KASUGI O KASUGI...

Kasugi Chess Tournament
KASUGI Chess Tournament…it is not really a tournament…it is more like a festival. It is what the contestant want it to be...for some it is a nostalgia. Reminiscence of 90’s Merdeka Tournament, for others it is a contest with the sole aim is to grab the prize…some took the opportunity to do business (there are 3 stalls outside the hall selling chess merchandise)…some took the opportunity to renew the acquaintance. It got something for everyone.

Tournament Director is Mr Fadli. Chief Arbiter is Mr Hamid Majid. Talked about arbiter there are many occasions that Arbiter is being call upon by protesting player, mostly on trying to win on time or illegal moves but there is also an occasion because of wrong sitting arrangement! There are more than 100 teams that took part in this tournament. Each team got 4 official members and few extra more in friends, parents, girlfriend, boyfriend, bibik…you can imagine the crowded tournament hall and the rushed to get the Nasi Ayam and Nasi Tomato … (and the queue at loo too)

 Most of the who’s who in Malaysian chess is here. Since almost everyone is here…it is easier to look around and see who is not here. IM Mas is not here, Andrew ‘Gilachess’ cannot be seen doing a live blogging, Peter Long is also not here (normally at the big event he can be seen wandering around…meeting old friends, observing etc), hairulov is also not here…and Greg too…and Dato Tan as well and etc. Maybe they are here and if that is the case I apologized for my overlook.

Unique Feature
Lunch provided (err, I split here whether want to mention it or not but I think the food can be improve further). OK, maybe no big deals for some but could you recall when is the last time you entered a tournament in which a lunch is provided?

Free accommodation for state team.

Like attending a seminar, contestant needs to fill up the evaluation form before round 8.

My Story 

I played for Terengganu B (Terengganu send 2 teams). My team consist of Fairul ‘emjee’Yusof, yours truly, Arshad ‘Kedaicatur’ and ‘Franco’ Heng Aik Kiat. My old buddy all.

After whitewashing one Petronas Team 4 nils and using one of exit staircase as our official ‘war room’ we are settle down and looking forward for brighter future. Don’t remember much being discussed here though except for non stop cursing and listening to emjee’s optimistic views. :) …I shall miss that!

But destiny got different plan which is quite independent from ours. Franco who is expected to be our Achiless heel suddenly became our top scorer. Arshad and emjee performed as per expectation but for me… disaster…

All I can say I almost single handedly bring my team down…

 Imagine this… last round…last game…my team mate had dutifully collected 3 points against UPM and the only unfinished game is mine. In a pawn ending I am one pawn up…with extra few minutes against my opponent. Win means Terengganu B will be numbered 7 and RM700 richer. I lost this game (Don’t asked me how I self-destruct my position…my time…and my team’s hope).Terengganu B is not among the prize winner.

My team mate is courteous enough not to strangle me there and then for…tell me, how on earth could you lose when you are one pawn up (pawns ending with no pieces) and few minutes up???

The saddest part is to see my team mate hoping for a miracle…that we somehow be in the prize winner by looking and relooking at the final table calculating the possibilities.

That miracle did not come...not when i failed to win that last game.

Hashim summed it up by saying, on our walk to main entrance after the event,…."Dashat!!! Budok baru belajor maing cator pong dok ma’eng gitu” “Terrible!!! Kid who just started to play chess also will not play as bad as that"

That exactly what i feel, Hashim.

Sorry guys...

( I wrote this halfway last night and when I continued today, Jimmy has already published his here…and noticed we noticed a few similar things)