12-05-2006 chess
From Malaysia Encyclopedia
Unity or schism?
Chess By QUAH SENG SUN
THE Malaysian chess contingent leaves next week for Turin, Italy, for this year’s biennial Chess Olympiad and Chess Congress of the World Chess Federation (Fide). Our men’s representatives are Jonathan Chuah, Mas Hafizulhelmi, Lim Yee Weng, Mok Tze Meng and Anas Nazreen Bakri, while our women’s representatives are Siti Zulaikha Foudzi, Wan Khye Theng, Roslina Marmono and Nur Shazwani Zulkafli.
Normally, the Chess Olympiad will be the highlight of the three-week event. But in Turin the games will be overshadowed by the Fide elections that will be held during the Chess Congress.
For the first time in more than two decades, there is a credible and serious challenger to the incumbent president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and he is Bessel Kok.
Kok, a highly respected corporate figure, was the chairman of the Grandmaster Association that was behind many high-profile chess tournaments in Europe and North America. He now heads the Right Move team which is challenging Ilyumzhinov’s Chess Fidelity team in the elections.
According to the Right Move website, http://www.rightmove 06.org, there are 34 national chess federations that support Kok’s team and the number is increasing with each passing day.
On the other hand, the Chess Fidelity website, http://www.chessfidelity.com, claims that the Ilyumzhinov ticket has the support of 70 national federations.
Thus far, it looks very much to be a one-side election since the Chess Fidelity team has got the numbers. But Fide itself has 140 members and what is the stand of the remaining 36 national federations that have not declared their support of either ticket? They cannot remain neutral for long and will have to decide where to throw their support.
Whichever side wins, it is guaranteed to create a huge schism in the chess world.
Malaysian Chess Federation president Datuk Tan Chin Nam issued an open letter to both sides and to all national chess federations to suggest a joint presidency.
In his letter, Tan said that the impending elections is counter-productive for chess development. With chess already reaching an impasse – a period marked by stagnation, declining sponsorship, serious talk of establishing a new world chess organisation, deep and damaging uncertainty about the very nature of the game and widespread demoralisation – the way out of this impasse must begin with a joint presidency.
He observed that Ilyumzhinov has the passion to spread chess to chess-developing countries, while Kok offers strengths in business and sponsorship. Together, their unity will be their strength.
You can read the whole of Tan’s open letter at the World Chess Network website, wcn.tentonhammer.com.
UP NEXT
Malacca close
The Malacca close tournament will be held tomorrow in conjunction with Hari Polis and Hari Majlis Perbandaran Alor Gajah. Venue: Dataran Keris at the Dewan IPD in Alor Gajah. Details: Sharol (019-656 5396/ e-mail: acak98@tm.net.my), Kelana (012-293 1798) or Mazlan (% 019-628 0431/ e-mail: mh1960@tm.net.my).
KRP open
The Kelab Rekreasi Petroliam will organise a two-day open tournament at their clubhouse in Lutong, Sarawak, this weekend. There will be two categories of prizes: a category for adults, and another for youths and women players. For details, contact the club (085-452 453) before 4pm today.
Perak rapid open
The Perak International Chess Association will organise a one-day, seven-round tournament at the Kolej Syuen in Jalan Kampar, Ipoh, on May 21. The event will be run in two categories. Category A is an open event for players with a Perak rating of at least 1700, while Category B event caters to players with a Perak rating of 1699 or less, including all new players.
Details: Yunus Sharif (05-545 8453 or 013-390 8129) or Hamisah (012-431 3326).
MBSSKL open
The Methodist Boys’ Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur will hold its first open chess tournament at the school on May 27. This event will be played in six age groups, from under-8 to under-17, with prizes that include a two-day, one-night stay at the First World Hotel, Genting. Registration and inquiries: Mdm G.K. Saw (016-200 8797 between 3pm and 7pm), Mdm S. Selvarani (016-200 8796 between 8am and 12pm) or N.K. Chin and Mdm S.P. Gan (03-2078 2293 between 8.30am and 1pm). Closing date: May 20. Visit www.mbsskl.com for the online details.
Penang age-group
The first leg of the Penang age-group chess tournament for under-8, under-10, under-12 and under-14 boys and girls, sponsored by the Penang state government and organised jointly by the Socio-Economic & Environmental Research Institute and the Penang Chess Association, will be held at the Kompleks Penyayang Masyarakat, Penang, on May 28.
To register, contact Tan Eng Seong (012-429 9517/ e-mail: estan64@streamyx.com). A maximum of 200 entries will be accepted with no more than 30 players in each category. A second leg will be held at Seberang Jaya or Kepala Batas in September.
- Quah Seng Sun can be contacted at ssquah@gmail.com. Join Malaysia’s biggest chess mailing list by registering yourself at groups.yahoo.com/group/chess-malaysia
