Introduction
Frankly, Mas Hafizul needs no introduction. Country second IM, he is also our country biggest hope to get a GM title. In my (unofficial) Malaysian Chess of record, he held many records such as youngest IM, highest FIDE rated player (2456 in year 2001), longest chess game(131 moves in his games against Kempen, Haarlem 2009) , most FIDE rated games in one year (150 games in 2008) and so on. In a word of Mohamad Arshad, with some adjustment 'you cannot say you are a chess player in Malaysia if you did not know who is Mas Hafizulhelmi'.
He is a role model for aspiring junior. Success in academic, success in career (currently employed as an engineer with Petronas) and ofcourse success in chess. Sorry ladies, he is also happily married with a kid!
A man of few words...he treated his spoken words like his move in chess...very carefully. Though when surrounded by his closest friends, he can be quite animated! :)
If there is a single word to describe him it is NEAT. Neatly dressed, neat handwritting on the score sheet and if you are lucky enough to play chess with him...you could feel the force of his neat chess strategy at work!...some 20 years ago when we, east coast chess players stayed together to take part in National Closed (at that time was held at Park Royal)...Mas is the one who always reminded me to put back the chess pieces after finish playing/analysing...:)
OK guys, the interview...
Interview
Who teach you to play chess?
My father, he was the one introduced this beautiful game of chess to me and keep pushing me to pursue further.
When you started playing chess?
About 4 years old.
Your first chess tournament?
If i recalled correctly, when i was 6 i played in kelantan closed (open category) scored 1.5/7 . one from a walkover/bye and i drew one game :).
Your best moment in chess?
Many to choose from. But one that gave me special 'buzz' was my win vs the Great Korchnoi in Turin Olympiad 2006.
(When the pairing were out the night before the game (Msia v Swiss), i was hoping n praying that they will put the best line up or atleast they wont 'rest' Mr Korchnoi.
To play him was an honour, and during the game when the position was 'balance', i thought to draw will be super bonus. And to win the game in about 21 moves was just
'out of this world' kind of feeling :) .. Alhamdulillah!
Your best game?
If i had to choose one (beside the Korchnoi game), is the one I won vs (my future to be coach) GM Ian Rogers in Sydney QVB GM invitational tournament.
Towards the end of the game, i was just so nervous (i couldn't believe my position was winning) i keep walking away from the board.
Your favourite chess player?
Karpov ..
Do you play chess online?
Not really.
Do you read chess blog on daily basis?
I like to check on Hairulov's blog for updates etc.
How do you rate your chances to be country first GM?
InsyaAllah I will do my best to keep pushing for the elusive title, however the older you get things are not getting easier, especially
with todays technologies, databases, softwares etc. And when you are not 'chess professional', then it is an uphill task to juggle between chess and work
(not to mention families etc). Personally i do hope our younger chess generation can start pushing for the title, I will be as happy for Msia to have a GM.
If you have to chose between RM1 Million cash or Super GM chess strength.
Which one you chose?
Haha. I would choose the super GM strength, that money can not buy :)
What is more important, to have a first class chess programmes in
school or to have a first GM?
Both are important, but having 1st GM is important to show that we can do it.
(IM Jimmy was my role model and legend (1st Msian IM) , i only do it faster because i know it is doable)
Later, the chess programmes will be as important to teach chess systematically, and produce consistency.
Your most active time. day or night?
Depends how you define active. I would prefer to do my work at night when things are calm and quiet.
But of course you have to go to work during the day :) .
Strategy or tactic?
Strategy
Which one you prefer. Winning a bad, lousy game or
losing a beautiful, brilliant game?
Winning is always good, but sometimes the later is also gave a different buzz!
Your advice to young, aspiring chess player?
Chess is fun! Work hard and you will enjoy more..
Your hobby (other than chess)?
Reading
Title of last book you read?
The Element - How finding your passion changes everything.
Your favourite tv show?
House
Your favourite drink?
Nescafe ice
Your favourite song?
InsyaAllah - Maher Zain
The other side of Mas Hafizulhilmi that chess citizen don't know?
I always wander why we choose what we chose, and how did we come to that conclusion? Do we really choose?
Thanks
Thanks Mas for your time and willingness to answer above questions and all the best to you in chess.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
MEMO FROM MARVELLOUS MAVERICK!
1.More than 100 players took part in recently conclude marvellous Maverick chess tournament. Number wise, it could easily balloon to 150 should Najib did not requested bloggers to put up the STOP sign a few days ago (a rare request from organiser)...and should Najib aggressively promoting his event at shoutbox. He don’t.
2.Top 3 seeded are coming from 3 different countries, (Malaysian’s Mas, Uzbek’s Majidov and Pinoy’s Ian Udani) and we also have Indonesian’s Ahmad Rubel (though now he is a Malaysian PR) and Irish’s Dr Zaidan (he is currently studying medic at Ireland, he is Malaysian ofcourse) ...and Chief Arbiter is Singaporean’s IM Giam...a truly international event!
3.I am seeded number 23 and am happy with my play, time management and concentration. Anyway a bit frustrated with my 3rd round game against Cheah Cheok Fung...failed to convert a winning position...lost that game. All in all, again, not a bad outing for me
4.Glad to see Mustafa Said make a comeback! He won a best veteran. Mustafa Said? In 80’s he is a chess columnist, together with Ismail Ahmad (not that Sarjan Ismail Ahmad) for Berita Harian’s chess column ...missing are the regulars Abdullah Che Hassan, Saprin, Fairin etc...are they busy preparing for National Closed?...takut!
5. 3 games that stood out. Mas lost to Majidov in equal position (Mas blundered a piece), Kamaludin lost to Majidov (position equals but Kamaluddin got about 6 minutes and Majidov’s 30 seconds...Majidov checkmate Kamaluddin with 2 seconds left) you just need to be there to witness how calm Majidov is with 10 seconds remaining on his time... and Fong Yit San won against Udani (did not watch how the game unfold but any win against Udani in Allegro is definitely a news)
6. Final result. All top 6 finisher got 6 points (1 Majidov, Mas, Fong Yit San, Lim Zhuo Ren, Wong Zianwen and yours truly). Senior vs Junior wise...3-3. I lost the bet against Raymond but he is unable to make it to the restaurant...perhaps some other time, Raymond.
7.Next two months are just bumper to bumper pack with tournaments, tournaments and more tournaments! Terengganu Allegro (for members only), National Age Tournament at Tronoh, National Closed, Lim Choong Memorial, Percawi Team Event, UniKL Open, UM Team, Jax Tham’s FIDE rated event, Buccaneers Weekender (with name like this, Najiblah organise...who else), Insofar series...seems like everybody is busy doing ‘real work’...how about you, Ilham?
Once, someone said this to me “...I wish you all the best if you have a positive agenda to promote chess and hopefully that includes doing real work beyond making commentary.”
Ouch!
Hmm, maybe what he said is true but still...ouch!
2.Top 3 seeded are coming from 3 different countries, (Malaysian’s Mas, Uzbek’s Majidov and Pinoy’s Ian Udani) and we also have Indonesian’s Ahmad Rubel (though now he is a Malaysian PR) and Irish’s Dr Zaidan (he is currently studying medic at Ireland, he is Malaysian ofcourse) ...and Chief Arbiter is Singaporean’s IM Giam...a truly international event!
3.I am seeded number 23 and am happy with my play, time management and concentration. Anyway a bit frustrated with my 3rd round game against Cheah Cheok Fung...failed to convert a winning position...lost that game. All in all, again, not a bad outing for me
4.Glad to see Mustafa Said make a comeback! He won a best veteran. Mustafa Said? In 80’s he is a chess columnist, together with Ismail Ahmad (not that Sarjan Ismail Ahmad) for Berita Harian’s chess column ...missing are the regulars Abdullah Che Hassan, Saprin, Fairin etc...are they busy preparing for National Closed?...takut!
5. 3 games that stood out. Mas lost to Majidov in equal position (Mas blundered a piece), Kamaludin lost to Majidov (position equals but Kamaluddin got about 6 minutes and Majidov’s 30 seconds...Majidov checkmate Kamaluddin with 2 seconds left) you just need to be there to witness how calm Majidov is with 10 seconds remaining on his time... and Fong Yit San won against Udani (did not watch how the game unfold but any win against Udani in Allegro is definitely a news)
6. Final result. All top 6 finisher got 6 points (1 Majidov, Mas, Fong Yit San, Lim Zhuo Ren, Wong Zianwen and yours truly). Senior vs Junior wise...3-3. I lost the bet against Raymond but he is unable to make it to the restaurant...perhaps some other time, Raymond.
7.Next two months are just bumper to bumper pack with tournaments, tournaments and more tournaments! Terengganu Allegro (for members only), National Age Tournament at Tronoh, National Closed, Lim Choong Memorial, Percawi Team Event, UniKL Open, UM Team, Jax Tham’s FIDE rated event, Buccaneers Weekender (with name like this, Najiblah organise...who else), Insofar series...seems like everybody is busy doing ‘real work’...how about you, Ilham?
Once, someone said this to me “...I wish you all the best if you have a positive agenda to promote chess and hopefully that includes doing real work beyond making commentary.”
Ouch!
Hmm, maybe what he said is true but still...ouch!
Friday, February 25, 2011
TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT (PATRIOT ACT)
I reread my old Chess Life magazine (old habit as a lullaby or when i am in the restroom) and in July 1988 issue mentioned about New York Open 1988 which was won by then unknown Russian IM (!) Vassily Ivanchuk (USD20,000), second prize went to Cuban GM Guillermo Garcia (USD10,000) and so on...
While Ivanchuk happily bring back USD20k back to then USSR, GM Garcia bring back USD 0 to Cuba due to this US law (Trading with the enemy Act) that prohibit ‘enemy’ from taking out money and goods from US.
‘Enemy’ according to this act is countries which US considered as enemy such as North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Liberia and so on. Enemy could also be individual like Osama Laden or late Malaysian’s Nordin Mat Top
As a result GM Garcia’s USD10,000 is put into Trust Account and will only be released after US Government no longer consider Cuba as the enemy.
Fortunately, this US10k will still enjoyed interest (bet by now the amount is already double). Unfortunately, now, 23 years later US still considered Cuba as US enemy, and this fund should still remain frozen.
What does this Act mean to you and me?
After 9/11 US Government, President George Bush widen the power/scope of this law and passed amendment to this law that among others, allows (the controversial) wiretapping without court order as well as for banking industry, stricter flow of fund to the ‘enemy’.
To you and me this means we, even from Malaysia, cannot remit US Dollar to enemy of US such as to Iran, North Korea, Cuba etc...be very careful because once you do this, your money will be freeze by US and will only be returned back to you after ‘enemy’ become friend. Nobody knows when....
This GM Garcia incident reminds me of our own Norazman...Well, you are not alone and not the first... Entering a chess tournament, winning good cash prizes but went home empty handed (albeit due to different reasons)!
While Ivanchuk happily bring back USD20k back to then USSR, GM Garcia bring back USD 0 to Cuba due to this US law (Trading with the enemy Act) that prohibit ‘enemy’ from taking out money and goods from US.
‘Enemy’ according to this act is countries which US considered as enemy such as North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Liberia and so on. Enemy could also be individual like Osama Laden or late Malaysian’s Nordin Mat Top
As a result GM Garcia’s USD10,000 is put into Trust Account and will only be released after US Government no longer consider Cuba as the enemy.
Fortunately, this US10k will still enjoyed interest (bet by now the amount is already double). Unfortunately, now, 23 years later US still considered Cuba as US enemy, and this fund should still remain frozen.
What does this Act mean to you and me?
After 9/11 US Government, President George Bush widen the power/scope of this law and passed amendment to this law that among others, allows (the controversial) wiretapping without court order as well as for banking industry, stricter flow of fund to the ‘enemy’.
To you and me this means we, even from Malaysia, cannot remit US Dollar to enemy of US such as to Iran, North Korea, Cuba etc...be very careful because once you do this, your money will be freeze by US and will only be returned back to you after ‘enemy’ become friend. Nobody knows when....
This GM Garcia incident reminds me of our own Norazman...Well, you are not alone and not the first... Entering a chess tournament, winning good cash prizes but went home empty handed (albeit due to different reasons)!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
CHESS JOKES (PART 2)
I
"I've created a chess program that mimics human play" said the computer science major.
"So it plays at Super GM level then?" asks the advising professor.
"Not really, but it does blame its loss on outside conditions!"
II
Two chess players are playing a correspondence game. White lives at the South Pole. Black lives at the North Pole. The postal service is rather slow and play proceeds at the rate of one move per year. After 15 years of play, white makes a daring queen sacrifice, the consequences of which are brilliant and spectacular...
A year later, as he sees the postman returning, he is very excited. He thinks "Will black take my queen ?", "Is the sacrifice sound ?". He tears open the reply and sees "Jadoube".
III
Q. What is the difference between a chess player and a couple on a blind date?
A. The chess player mates then chats......
Taken from Susanpolgar.blogspot
"I've created a chess program that mimics human play" said the computer science major.
"So it plays at Super GM level then?" asks the advising professor.
"Not really, but it does blame its loss on outside conditions!"
II
Two chess players are playing a correspondence game. White lives at the South Pole. Black lives at the North Pole. The postal service is rather slow and play proceeds at the rate of one move per year. After 15 years of play, white makes a daring queen sacrifice, the consequences of which are brilliant and spectacular...
A year later, as he sees the postman returning, he is very excited. He thinks "Will black take my queen ?", "Is the sacrifice sound ?". He tears open the reply and sees "Jadoube".
III
Q. What is the difference between a chess player and a couple on a blind date?
A. The chess player mates then chats......
Taken from Susanpolgar.blogspot
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
CRAZY QUEEN CHESS PUZZLE
The Introduction
Previously we have saw crazy bishop puzzle in The Most Beautiful Chess Problem’s posting in which one single bishop destroyed an armada of army, a few weeks ago we saw a crazy rook puzzle (in which a single rook which could not be taken, keep on giving check no matter where black’s king hide) and now...crazy queen chess puzzle!
This puzzle was first shown to me by Ghalam Sani some 20 years ago. If i am not mistaken, Gambit (Fairul Yusof) manage to solve this puzzle.
The Puzzle
White to play and win
The Solution
1.h8 = Q a1 = Q
White could not take black’s queen due to stalemate.
2.Qg8 Qa2
Again, black’s queen is taboo.
3.Qe8 Qa4
4.Qe5 Ka8
5.Qh8 winning...white threaten to move his king to seventh rank with a fatal discovered check.
Black could no longer played 5. ...Qa1 because white could then play 6.Qa1 with a check, stalemate trap no longer there.
Trivia
A few years later, i discovered about this puzzle inside John Nunn’s Tactical Chess Ending though inside the book, the puzzle start from below diagram and with a longer solution.
Solution
1. b6+! Kb8!
2. h4 a5
3. h5 a4
4. h6 a3
5. h7 a2
6. h8=Q a1=Q
7. Qg8! Qa2
8. Qe8 Qa4
9. Qe5! Ka8
10. Qh8 winning
According to John Nunn this puzzle was composed by D, Joseph and was published inside British Chess Magazine in 1922.
Dr John Nunn called this puzzle “...one of the most famous endgame studies ever composed, but nevertheless it may be new to some people”
I have once show this puzzle to Abdullah Che Hassan...after a few minutes he managed to find the solution!
Previously we have saw crazy bishop puzzle in The Most Beautiful Chess Problem’s posting in which one single bishop destroyed an armada of army, a few weeks ago we saw a crazy rook puzzle (in which a single rook which could not be taken, keep on giving check no matter where black’s king hide) and now...crazy queen chess puzzle!
This puzzle was first shown to me by Ghalam Sani some 20 years ago. If i am not mistaken, Gambit (Fairul Yusof) manage to solve this puzzle.
The Puzzle
White to play and win
The Solution
1.h8 = Q a1 = Q
White could not take black’s queen due to stalemate.
2.Qg8 Qa2
Again, black’s queen is taboo.
3.Qe8 Qa4
4.Qe5 Ka8
5.Qh8 winning...white threaten to move his king to seventh rank with a fatal discovered check.
Black could no longer played 5. ...Qa1 because white could then play 6.Qa1 with a check, stalemate trap no longer there.
Trivia
A few years later, i discovered about this puzzle inside John Nunn’s Tactical Chess Ending though inside the book, the puzzle start from below diagram and with a longer solution.
Solution
1. b6+! Kb8!
2. h4 a5
3. h5 a4
4. h6 a3
5. h7 a2
6. h8=Q a1=Q
7. Qg8! Qa2
8. Qe8 Qa4
9. Qe5! Ka8
10. Qh8 winning
According to John Nunn this puzzle was composed by D, Joseph and was published inside British Chess Magazine in 1922.
Dr John Nunn called this puzzle “...one of the most famous endgame studies ever composed, but nevertheless it may be new to some people”
I have once show this puzzle to Abdullah Che Hassan...after a few minutes he managed to find the solution!
Monday, February 21, 2011
NOTES BEFORE NATIONAL CLOSED...
The Introduction
In a few weeks from now we, Malaysian chess player will decide who is the champion among us and worthy carrier of a title, National Master (NM), for their whole life.
The tournament i am referring to is National Closed...the ‘Wimbledon’ of a local chess tournament.
So far 75 players have put forward their name to try their luck and skills to be a new NM
The seeded
The top ten contenders based from FIDE Rating is as below
1.Loo Swee Loong 2141
2.Saprin 2139
3.Yeoh Li Tian 2115
4.Khair Wahiduddin 2089
5.Lim Zhuo Ren 2074
6.Sumant 2065
7.Ong Thian Loon 2059
8.Nik Farouqi 2057
9.Abdul Aziz Shukor 2046
10.Nabil Azman H 2044
Ok, some would say, why used FIDE when we have our own barangan tempatan? National Rating? Oklah, here is top 10 players based from National Rating...we get quite a different picture...
1.Yeoh Li Tian 1985
2.Sumant 1980
3.Cheah Cheok Fung 1955
4.Saprin 1950
5.Lim Zhuo Ren 1925
6.Tan Ken Wei 1925
7.Loo Swee Loong 1914
8.Nik farouqi 1914
9.Ismail Ahmad 1900
10.Nabil Azman H 1893
To be fair why don’t we kahwin the list to get the average? Oklah, here is the Kahwin (FIDE + Nat rating) list...not much different and Nabil still seeded number 10.
1.Yeoh Li Tian 4100
2.Saprin 4089
3.Loo Swee Loong 4055
4.Sumant 4045
5.Lim Zhou Ren 3999
6.Khair 3977
7.Cheah Cheok Fung 3975
8.Nik Farouqi 3971
9.Tan Ken Wei 3947
10.Nabil 3937
But still, no matter how we twist... and turn...and shake...and upside down the list of the player in a tournament dubbed as Wimbledon of Malaysian Chess...the Nadal, the Federer, the Djokovic of local chess sadly still did not appear in the list...
The Pledge
Why don’t all National player, former NM for once took part in National Closed once again...take a break from never ending office work and go to a place where people know who you are...appreciate who you are...and glad to see you around...aptly worded in Cheers intro below.
Well, even though currently none of former NM register their name and our chance to see them take part in this Nat Closed looks dim...I hope they would do a Vanessa William...Save the best for last!
In a few weeks from now we, Malaysian chess player will decide who is the champion among us and worthy carrier of a title, National Master (NM), for their whole life.
The tournament i am referring to is National Closed...the ‘Wimbledon’ of a local chess tournament.
So far 75 players have put forward their name to try their luck and skills to be a new NM
The seeded
The top ten contenders based from FIDE Rating is as below
1.Loo Swee Loong 2141
2.Saprin 2139
3.Yeoh Li Tian 2115
4.Khair Wahiduddin 2089
5.Lim Zhuo Ren 2074
6.Sumant 2065
7.Ong Thian Loon 2059
8.Nik Farouqi 2057
9.Abdul Aziz Shukor 2046
10.Nabil Azman H 2044
Ok, some would say, why used FIDE when we have our own barangan tempatan? National Rating? Oklah, here is top 10 players based from National Rating...we get quite a different picture...
1.Yeoh Li Tian 1985
2.Sumant 1980
3.Cheah Cheok Fung 1955
4.Saprin 1950
5.Lim Zhuo Ren 1925
6.Tan Ken Wei 1925
7.Loo Swee Loong 1914
8.Nik farouqi 1914
9.Ismail Ahmad 1900
10.Nabil Azman H 1893
To be fair why don’t we kahwin the list to get the average? Oklah, here is the Kahwin (FIDE + Nat rating) list...not much different and Nabil still seeded number 10.
1.Yeoh Li Tian 4100
2.Saprin 4089
3.Loo Swee Loong 4055
4.Sumant 4045
5.Lim Zhou Ren 3999
6.Khair 3977
7.Cheah Cheok Fung 3975
8.Nik Farouqi 3971
9.Tan Ken Wei 3947
10.Nabil 3937
But still, no matter how we twist... and turn...and shake...and upside down the list of the player in a tournament dubbed as Wimbledon of Malaysian Chess...the Nadal, the Federer, the Djokovic of local chess sadly still did not appear in the list...
The Pledge
Why don’t all National player, former NM for once took part in National Closed once again...take a break from never ending office work and go to a place where people know who you are...appreciate who you are...and glad to see you around...aptly worded in Cheers intro below.
WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME (CHEERS THEME)
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
Well, even though currently none of former NM register their name and our chance to see them take part in this Nat Closed looks dim...I hope they would do a Vanessa William...Save the best for last!
Sometimes the snow comes down in June
sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
just when I thought our chance had passed
you'd go and save the best for last
you went and saved the best for last
sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
just when I thought our chance had passed
you'd go and save the best for last
you went and saved the best for last
Friday, February 18, 2011
CHESS TWILLIGHT ZONE
Story 1
Once, after manage to represent my district in chess, I attended the centralized training organized by this teacher, let’s call him Cikgu O... first thing he do was teaching us...the correct way of putting back chess pieces back to the box after playing...first count the pawns, make sure there are 8...then rooks, make sure there are 2...and so on. He never teach us any chess theory...only how to put back the pieces after playing...on second day he asked us exactly that..How to simpan buah catur correctly...yet he is the proud chess coach for our district team! Chess coach that teach only how to simpan buah catur correctly and nothing else...only in chess twillight zone
Story 2
Another story...Once, i entered one tournament that was supposed to start at 9.30 am...by 10.45 arbiter still accepting late last minute entrance...11am he realize he is way behind time...way way behind time...quickly make an announcement asking us to sit at any chair and start playing with whoever in front of us! We chose our own opponent...only in the chess twillight zone
Story 3
Once, i entered a tournament that did not have clock. Arbiter then mentioned since there is no clock, contestant are going to play for maximum half an hour and after that arbiter is going to ‘evaluate’ the position to determine who is winning (though the game is not ended yet)...fair enough i though...until i met this cheeky guy...i sacrifice a pawn (or maybe two) for huge initiative, almost winning i would say...my opponent?... he start thinking...and thinking...and thinking. Half an hour is over, arbiter came and counted the pieces...my opponent got more material and is duly declared as a winner! I realized...i could not do anything because i am in the chess twillight zone
Story 4
Every tournament love to have the strong player playing in it. Some even willing to pay for strong player e.g. national player to take part in their tournament.
Once, there is this tournament that did not allowed national players, or to be more specific national player that just finished their tour of duty, to take part in their tournament. Why?Only God knows...and could only happen...in the twillight zone
Summary
These and more...you just can never know what you are in when you have make that fateful payment and are entering... a (chess) twillight zone...
Once, after manage to represent my district in chess, I attended the centralized training organized by this teacher, let’s call him Cikgu O... first thing he do was teaching us...the correct way of putting back chess pieces back to the box after playing...first count the pawns, make sure there are 8...then rooks, make sure there are 2...and so on. He never teach us any chess theory...only how to put back the pieces after playing...on second day he asked us exactly that..How to simpan buah catur correctly...yet he is the proud chess coach for our district team! Chess coach that teach only how to simpan buah catur correctly and nothing else...only in chess twillight zone
Story 2
Another story...Once, i entered one tournament that was supposed to start at 9.30 am...by 10.45 arbiter still accepting late last minute entrance...11am he realize he is way behind time...way way behind time...quickly make an announcement asking us to sit at any chair and start playing with whoever in front of us! We chose our own opponent...only in the chess twillight zone
Story 3
Once, i entered a tournament that did not have clock. Arbiter then mentioned since there is no clock, contestant are going to play for maximum half an hour and after that arbiter is going to ‘evaluate’ the position to determine who is winning (though the game is not ended yet)...fair enough i though...until i met this cheeky guy...i sacrifice a pawn (or maybe two) for huge initiative, almost winning i would say...my opponent?... he start thinking...and thinking...and thinking. Half an hour is over, arbiter came and counted the pieces...my opponent got more material and is duly declared as a winner! I realized...i could not do anything because i am in the chess twillight zone
Story 4
Every tournament love to have the strong player playing in it. Some even willing to pay for strong player e.g. national player to take part in their tournament.
Once, there is this tournament that did not allowed national players, or to be more specific national player that just finished their tour of duty, to take part in their tournament. Why?Only God knows...and could only happen...in the twillight zone
Summary
These and more...you just can never know what you are in when you have make that fateful payment and are entering... a (chess) twillight zone...
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