Zaw braces to fight top players at JAPFA<\/p>\n
By Ivy Susanti<\/p>\n
SANUR, Bali (JP): Being the only International Master (IM) in
\nthe 16th category JAPFA Classic International Chess Tournament
\ndoes not frighten Zaw Win Lay.<\/p>\n
With an elo rating of 2633, Zaw's name does not jump out of
\nthe list of competitors, comprising mostly top world champions
\nwith elo ratings ranging from 2510 to 2696. And the father of two
\nhas yet to prove himself at the tournament, being held at the
\nGrand Bali Beach hotel from April 22 to May 2.<\/p>\n
After four rounds, Zaw has earned 0.5 match points, the fewest
\nof the nine world-class competitors.<\/p>\n
\"I'm in last place, but I must try my best and keep my
\nfighting spirit,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, which
\nwas an off day for the participants.<\/p>\n
Zaw was pleased to be challenging chess' living legend, Grand
\nMaster Anatoly Karpov of Russia, who was the FIDE world champion
\nfrom 1975 to 1985, and then again from 1993 to 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Karpov is my favorite chess player. I'm happy to be able to
\nplay here because I can meet world champions, including Karpov,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
For Zaw, Karpov is still the world champion, despite the fact
\nthat the 48-year-old relinquished his title to GM Alexander
\nKhalifman at the 1999 FIDE world championship in Las Vegas,
\nNevada.<\/p>\n
Karpov is known as the world's greatest chess player. He has
\nwon more than 140 large tournaments during his professional
\ncareer and has his name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
\nZaw will face Karpov, whose elo rating is 2696, in the eighth
\nround on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's top player GM Ruben Gunawan, who was present
\nduring the interview, said Zaw had copied Karpov's playing style,
\nat which Zaw merely laughed.<\/p>\n
Zaw was born in Pagokku, Myanmar, on Oct. 22, 1963, the ninth
\nof 10 children. He picked up chess from one of his brothers.<\/p>\n
\"I love chess. My brother taught me how to play it, but he
\nrarely plays. He's just an ordinary player,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he taught himself the finer points of the game. \"I
\nhave neither an adviser or a trainer. I learned the game myself
\nthrough books.\"<\/p>\n
Zaw is married to Daw Khin Hynn, 40, an elementary school
\nteacher, and the couple have two daughters, Hai Mar Hynn Zaw, 9,
\nand Ei Thunder Zaw, 5. \"It was one of my sister who introduced me
\nto Daw.\"<\/p>\n
Zaw graduated from Mandalay University in 1985, where he
\nstudied history. He now works for Myanmar's Ministry of
\nAgriculture. He said most chess players in his country were also
\nfarmers.<\/p>\n
Zaw earned a Grand Master title after playing 24 matches in
\nseveral GM norm tournaments, including the 1998 TMW GM Chess
\nTournament in Yangon, where he finished third, and the 1999
\nYangon GM, where he placed first in the group event. However,
\nFIDE has yet to ratify his title.<\/p>\n
Although he has faced off against many top players, Zaw has
\nnever played in Europe or the United States.<\/p>\n
There are currently four International Master in Myanmar,
\nwhile Zaw is the only GM.<\/p>\n
Allowance<\/p>\n
As the country's top chess player, Zaw is sponsored by Maung
\nMaung Lwin, the managing director at Salwwin Co., Ltd., which
\nalso has a branch in Thailand.<\/p>\n
\"I don't regularly receive my allowance from the sponsor. It's
\nthe government who pays my salary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Zaw shied away from discussing politics. \"I'm not interested
\nin politics. Only sports.\"<\/p>\n
Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The current
\nregime, run by the State Law and Order Reconciliation Council,
\ncame to power in 1988 by suppressing an uprising against military
\nrule, leaving thousands dead.<\/p>\n
The government changed the name of the country from Burma to
\nMyanmar in 1989 to acknowledge the country's non-Burmese ethnic
\ngroups, and renamed the capital Yangon.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/zaw-braces-to-fight-top-players-at-japfa-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}