Wah Seong Penang International Master Chess Tournament 2000

Malaysians to provide strong local challenge to foreign players

The Wah Seong Penang international master chess tournament, which is organised by the Penang Chess Association at the CitiTel Penang from 26-Feb-2000 to 5-Mar-2000, promises to be one of the most intriguing tournaments ever organised in Malaysia. The tournament will feature a group of experienced foreign chess players facing off against what is considered to be the cream of Malaysian chess.

The foreign chess masters are led by two veterans - Indonesian grandmaster Ardiansyah and Chinese international master Liu Wenzhe - who are well-known for their fierce competitive spirit.

Ardiansyah, 49, was one of the very first Asians to become a grandmaster. When he was at the height of his playing powers in the 70s and 80s, he could claim to be among Indonesia's top three players. With a World Chess Federation rating of 2396, Ardiansyah is presently ranked 10th in Indonesia. He remains active in chess circles there and is still capable of delivering a few stings.

In the late 70s, China's Liu Wenzhe, 59, was considered the strongest player in China. Now, with an international rating of 2451, he is ranked only 25th in his country. But his exploits are almost legendary. Till today, Liu is held in awe, especially for his celebrated victory over the late Dutch grandmaster Jan Donner during the Buenos Aires Chess Olympiad in 1978.

At that time, China was just making its presence felt in international chess circles, so it was inconceivable to many that Donner could lose to an unknown player. Yet, in the China-Netherlands game, Liu completely smashed Donner's defence and capped the game with a queen sacrifice that rippled through the Olympiad.

The two other foreign players invited to the tournament are from Myanmar. Myo Naing, 36, is an international master with a rating of 2545 while Wynn Zaw Htun, 17, although untitled, still has a high rating of 2524.

Leading the Malaysian side is international master Mas Hafizulhelmi, who is rated 2413. Others who are playing are Fide master Wong Zijing (rated 2324), Jonathan Chuah (rated 2271), Mok Tze Meng (rated 2270), Ng Tze Han (rated 2216) and Lim Chuin Hoong (rated 2214).

Mas Hafizulhelmi, 19, comes from Kota Baru but he is currently studying in a college in Selangor. He played chess from a very young age and was singled out by visiting Russian grandmaster Eduard Gufeld as a potential to become Malaysia's most talented player. Mas Hafizul, twice national champion, has represented the country in many international-level chess competitions world-wide, including the Chess Olympiads held every two years. He gained his International Master title from a tournament in Singapore two years ago.

Wong Zijing, 18, from Kuala Lumpur, is currently waiting for his SPM results. However, he has played in many international-level chess competitions, including the World age-group championships and the Chess Olympiads. In December 1998, he played in a zonal tournament in Yangon, Myanmar, where his good results automatically qualified him as a Fide master. Before coming in this event, he was playing in another IM tournament in Budapest, Hungary.

Jonathan Chuah Jin Hai, 14, is from Penang. He is the current national champion, having won this title at the national closed championship in Kuala Lumpur last December. He was also in the Penang team which won the Merdeka team championship last August. He has played in the World age-group championships and last year, represented the country at the Asian team chess championship in China.

Mok Tze Meng, 31, is from Sarawak but has long since settled down in Kuala Lumpur. He is a very experienced player who has won many local events including the prestigeous Royal Selangor open tournaments on five occasions. Mok tied for first in the national closed championship in 1990 and two years later, won the championship outright. He has played for the country in the Chess Olympiads.

Ng Tze Han, 19, from Penang, is presently waiting for his SPM results. He is a very consistent player who has represented the state in several national events, notably the Merdeka team championships and the national closed championships. On two occasions, he had finished runners-up in the national closed championships. Last December/January, he finished third in the strong Malaysian Junior Masters tournament in Kuala Lumpur behind Mas Hafizulhelmi and Jimmy Liew. Tze Han has also played for the country at the Asian team championships and the Chess Olympiads.

Lim Chuin Hoong, 18, is from Penang. Another very consistent player, he has played for the state and country on numerous occasions. He has also participated in many international events on his own and two years ago, defeated a grandmaster in a big tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia. He emerged as a co-winner of last year's national closed championship but lost out on the title of national champion after a play-off. Nevertheless, he finished fourth in the Malaysian Junior Masters tournament in Kuala Lumpur soon afterwards.






	Malaysians to provide strong local challenge to foreign players
	The Wah Seong Penang international master chess tournament, which is organised by the Penang Chess Association at the CitiTel Penang from 26-Feb-2000 to 5-Mar-2000, promises to be one of the most intriguing tournaments ever organised in Malaysia. The tournament will feature a group of experienced foreign chess players facing off against what is considered to be the cream of Malaysian chess. The foreign chess masters are led by two veterans - Indonesian grandmaster Ardiansyah and Chinese international master Liu Wenzhe - who are well-known for their fierce competitive spirit. Ardiansyah, 49, was one of the very first Asians to become a grandmaster. When he was at the height of his playing powers in the 70s and 80s, he could claim to be among Indonesia's top three players. With a World Chess Federation rating of 2396, Ardiansyah is presently ranked 10th in Indonesia. He remains active in chess circles there and is still capable of delivering a few stings. In the late 70s, China's Liu Wenzhe, 59, was considered the strongest player in China. Now, with an international rating of 2451, he is ranked only 25th in his country. But his exploits are almost legendary. Till today, Liu is held in awe, especially for his celebrated victory over the late Dutch grandmaster Jan Donner during the Buenos Aires Chess Olympiad in 1978. At that time, China was just making its presence felt in international chess circles, so it was inconceivable to many that Donner could lose to an unknown player. Yet, in the China-Netherlands game, Liu completely smashed Donner's defence and capped the game with a queen sacrifice that rippled through the Olympiad. The two other foreign players invited to the tournament are from Myanmar. Myo Naing, 36, is an international master with a rating of 2545 while Wynn Zaw Htun, 17, although untitled, still has a high rating of 2524. Leading the Malaysian side is international master Mas Hafizulhelmi, who is rated 2413. Others who are playing are Fide master Wong Zijing (rated 2324), Jonathan Chuah (rated 2271), Mok Tze Meng (rated 2270), Ng Tze Han (rated 2216) and Lim Chuin Hoong (rated 2214). Mas Hafizulhelmi, 19, comes from Kota Baru but he is currently studying in a college in Selangor. He played chess from a very young age and was singled out by visiting Russian grandmaster Eduard Gufeld as a potential to become Malaysia's most talented player. Mas Hafizul, twice national champion, has represented the country in many international-level chess competitions world-wide, including the Chess Olympiads held every two years. He gained his International Master title from a tournament in Singapore two years ago. Wong Zijing, 18, from Kuala Lumpur, is currently waiting for his SPM results. However, he has played in many international-level chess competitions, including the World age-group championships and the Chess Olympiads. In December 1998, he played in a zonal tournament in Yangon, Myanmar, where his good results automatically qualified him as a Fide master. Before coming in this event, he was playing in another IM tournament in Budapest, Hungary. Jonathan Chuah Jin Hai, 14, is from Penang. He is the current national champion, having won this title at the national closed championship in Kuala Lumpur last December. He was also in the Penang team which won the Merdeka team championship last August. He has played in the World age-group championships and last year, represented the country at the Asian team chess championship in China. Mok Tze Meng, 31, is from Sarawak but has long since settled down in Kuala Lumpur. He is a very experienced player who has won many local events including the prestigeous Royal Selangor open tournaments on five occasions. Mok tied for first in the national closed championship in 1990 and two years later, won the championship outright. He has played for the country in the Chess Olympiads. Ng Tze Han, 19, from Penang, is presently waiting for his SPM results. He is a very consistent player who has represented the state in several national events, notably the Merdeka team championships and the national closed championships. On two occasions, he had finished runners-up in the national closed championships. Last December/January, he finished third in the strong Malaysian Junior Masters tournament in Kuala Lumpur behind Mas Hafizulhelmi and Jimmy Liew. Tze Han has also played for the country at the Asian team championships and the Chess Olympiads. Lim Chuin Hoong, 18, is from Penang. Another very consistent player, he has played for the state and country on numerous occasions. He has also participated in many international events on his own and two years ago, defeated a grandmaster in a big tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia. He emerged as a co-winner of last year's national closed championship but lost out on the title of national champion after a play-off. Nevertheless, he finished fourth in the Malaysian Junior Masters tournament in Kuala Lumpur soon afterwards.