chessbase india logo

GM Niaz Murshed to play in the November edition of First Friday

by Sagar Shah - 19/10/2017

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.

Niaz Murshed from Bangladesh is the first GM to take part in the First Friday event | Photo: Amruta Mokal

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 11200 Arrival
 1800 Player’s Meeting
Day 20900 Round 1
 1600 Round 2
Day 30900 Round 3
 1600 Round 4
Day 40900 Round 5
 1600 Round 6
Day 50900 Round 7
 1600 Round 8
Day 60900 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

FM Peter Long of Malaysia is the chief organizer of the First Friday events.

Travel logistics and accommodation:

Chess players' complete travel solution: ChessBase India Power

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

D. Gukesh was the winner of the October 2017 edition of First Friday and he made his maiden IM norm

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!

Get all the information about the first friday event from the First Friday official page