No More Chess In MSSM?!?!

Why I put that a question mark? hmmm.... rumours had been spread throughout the town (the news were reported here and here too and other blogs as well) that chess is no longer included in MSSM!!! ( I think the news is confirmed) the first time I heard about it, I was in shocked! I dont know how to break the news (in this blog and to my students) because I was so affected by it. In my mind, there are so many questions that pop up all of the sudden... Had there be any negotiations? had there been any talks?

I was like "come on!"... Why of all the sports, chess was one of it? At time where we had so many chess enthusiasts, and more and more blogger came forward spreading news about local chess scene that bloom like mushroom all over Malaysia (we saw more states came into action in organising chess tournaments). We even had Rapid chess on almost every weekend of the month! And more FIDE rated event coming into our local chess too! We had parents too that contributed so much to chess by financing their kids to play abroad! And we do had so many talented chess players that were first noticed through MSSM! Why on earth now when Chess is recognised and included in the SEA games and the ASIAN games! not to mention in the PARA games as well! (and we won golds too!). I wonder how the selection for Asean School chess will be held if the players werent selected from MSSM?

I was thinking writing further about this and send it to one of the newspaper in Malaysia.. I dont know if it will help much, but that is the least I could do..

Currently, I am searching for the my past MSSM years booklet. I cant write much about the current MSSM situation coz I wasnt there at the time, but I most definitely going to write about my years during MSSM and how the life of us were change because of MSSM. Because for a person like me who cant compete in other sports, chess is the best choice for co-curriculum activity!

Malaysian Women Master 2010 - The Updates!

Juz received confirmation on this event.

There will be 8 players selected for this event, and so far only 6 players verbally confirmed their participation. The players selected are :

1. NWM Roslina Marmono - (Top 4 in FIDE list)
2. NWM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri - (National Champion 2008 / Top 4 FIDE list)
3. NWM Tan Li Ting - (National Champion 2009)
4. Renitha Narayanan - (Top 2 National Closed 2009)
5. WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham - (National Junior Champ 2009)
6. WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham - (National Junior Champ 2008)

Other 2 players still havent made any confirmation yet, and one of them is from the President's choice. It is going to be a round robin event.

Date of the event will be on 26th Feb 2010 - 28th Feb 2010 and will continue on the 6th March 2010 - 7th March 2010 (the final date confirmation will be announced later by MCF).

Venue for the event will be held at the DATCC Chess Centre in Kompleks Wilayah, Kuala Lumpur.

Important notes : TOP 4 FROM THIS TOURNAMENT WILL BE USED AS A CRITERIA FOR SELECTION TO OLIMPIAD 2010 that will be held in Khanty-Mansiyk.

Mag-nificent Magnus!

The news of Magnus Carlsen being the youngest player to have the achieved the World No 1 in FIDE ratings has been in many blogs. But I still want to write this anyway... :-)) It juz so happened that I like the article so much that I insist to tell the story.

When Magnus mentioned in the interview here about he and his intuition - "I'm good at sensing the nature of the position and where I should put my pieces. You have to choose the move that feels right sometimes; that's what intuition is. It's very hard to explain." My brother Kamal used to mention about this "intuition" thing a couple of years ago, he says how important to try and develop the intuition skill. He was trying hard to make me understand.. kinda like Magnus - hard to explain. I think my conclusion overall, is how far your logic calculation goes (I think) during play.

Also the interview here about what he thinks about computer - "It's more an analytical tool," Carlsen said "Playing against the computer regularly would mean that I would lose more often than I won and I don't think that would be very helpful for my confidence." I seldom advise my students to play against Fritz as your opponent, but I always advise them to use them as a tool. Hope this article will explain to them the importance of using it as a tool.

In this interview here ,I like the fact that he still continue his studies / his schooling years and at the same time took part in many major events. It is not an easy life to juggle chess and study at the same time.. (but somehow, Magnus done it!)

When I asked Dao Thien Hai about his opinion whether we can have a GM or not, he said, for one to become a GM he must be a professional player (meaning quit school and do chess full time). I kinda disagree when he said that, coz I still think education is important, at least SPM is a must for all! look at Nicol David, she scores good SPM results then only she continue her passion for squash professionally and look at her now (on top of the world)!

So, for those who wish to go for titles, juz dont stop at the point where you cant have the dream come true. But instead be bold and strive harder! The dreams maybe granted years later, but at least you hold on to the dream. To be exact IM Mok proves that age 40s never stops him to get his IM title (though it took him 10 years to get that.. Bravo Mok!)

p/s - I never stop hoping for the 1st Malaysian GM!

MCF's Chess Calendar 2010

Here is the new 2010 chess calendar as announced by the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF). Looking at the schedule, MCF event will start with the Malaysia - Singapore Match! Based on the previous incidence couple of years back, the format of the match will be slightly differ. In either way, I am still waiting for MCF to confirm this, and the list of players taking part.

Then we have the Malaysian Women Master too! I am still waiting for the confirmation to announce in this blog.

The annual event that kids have been waiting for - the National Age Group 2010! This Penang Chess Association (PCA) will organised the event. So, to all parents out there, take note the tourney will be held at Dewan Sri Pinang from March 14 - 16! I do hope the categories contended will included the U-18 category too, coz I noticed that we have players playing in the World Youth in U-18 category but is selected based from other tournaments not from the NAG. I think it is fair for those school leavers that wish to try their luck.

As many knows, MSSM for chess will no longer be around (wonder for how long will it be this time, coz if I am not mistaken parents still pays for MSSM fee as part of the school fee), therefore you can see in the calendar there will be a tourney called National Scholastic Age Group. I am still puzzle whether is this an open event or the players selected from the MSSD or MSS from states? Hope MCF will clarify on this matter. But I am hoping (crossing my fingers) for chess to be in MSSM for more years to come!

For those who wish to compete in the National Closed 2010, the event will start from June 16-20. After all the rush in auditing and the installation of the new system, June is the month that I am actually free and available to play. Hope I can make it to this year National Closed!

In the calendar the Malaysian Chess Festival this year will be in the month of Ramadhan! I think the last of the Malaysian Open will be on the 29th Ramadhan.. hmm... I am not sure that I like this date.. coz, those are the crucial time where the preparation for Raya is held! I didnt take part last year, so, I was hoping that I can play this year!

For this year, the international highlights or events for the Malaysian chess fans will be the Asian Games Guangzhao where chess will be one of the sports contended and the Siberia 2010, where Chess Olimpiad will be staged once in every two years! (for chess.. there will be more than 100 countries taking part!)