Chess (7a) - Rock Climbing in Malaysia, Nyamuk Wall, Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

There's more than first meets the eye at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. Known to tourists for the Hindu shrine cut into the south side of the limestone hill which makes up the Batu Caves rock formation, there are also numerous rock climbing routes in sectors scattered along the perimeter of the hill. Chess is a 7a (French grade) route in the Nyamuk sector on the east side of the limestone formation. The sector lives up to its namesake - Nyamuk is the Malay word for mosquito - and is home to both a seemingly infinite number of mosquitoes as well as some of Malaysia's finest routes, among which Chess has certainly earned its place. 30 meters long and established in 2003 by Patrick Andrey, Chess is well worth a try. From The crag - "The route is marked by the prominent roof that awaits the challenger after 20 m of nice, but dicey climbing. This roof leads to a perfect hand crack. Where the crack ends the crux starts (just before the anchor)."