Wishing all my Hindu friends a Happy Thaipusam.

This year’s Malaysia vs Singapore Challenge is scheduled to take place on 15 to 17 Feb 2010 during the Chinese New Year? I wonder when were it scheduled during previous years and any reasons to do it during CNY. I also wonder will Singapore able to send a strong team during festival season, unless they think they can still win with reserve strength?

Anyway, I must salute those who sacrifice their festival for this event.

Finally, Malaysia Rating is now restored probably MCF settled the fees. But I think FIDE is trying to make more money by lower the rating to 1200 so that more players can be listed and they can charge all the federations more money. With the Euro strengthening a lot more than US Dollar, it can be a burden for some federations.

Team AU win their last round againts PwC 2.5-1.5 to finish as the 2nd DATCC Chess League Champion. They beat all 9 other teams to top the league with 32 points. Caviaga follows closely with 30.5 point to finish 2nd. Both teams are a class above beating the rest of the teams with a lot of 4-0 or 3.5-0.5 wins.

PwC fought hard to get 3rd place, a distance away with 21 points. X-Factor with the late inclusion of IM Mok, Lim Zhou Ren and Ismail Ahmad edged Nusa Mahkota 2.5-1.5 who were leading 0.5 ahead of them with a total of 20 points. The last minute inclusion of Ismal Ahmad did the trick for the valuable drew (against Izz).

Storm Warriors “storm” away 17 Chess Club with a 3-1 to gain a much respected 6th place with 15 points.

3 teams shared the next spot with 13 points. 17 Chess Club edged DATCC and EON Bank with a better match point tie-break. DATCC suprise EON Bank with 2.5-1.5 and sent EON Bank to the last but one spot.

Tan & Tan finish poorly with a mere 3 points despite the line-up with 1 IM and 1 NM.

Congratulation to Mok Tze Meng for becoming the 5th International Master for Malaysia. It show that Chess is a game for all ages(*) (I think he is older than me )

I wander if Dato’ Tan Chin Nam’s cash award for Malaysians who obtain IM & GM title still valid.

(*) Dato’ Tan still playing good Chess in the DATCC Chess League.

In less than a year, Malaysia FIDE ratings went missing for 3 times! The first was in April and the 2nd was in September.

Magnus Carlsen is World No. 1 in the lastest FIDE rating!

EON Bank managed to upset Nusa Mahkota with a 2-2 draw.

X-Factor narrowly beat storm warriors 2.5-1.5

DATCC walk-over Tan & Tan 3.5-0.5 with a draw by arbiters (Najib vs Hamid)

17 Chess Club also upset PwC with a 2-2 draw.

Lastly, clash of the Titans see Team AU beat Caviag 2.5-1.5 to take 3 points lead.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Favorite Team AU extended its lead again with a 3.5-0.5 victory against 17 Chess Club.

PwC got a surprise when DATCC fielded Justin Ong Way on board 4 and only manage to win with 2.5-1.5.

IM Giam turn up for the 1st time but did not manage to play and Tan & Tan only managed 0.5 point against X-Factor. X-Factor added Lim Zhuo Ren in its line up, probably trying to catch up in the scores to become a prize winner.

EON Bank drew with Storm Warriors 2-2

Nusa Mahkota managed to get 1 point from Caviaga with Izz Saifuddin beating Edward Lee.

Standing:

1. Team Au

2. Caviaga

3. PwC

4. Nusa Mahkota

5. X-Factor