UKM KL Masters group photo

UKM KL Masters Closing ceremony

GM Saidali Iuldachev - first place

 

FM Daniel Fernandez - 2nd and getting his hard earned 3rd and final IM norm

 

Ankit Rajpara - 3rd and also very grateful for getting his 3rd IM norm too. He is now in Petaling Street celebrating (if he had not won his last round he would be in the room sulking :) )

 

Thakur Akhur - 4th and the third person obtaining IM norm from the tournament(it is also his 3rd IM norm). He had a winning position against the GM but blundered a whole piece in the ending.

IM Sithuru Nathanel

FM Yee Soon Wei

Abdul Haq was the busiest of the players as he also played a major role as organiser to ensure players were taken care of, arrangement of playing venue, food, etc. An incredible job by Haq.

NIcholas Chan seemed to play like a different person after the KL Open and was totally off form. He picked up towards the end of the tournament by beating Ankit and almost ending Daniel Fernandez norm chances in the last round.

 

Tirto suffered from gout and it looks like his game suffered too one win 3 draws and 5 losses.

Nirav Y Rajasuba whose secondary job is coaching and Ankit was once his student.

Round 8: Panoramic view

Round 7: Haq beats Situru

First game that concludes for Round 7 is at board 1 where Abdul Haq beat IM Situru Nathaniel. Haq's two connected passed pawn proved too much for Situru's Rook and Knight to handle. In the end, Haq sacrificed the exchange to ensure at least one for pawns would queen which promptly forced Situru’s resignation..

Round 7 starts

 

Today’s round starts early at 8.30am. Clocks are started on time and GM Saidali, Ankit and Rajasuba arrive at the same time, just one minute late. Daniel ,Nicholas, Thakur and Sithuru are already at sitting at their seats ready to start.

Daniel already thinking hard against the GM.

An hour later Tirto arrives barefoot, walking to his seat slowly. His still has problems with his leg.

All attention to Tirto as he slowly makes his way to his seat.

He starts his game immediately vs Ankit. Tirto’s clock show him having less than 30 minutes to complete the game.

Photo outing @ Putrajaya

 

There are no rest days at the UTM KL Masters but today there is only one round so the rest of the afternoon the players are free.

Abdul Haq took the opportunity to arrange a bus for the players and off the players and arbiters went for a sight seeing tour around Putrajaya.

 

Roslina brought along WIM Nafisa Muminova for the outing and I took the opportunity to take a picture with her. I missed the chance to take a picture with any of the chess players during the KL Open. At least I have one now.

First stop Alamada shopping complex.

Ankit from India commented that he had delicious ice cream at the shopping complex. (Mc Donalds – chocolate twist cone)

Yee Soon Wei seen coming out after having bought a collection of books at bargain price (RM5 per book)

Then the Putrajaya mosque.

Ankit and Rajasuba putting money in the collection box at the entrance of Masjid Putra.

 

It’s their first time here. Mine too :)

Shoes off when entering the mosque.

Funny weather, sunny with occasional drizzles and all of gloomy with heavy storm clouds looming.

Grandmaster Saidali joins the rest of the group later at the mosque.

 

Husband and wife arbiter team, Anggun and Ana.

A nice outing as it certainly good to take the mind off the routine of round robin chess for half a day. I don’t know about the players but I for one feel refreshed. Also, it was good to have some time to actually talk to some of the players.

PS: I regret forgetting to do a “surround” picture of the mosque :)

Round 6: Panoramic view

Panoramic view of the Senate Room (Bilik Senat) where the UKM KL Masters is being held.

Round 5 pictures

 

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