GM Niaz Murshed to play in the November edition of First Friday
After the success of the first edition of the First Friday tournaments that began in October 2017, the second edition is here, bigger and grander. It is the first time that a grandmaster would be participating. It is a closed IM norm Round Robin event that will be held from the 3rd to the 8th of November 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In October India's 11-year-old D. Gukesh made full use of this opportunity by scoring his first IM norm and gaining 40 Elo points. The First Friday tournaments are the brainchild of FM Peter Long of Malaysia and they begin on the first friday of every month.
November 2017 edition of First Friday IM norm Round Robin
Date: 3rd-8th November 2017, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The list of players who have confirmed their entry are following:
| No. | Title | Name | Country | Rating |
| 1 | GM | Niaz Murshed | Ban | 2407 |
| 2 | FM | Azarya Jodi Setyaki | INA | 2345 |
| 3 | IM | Mas Haizulhelmi | Mas | 2313 |
| 4 | CM | Raja Rithvik | Ind | 2237 |
| 5 | FM | Wong Yinn Long | Mas | 2198 |
| 6 | Lik Zang Lye | Mas | 2128 | |
| 7 | Looi Xin Hao | Mas | 2083 |
Three spots are still to be filled at the event.
ChessBase India asked Niaz as to why he was taking part in the November edition of the First Friday tournament, to which he replied, "I was going there anyway! And I haven't played in a while. There is only one thing left to do in my chess now - enoying it. Also, I have nationals and league right afterwards. So it will also be good to get a few games in."
Niaz will face stiff challenge from Azarya Jodi of Indonesia and Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia. It will also be interesting to see how our Indian youngster Raja Rithvik fares at this event.
Entry fee structure:
| IM/WGM/above 2401 | USD 100 |
| 2351-2400 | USD 150 |
| 2301-2350 | USD 200 |
| 2251-2300 | USD 250 |
| 2201-2250 | USD 300 |
| 2151-2200 | USD 400 |
| Below 2150 | USD 500 |
Standard Schedule:
| Day 1 | 1200 Arrival |
| 1800 Player’s Meeting | |
| Day 2 | 0900 Round 1 |
| 1600 Round 2 | |
| Day 3 | 0900 Round 3 |
| 1600 Round 4 | |
| Day 4 | 0900 Round 5 |
| 1600 Round 6 | |
| Day 5 | 0900 Round 7 |
| 1600 Round 8 | |
| Day 6 | 0900 Round 9 |
| 1500 Departure |
Contact:
All those interested to play in the event must write to chessbaseindia@gmail.com with a copy (cc) to peterlong@aol.asia
Travel logistics and accommodation:
Leave all your worries related to travel, stay and visas to ChessBase India Power.
Hotline: 09106908500 (10 a.m to 8 p.m.)
WhatsApp: 7878783264
Email: accommodations@chessbase.in
Previous articles:
October 2017
R01+02: 11-year-old Indian prodigy leads at First Friday inaugural event
R03+04: Gukesh leads October First Friday with 3.5/4
R05+06: Gukesh still the sole leader as first edition of "First Friday" moves towards the end!
R07+R08: Can Gukesh make his maiden IM norm?
R09: 11-year-old Gukesh makes his maiden IM norm!