(bahasa Indonesia di bawah)
Vietname is hosting FIDE Asian Zonal 3.3 for 2015. The event joined by about 44 male and 20 female chess players. Most of the participant is from local Vietname player them self. The top seed is GM Le Quang Liem followed by GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son. The third highest seed is held by GM Zhang Zhong, formerly Chinaman but now playing under Singapore for many years by now. What surprisingly is Indonesian federation is in total absent for this event. Considering that Irine Sukandar is busily prepared for
FIDE Chess championship in Sochi, one can expect to see Medina Aulia Warda to take this chance to score her big shot for a ticket to championship. Alas, it seems that Indonesian is in the list of
Federations in Arrears, and this can be the reason behind our void participation.
Up to round 5, all the top players are in correct place. Round 5 saw GM Le Quang Liem face to face with GM Zhang Zhong. The game played in Najdorf Sicilian was intense, where Le defending the black side against 6.Bg5 variation. White has obtained good middle game indeed. Ultimately, the game ended with a win by black, thus Le Quang Liem stand at 4.5/5 at the moment. GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son also having the same score after defeating his country fellow FM Le Tuan Minh (who having a good tournament so far). Thus round 6 will see the two Vietnam's highest chess player facing each other. Philippines is lead by GM Sadorra Julio Catalino. With Wesley So switching federation to US, Le Quang Liem is now the strongest chess player of the Zone 3.3. With Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto not playing, his journey will be challenge only by Nguyen, and Zhang Zhong in term of elo rating.
2015 Asian Zonal 3.3, Standing after Round 5:
1
Le Quang Liem
VIE
4.5
2
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son
VIE
4.5
3
Wynn Zaw Htun
MYA
4
4
Pascua Haridas
PHI
3.5
5
Le Tuan Minh
VIE
3.5
6
Zhang Zhong
SIN
3.5
7
Laylo Darwin
PHI
3.5
8
Gomez John Paul
PHI
3.5
9
Hoang Canh Huan
VIE
3
10
Tin Jingyao
SIN
3
UPDATED:
Le Quang Liem wins FIDE Zone 3.3 - 2015
The female section is also absence of many strong player. Mentioned earlier, Medina Aulia from Indonesia is notable absence, followed by Chelsie Shihite and friends. Thus making IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag from Mongolia as top seed. Followed by IM Li Ruofan from Singapore. After 5 round, the female leading players are IM Nguyen Pham Le Thao with 4.5/5, only then Batkhuyag Munguntuul in the second place.
2015 Asian Zonal 3.3, Standings after Round 5:
1
Pham Le Thao Nguyen
VIE
4.5
2
Munguntuul Batkhuyag
MGL
4
3
Luong Phuong Hanh
VIE
4
4
Pham Thi Thu Hien
VIE
3.5
5
Nguyen Thi Mai Hung
VIE
3
6
Pham Bich Ngoc
VIE
3
7
Hoang Thi Bao Tram
VIE
3
8
Fronda Jan Jodilyn
PHI
2.5
9
Li Ruofan
SIN
2.5
10
Vo Thi Kim Phung
VIE
2.5
GM Zhang Zhong , Singapore in Asian Zone 3.3 2015
GM Le Quang Liem , Asian Zone 3.3 2015 Ho Chi Minh City
Turnamen catur Zone Asia 3.3 sedang berlangsung di kota Ho Chi Minh City. Turnamen yang harusnya diikuti negara-negara ASEAN dan sekitarnya ini ternyata tidak mengikut sertakan satupun wakil pecatur dari Indonesia. Tidak terlalu jelas apa alasan ketidak ikutsertaan Indonesia di ajang ini, padahal ini merupakan satu-satunya ajang yang cukup "realistis" untuk dimenangkan pecatur Indonesia. Even yang juga ada kategori puterinya ini terasa sepi tanpa kehadiran pecatur-pecatur puteri Indonesia, Medina Aulia, Monica Chelsie dan kawan-kawan (Irine sudah berada di Rusia untuk main di Kejuaraan Dunia Sochi)
Pecatur tuan rumah GM Le Quang Liem, yang saat ini seharusnya sedang study di Amrik, menjadi unggulan teratas. Ditinggal pergi oleh saingannya Wesley So ke federasi Amerika, membuat Le Quang Liem otomatis adalah pecatur terkuat di ASEAN saat ini. Walaupun demikian, "junior" nya GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son tetap berada tepat di bawahnya, sebagai unggulan ke-2. Unggulan ketiga adalah mantan pecatur China yang sudah beberapa tahun ini pindah ke negara Singapore, yaitu GM Zhang Zhong. Hanya ketiga pecatur ini yang memiliki elo rating di atas 2600 an, walaupun Zhang Zhong musti bekerja keras mempertahankan sisa-sisa kejayaannya di awal era 2000-an.
Setelah menginjak ronde ke-5, Le Quang Liem berhasil bertahan di klasemen puncak. Di partai ronde 5, Le memegang buah hitam musti bermain sengit melawan Zhang Zhong di partai catur Sisilia variasi Najdorf. Zhang Zhong sebenarnya berhasil meraih bangunan yang baik di babak tengah, namun beberapa kesalahan kalkulasi di posisi yang rumit membuat dia musti kehilangan perwira dan kalah. Dengan kemenangan ini, Le Quang Liem berada di puncak klasemen sementara dengan nilai 4.5/5. Disusul ketat oleh Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son. Keduanya akan berduel catur di ronde 6.
Lihat Partai Catur
GM Zhang Zhong vs Le Quang Liem, 0-1, Ho Chi Minh Asian Zonal 3.3 2015
B94 Najdorf Sicilian Defence
