioned plan. Black is playing too passively.

14...Qc7 15.c5 Nd5 16.Nd6?! Too soon. White should had prepared b4 first then only Nd6 when the knight will be standing even firmer on d6. Black to Move.

16...b5? [16...b6! challenging White's grip of the position at its root, namely the c5-square to prove that 16Nd6 was only an illusion and clearly doubius! 17.b5 is now impossible and White will be forced to play 17.Qc4.]

17.Qd2 a5 18.Kh1?! [18.Ne5 is better. White started to play aimlessly after achieving a slight plus.]

18...N7f6 19.Ne5 Rad8 20.Rac1 a4 21.Rc2 Ne8Black to move.

22.Rec1 f6? [Discouraging: 22...Nxd6 23.cxd6 Rxd6 24.Nxc6?/a> White's strong knight had disappeared but gained a newly opened c-file thus compensate for the isolated queen pawn.]

23.Ng6 Nxd6 24.cxd6 Rxd6 25.Nxf8 Kxf8+/= White is only slightly better after winning the exchange (N+P vs R) due to the isolated Queen pawn and Black's undisputed knight on d5-square.

26.f4?! [26.b3 axb3 27.axb3 Qd7 28.Ra2 Ne7 29.Qe2 Rxd4 30.Qh5= ]

26...Ne7 27.Qb4 Qd7 28.Rd1 Nd5 29.Qd2 Ne7 30.Qf2 Nf5 31.Rcd2 Rd5 32.g4 Ne7 33.b4 axb3 34.axb3 Qd6 35.Qe3 Kf7 36.Re1 g6 37.b4 f5 the position become more and more complicated and I am running low on time. I think the position is only slightly better for White given the various conditions.
White to move.

38.h3 fxg4 39.hxg4 h5 40.f5 e5?? The move that loses the game. [40...exf5 41.gxh5 f4 42.hxg6+ Nxg6 43.Qe8+ Kf6 44.Rc1+/- I was not able to see this move (44.Rc1!) threatening to win the Queen, in time trouble.]

41.dxe5?! Time trouble! [41.f6! Ng8 42.dxe5+- Black can already resign.]

41...Qxb4 42.fxg6+ Nxg6 43.e6+?! it happened that I kept playing those doubious moves in time trouble. [43.Rxd5 cxd5 44.Qf2+ Ke8 45.gxh5 Ne7 46.e6+- ]

43...Kg7 44.Rxd5 cxd5 45.e7 Qxe7 46.Qxe7+ Nxe7 47.Rxe7+ Kf6White to move.

48.Re3? I thought I cannot catch the pawns!!! [48.Rd7 Ke6 49.gxh5! and White either take all the pawns or queen if Black take the rook!; 48.Rb7 hxg4 49.Rxb5 Ke5 50.Kg2 Ke4 51.Kg3 d4 52.Rb8 d3 53.Re8+ Kd4 54.Kf4 mate in 18 as Fritz9 says.]

48...hxg4 49.Kg2 White chosen a wrong plan that actually throw away the win if Black knows how to continue.

49...Kf5 50.Kg3 d4 51.Rb3 Ke4 52.Rb4 Ke3 53.Rxb5 d3 54.Re5+ Kd4 55.Re8 d2 56.Kf2 I played this move and pray for miracle to happen. [Not 56.Kxg4?? d1Q+ when Black is suddenly winning!]
Black to move. Find the drawing continuation!


56...Kd3?? [56...d1N+= Black can start to claim for a draw from the arbiter in charge!] now Black loses.

57.Rd8+ Kc2 58.Ke2 Black resigned. Afterward my opponent told me that he did not know endgame with K+R vs K+N+P was theoritically drawn and all the while he was only thinking of promoting to a queen. I am so lucky this time! I am now back to even score with 4/8 by winning the this game. 1-0

Replay the game here:

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

New Tournament: PFS Open 2007, this Sunday

PFS Open 2007
Venue: PFS, Penang
Date: 18th March 2007
Picture below is the details of the event. Visit PCA Website for more details.

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 5

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 5
Previous installment, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

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It had been awhile since I last thought of moving up the stairs but here again we got distracted by some cute little "pets".So here we are, decided to take another group photo. Our very hardworking and proffesional photographer setting up his tools.Opps, he runs out of charges.

From where we were standing, we can actually had a bird eye view of the lower part (the part where we took photos).The parking area was also visible.The main spot of attraction, the KuanYin.The place is still however under construction as there will be actually at roof as indicated by the poster.
On the mean time, someone from Aiyer Item area was doing some fire work and the sound was audible. Fortunately I discovered the event quick enough and had the time to take a few pictures of it.I initially intended to take video of it but was too late...

Back to the scene, here, we had a wishing tree.The colourful tree leaf was actually hanged by visitors where they first wrote down their wishes over the piece of cloth and then hang it on the tree. I overheard a conversion where a lady mentioned about "the higher you can hang your wishes, the better it will come true!!", true or not, I don't know.

Finally, on the wallwe got a Buddha's Holy Script.

Looking at the watch, it was then 10.30p.m. and the girl in the gang suggested that we should start moving home as all of us will need to work the next day. Yet again, our "proffesional" had gone missing...

To be continue...

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

New Tournament: CLHS Open 2007

Name: Kejohanan Catur Antarabangsa Terbuka CLHS 2007
Date: 25 Mac 2007
Venue: Dewan SMJK Chung Ling
Fees:
PCA Member: Open/Lady/Veteran RM15; U18/U15 RM10; U12/U10 RM10
Non-PCA: Open/Lady/Veteran RM20; U18/U15 RM15; U12/U10 RM15
Registration: Register before 6pm 23 Mac 2007.

Entry fees can be paid via:
(a) Sundays to Mr. Tan Eng Seong at RABB, Bayan Baru or
(b) on 24 Mac at Dewan SMJK Chung Ling from 5.00pm -6.00pm
All payment must be made latest by 6pm, 24 Mac 07.
Time control: 25 minute per player.
For registration, please contact:
Tan Eng Seong 012-4299517 estan64@streamyx.com
Lim Wei Yang 04-6598199 wylim1990@gmail.com

Schedule on 25-3-07:
0740-0810 Registration
0830-0920 Round 1
0930-1020 Round 2
1030-1120 Round 3
1130-1220 Round 4
1220-1330 Rehat
1330-1420 Round 5
1430-1520 Round 6
1530-1620 Round 7
1630-1720 Round 8
1745-1815 Prize Giving Ceremony

Prizes : Open Category
1st RM200
2nd RM150
3rd RM100
4th RM 90
5th RM 80
6th RM 70
7th RM 60
8th RM 50
9th RM 50
10th RM 50
and Group Prizes for age groups, Best Veteran, Best CLHS Player, Best Former CLHS Player, and Best Lady.

* The numbers of prizes given out is subjected the number of participants. The organizer has the right to make any amendments.

Download the entry form at the official PCA Website.

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 4

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 4
Previous installment, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

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Bird Eye View
of Aiyer Item Area from Kek Lok Si

I was about to move to another place when I noticed that I can take a few pictures of Aiyer Item from the parking area.
An Bird Eye View.

Another view but from different angle. Notice the ship-like building and the building on bottom-right corner, I am about to zoom in using the combination of optical zoom and digital zoom.

First try which is about 10x(3.6x optical + 6x digital)

Maximum zoom, 20x!!

The best I can do with my camera. I think my "professional-looking" friend had a better set of pictures. Hopefully I can get a hand on them and post it here.

Finally the ship-like building which is actually another temple...

Stay tuned...

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

Malaysian Double Triumph at All England

Great news! The Malaysian double that had advanced to Final of All England Men's Double Badminton Championship had the World Champion pair, Cai Yun and Foo Hai Feng beaten in just 38 minutes!

Result:
Koo Kean Keat, Tan Boon Heong vs Cai Yun, Foo HaiFeng 21-15, 21-18

The two won the first game within 16 minutes. 2nd round was tougher as they had to struggle thru to reach 18-18 and finally triumph the 21-18!

Bravo!!

Cheers!
Eu Hong

Anand Wins Linares 2007

Anand finished clear first after drawing with Ivanchuk! Carlsen was beaten by Leko and joined by Morozevich at second place. The later finish with another win by beating Svidler. It is remarkable that Morozevich managed to come back from the bottom of the table to join second.

Round 14: Result
Peter Leko 1-0 Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler 0-1 Alex. Morozevich
Veselin Topalov ½-½ Levon Aronian
Vassily Ivanchuk ½-½ Vishy Anand

More details at ChessBase.com

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 3

Chap Goh Meh - Kek Lok Si - Part 3
Previous installment, Part 1, Part 2.

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Moments ago I went on to take pictures of my friends and on the mean time, our "professional-looking" friend went missing into the crowd with his "professional-looking" camera and tripod...

The guy was later found adjusting his camera and shooting around.

Take a look at next 2 photosNotice the different? The photos was actually taken from the same angle between a few seconds time gap where the first one was taken without flash light and the second was taken with flash light. Which is better? What do you think?

The place where I was previously standing.

Another shoot with flashStanding next to the cliff (there was actually a fence composed by trees), we can still see cars moving towards the top of the hill.Mid-hill from top-hill with trees and leaves preventing a clear view.

Looks like scene from Hong Kong's Kung Fu movies right?

I was borned in the year of Dog on Lunar Calendar so "legally" I have to take a few photo with the "star".(including the "Confused Dog" from previous post. :P)
The lovely dogwith me posting.

Moving on, we are moving to highest point of this spot to take more photos at
and
Stay tuned...

Cheers!!
Eu Hong

Linares 2007

I was busy with activities over Friday and Saturday. So was not around to read or post anything... Too bad...

Round 13 of Linares was played out on Saturday with Morozevich beating then former FIDE Champion, Topalov while the rest of the games were drawn. The game between the 2 was interesting with a lot of useful lesson. First White went into the endgame with a microscopic advantage where draw is a most likely result, then Topalov fight on and White gets an outside passed pawn. Later the game turn into a K+Ps vs K+Ps endgame then K+Q+P vs K+Q+P and finally K+Q+Q vs K+Q+P where Topalov finally resigned.

The final position of the game.
Replay the game here.

Pairing of Round 14 which is probably going on now but I had to wait until hours later to know the result. =( Arghh, I am getting nervous...

Peter Leko - Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler - Alex. Morozevich
Veselin Topalov - Levon Aronian
Vassily Ivanchuk - Vishy Anand