NATIONAL player FIDE Master Muhammad Aliuddin bin Haji Azahari emerged as the overall winner of the Sarawak Open Chess Championship organised by the Persatuan Catur Negeri Sarawak from December 12-15 at the Hills Shopping Mall, Kuching.
The tournament held nine rounds, with 90 minutes per player per game and attracted 70 players from the region including Brunei Darussalam.
Muhammad Aliuddin achieved six wins and three draws amounting to 7.5/9 points. Top Miri player, Muhd Zulfaqar Abu Bakar and veteran player from Kuching, Lim Kian Hwa both scored seven points taking the 2nd and 3rd place.
The champion received RM3,500, RM2,500 and RM1,500 respectively. Other notable performances were talented youths, siblings Abdul Zahirul Haq bin Zazali and Nur Zahirah Zafirah binti Zazali accompanied by their parents as well as Pengiran Abdul Rahman PLW Yusof, Vice President of the Brunei Chess Federation.
In an interview Aliuddin said, “I came here believing that I could become champion, and my hard work has been worth it.
Pengiran Abdul Rahman PLW Yusof, Vice President of the Brunei Chess Federation watching Abdul Zahirul Haq bin Zazali during the competition.
FIDE Master Muhammad Aliuddin bin Haji Azahari, the overall winner of the open chess championship.
“I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and the Brunei Chess Federation for assisting me throughout.”
Aliuddin also shared more on his next plans, “I am currently also working on coaching and teaching chess, I am collaborating with colleagues from the Brunei Chess Federation to help me run the Brunei Chess Academy (BCA) which will be fully operational in 2017, everyone of all levels and ages are invited to register to the academy, although I hope to get more young children and help them to become strong players.”
Aliuddin is currently the interim coach under the Brunei Chess Federation.
The post FIDE Master Aliuddin wins Sarawak Open Chess Championship 2016 appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.