Beginners Classes at DATCC - Starting 16th April

Chess Classes at DATCC for beginners will commence on Saturday, 16^th March 2011 with its first weekly session. For the beginners session, 10 weeks of classes has been prepared with the following schedule and topics covered for the students.

No	Sesssion	Dates	Start Time	Topics Covered
1	Session 1	16th April	10:00am	Introduction, Mate or Not?
2	Session 2	23rd April	10:00am	Power of the Pieces
3	Session 3	7th May	10:00am	Space and Control
4	Session 4	14th May	10:00am	Tactics I
5	Session 5	21st May	10:00am	Tactics II
6	Session 6	28th May	10:00am	Combination
7	Session 7	18th June	10:00am	Deploying Strategy and Planning
8	Session 8	25th June	10:00am	Basic Opening Principles
9	Session 9	2nd July	10:00am	Chess Rules and Regulations
10	Session 10	16th July	10:00am	Summary/Games

Each session is 2 hours long at a fee of RM 50 per person per session or RM 400 (20% discount) for those who signed up for all 10 sessions. In order to maximize the learning and focus on the topic at hand, each session is limited to 12 students. Registration closes on 13th April. If responses are good, additional classes can be set up in the afternoon starting at 3:00pm - similarly, limited to 12 students per session.

The chess classes are for players of beginner level and those who are just about to learn chess including parents and teachers. Classes for the intermediate level and advance level taught by a team of trainers including a local IM is also available.

For registration, more information or clarification on the classes, please contact Najib Wahab at +6016 3382542 or najib.wahab@chess-malaysia.com

LARRY PARR (1946 - 2011)

Lawrence Arthur Collard Parr, USCF Chief Editor from 1984 to 1988 passed away earlier this morning at 6:52am after a short illness. His passing came as a shock as he was recuperating from his illness and according to Hamid, although there were frequent visits to the hospital, he was looking well to recovery. Earlier this morning, Larry's condition suddenly deteriorated and the doctors failed to revive him.

Larry is no stranger to the local chess scene having been in Malaysia since the late 90's. Many people may not know that Malaysia is not a strange land for Larry as he was stationed here before in the mid 70's.

When I was playing chess in the states during the mid 80's, Larry was the USCF Chief Editor then and when Hamid invited me to meet Larry Parr at a local "mamak" shop in 2002, I was elated! Finally, I had the chance to meet THE Larry Parr.

The second encounter was in 2007 when Collin invited me to play for his team in the ASTRO Merdeka Team event and Larry, who claimed he has not played any "serious" chess for almost 20 years, decided to come out of "retirement" to play for the team. There I was side by side with Larry, and Collin, Carl Haessler and Woo Beng Keong, and our team did rather well finishing as one of the prize winners.

The third encounter was a longer one and a closer one as Larry, Hamid and I shared DATCC as our joined office since late 2009. Larry, a true American boy, will tell endless stories about his younger life in the US, all the great chess players that he had interviewed, all the worked that he had done, the old classical music that he liked, the songs, the old reruns, the old movies. His favorite fast food joint is Wendy's and Papa John's Pizza in nearby Maju Junction.

Larry's ashes will be flown back to his hometown in Seattle, Washington accompanied by his wife and daughter Christiana and Ian.

RIP Larry.....