For the eight year running, the Malaysian Chess Festival was held at Mid Valley City, a one stop destination for living, business and leisure on the periphery of Kuala Lumpur City Centre
As in past years, the chess festival coincides with Malaysia’s Independance Day. This year commemorates Malaysia’s 54th year of Independance. 
The Malaysian Open this year was won by Chinese GM Li Shilong.
Past champions include Ni Hua (2004), Wang Hao (2005), Dao Thien Hai (2006), Li Chao(2007), Li Chao(2008), Negi Parimarjan (2009) and Cao Sang(2010). 
The Malaysian Chess Festival is unique in that it runs 3 simultaneous tournaments at the same venue in Cititel Hotel. GM Li Shilong takes back home with him USD 4,000 as champion. 
The AmBank Challengers section was won by pretty lass, Kurbonboeva Sarvinoz from Uzbekistan who takes home RM 1000 with her. 
2006 Malaysian Open champion – GM Dao Thien Hai 
Dato’ Tan Chin Nam, popularly aknowledged as the father of Malaysian chess, former FIDE Deputy President, and 85 years young playing in the Seniors section. 
IM Oliver Dimakiling "killed" off many opponents with his enterprising and aggressive style in the tournament earning him best game prize. 
Chess writer IM Gary Lane. 
GM Dmitri Kayumov winning the seniors section for the second time in a row. He wins RM 5000 for his efforts. 
Malaysia’s first International Master Jimmy Liew winning second prize (RM 4000) 
China is never short of new talents. Lu Shanglei is a new face but his performance earned him a GM norm in this tournament. He finished second in the Open section. 
16 year old Wang Jue earns a IM norm. 
Another talented 16 year old – Lei Tingjei who earned a WIM norm. 
Best Malaysian – IM Lim Yee Weng 
WIM Nafisa Muminova wins the best Ladies prize. 
WGM Ju Wenjun finished 6th place overall. 
Vietnamese current Women champion WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung 
2nd best Ladies – WGM Zhang Xiaowen
Two of the pretty GACC lass who were intrumental in making the event a success.
Final standings for the Malaysian Open:
1 GM Li Shilong CHN 2520 – 7.5
2 IM Lu Shanglei CHN 2526 – 7
3 GM Wen Yang CHN 2558 – 7
4 Wan Yunguo CHN 2462 – 6.5
5 GM Wang Rui CHN 2436 – 6.5
6 WGM Ju Wenjun CHN 2515 – 6.5
7 GM Sanchez Joseph PHI 2534 – 6.5
8 IM Dimakiling Oliver PHI 2414 – 6
9 GM Salvador Roland PHI 2527 – 6
10 IM Nguyen Duc Hoa VIE 2452 – 6
There are 8 chess events included as part of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2011. Links to the chess-results.com:-
- 8th Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysia Open 2011
- ASTRO Merdeka Team Open Rapid 2011 Malaysia Chess Festival
- Merdeka Individual Rapid 2011 Organized by DATCC
- Malaysia Chess Festival Blitz Open Chess Championship Organized by DATCC
- Merdeka Individual Rapid 2011 Organized by DATCC
- 6th AmBank Malaysia Chess Challenge 2011
- 2nd KLK Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng 2011
- Swensen Age Group Event 2011 U14) Malaysia Chess Festival 2011
Pictorial report is prepared by Andrew Ooi (left) and all photographs by Hadi Hamid (right). Both of them spent sleepless nights as "bulletin boys" for the event.
More photos can be found at:-
