Lim Chong Memorial

The event was held last sunday. I do wish I could participate, but due to MSSD Kuantan that will be held next week, I am fully occupied with obligation at Setia Chess Centre. If there is any reason at all for me to play, it is all about honouring the dearly departed Mr Lim Chong himself. Since I did not participate last sunday, let me write something here.. When thinking about him, I can still remember his article in the Malay Mail, juz like Idham , we too did the same thing where we have to wait until saturday to buy our copy of Malay Mail. And it is not easy, coz there is only one newstand that sells the copy. We had to go in the morning to buy it, or if we miss the time, then we are left behind with the chess news! I never had any conversation with Mr Lim Chong, coz he seems to be a quiet person. But, I do like his writing on his view in chess (esp on the part where our names was mentioned), including Chess Overboard (esp when he walked down the memory lane on the names like Foong Chee Leng - who accompany me to World Juniors in Guarapuava, Brazil and Pahang once chess prodigy - Rosazman Rosley). To us all, he was never out of ideas when talking about chess. And juz like Idham, because we like chess so much, learning new words from his article doesnt seems to trouble me at all (though I am popular at home of being lazy to browse a dictionary). Not many people knew this, when i was a kid, i had this ambition of becoming a journalist, (but accounts seems to be the right choice at the time, and it pleased my sis). The first time after all these years I had the opportunity to meet him again at the DATCC Chess League last year (where he played for Tan & Tan team). And I did snap his pic during the DATMO 2009 dinner and during Karpov's visit too. For someone who has this passion about chess, and contribute his thoughts on chess, he will be missed by all of us... (wonder what happened to Ismail Ahmad - he co wrote Petak 64 (Utusan Malaysia) together with Mustafa Said, did see him at the NCC 2011, and what happened to Sabar Hashim - who wrote Jaguh (Berita Harian))

Congratulations to 2011 NM & NWM

NCC has ended last sunday, and we have our new NM & NWM in da house! Congrats to NM Lim Zhuo Ren & NWM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham!

It was a good show of NCC 2011 from beginning till the end both from the Open and the Women section. At first, it was almost for certain IM Jimmy could catch up, and he did (though he stumble against NM Edward Lee), but fate has install for Zhuo Ren to grab be the NM. Kudos to IM Jimmy who gave a good play, and for playing like you have nothing to lose. In the women my first thought, would this NCC be the time that Najiha will outshine her sis, Nabila, coz she was the leader, before she lost to Fong Mi Yen.

No playoff in this year edition (same like last year), actually I was hoping for no Blitz after the NCC (hehehe, juz wish to go back home early), but I said yes to En Najib that I do it, thinking that I miss the blitz during the DATMO, so, better not this time. And I bet no one wants to play Blitz, coz the registration is not even 30 players.. So, when I told Gilachess and Kaber for no Blitz will be good news, these 2 guys did the marketing of the Blitz. And you know what, this Blitz is a strong Blitz!

There were 3 IMs playing! (right after IM Mas registered!), and few NMs too (including my bro - NM Kamal Arifin). And with 32 players participating, it was worth it to drive back to Kuantan in the night and in the rain! (hahaha)

And surprise surprise! IM Jimmy won it!

NCC 2011 - Final Round

In the open section i bet there's going to be a tough fight 2 top tables. Coz, there is a chance of a playoff. Table one - Lim Zhuo Ren (7.5 pts) vs Jimmy Liew (6.5) and Table 2 - Sumant (6.5) vs Edward Lee (6).

But in the women section, though there's a chances for a playoff, i dont think there will be any (as usual).

And i am right, when Nabila drew with Camilia and thus make her the newly crowned NWM! Congrats!

NCC - Round 7

In this very exciting round 7, we get our first result of the day. In just 30 minutes of play, on table 6 Nor Ilhamuddin vs Ong Thian Loon resulted in black forcing white a draw. Interesting..!

Congratulations To Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman!

Pihak Persatuan Catur Daerah Kuantan (PCDK), dan Setia Chess Centre, mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada Nur Sabrina Aliya Binti Asman ahli remaja PCDK, atas kejayaan beliau menduduki tempat ke-4 kategori bawah 12 tahun perempuan dalam kejohanan Catur Remaja Kebangsaan (National Age Group) bagi tahun 2011.

Atas kejayaan ini, beliau telah ditawarkan tempat mewakili negara dalam kejohanan Remaja Asean kategori bawah umur 12 tahun, yang akan berlangsung di Tarakan, Indonesia pada 10 - 22 jun 2011.

Tahniah sekali lagi diucapkan kepada beliau!

(Kejayaan Sabrina membuktikan tiada yang mustahil buat kita semua dari bandar sekecil Kuantan ini! Asalkan berusaha ke arah itu.

Jika sekiranya ada pihak yang berminat menghulurkan bantuan kewangan / duit poket buat adik Sabrina ini untuk ke Tarakan di minta menghubungi bapa beliau En. Asman di talian - 013 9517615

Kami menghargai sumbangan anda!)

NCC 2011 - Round 5

The heat is on!

The battle between top leaders : Loo Swee Leong & Yeoh Li Tian on board 1

and the battle between Edward Lee & IM Jimmy Liew.

In the Women Section :
Nur Nabila is looking good to win the title.

(I will update on the result straight to chess-result once the i received the result, so that readers can catch the result on the spot)

NCC - Young participants

Here in the pic is Wong Yinn Long.
This is the petite Muhd Faqih Aminuddin. A very young player, but courageous enough to take part in this prestigious event!
And this is Ng Shi Yang, who practically in every round stands up to focus!


I am impress with these kids (there are also other kids in the hall, but the ones taken are the smallest as they look), having this courage. I juz wish the parents back home (Kuantan) would realise that to play chess should start at a very young age! But the scenario back home is, when the child is spotted with chess talents - the parents would like to wait for many more years to come until it is too late. Sad isnt it?

**borrow Andrew's camera to take pic, i really cant stand it having been to chess tourney without any camera**

NCC 2011 official website

Sorry, my mistake, I forgot about the official site :

NCC 2011

There are games and pictures to browse thru.

NCC 2011 - Round 4

I'm trying the best to upload the result of players that has finished playing soonest on the chess-result. I know most of you cant wait to get a hold of the latest updates :-)

It is going to be an interesting battle of round 4, and i am assuming this round will ended pretty late. So good news to the spectators, you can come and watch the game after office hours. But bad news for me as I am to be in the hall to wait for the game to end...

Gilachess is trying his best to streaming live the top board games (check that out).

NCC - rd 3 : upsets for the day

In open section :
Tan Ken Wei defeat last year winner - NM Tan Khai Boon

In women section :
Pavitra lost to the young Teh Den Zen

and newcomer - Nur Atiqah beat regular Latifah Syamimi

NCC - Bloggers covering the events

I dont bring any camera for this NCC 2011, so, no pictures from me. And sometimes I am too busy to write about the event, but you can still find the latest news on the tournament from our bloggers here :

Ilham's blog

Gilachess

Razali's Blog

And if you want to catch the results and the latest pairing of NCC 2011, juz click on this site :

Chess results

How to Control Crowd?

At DATCC where the NCC 2011 is being held, it is very hard to control the crowd. Seriously, if the players, spectators wants to kibitz i am ok with that, but please be quiet. One person watch the game, yes they can be quiet, but if more than 1 and they start to say "hi" and mingle, or when they analyse the games, then you will hear the so called "noise" sound in the hall! you are disturbing others that still playing! Cant you fit in other people shoes??!!

I am giving you the chance to be in the hall, but come on lah! Do you want me to get mean!!

NCC 2011 - Round 1 Upsets!

Both Board 1 of Open & Women section drew their games. Fong Mi Yen drew against Vickie Hong, while Jimmy Liew drew against the young Aron Teh.

ＮＣＣ ２０１１

Ａｓ　ｕｓｕａｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｃｈｏｏｌ　ｈｏｌｉｄａｙｓ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｐａｃｋｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｃｈｅｓｓ　ａｃｔｉｖｉｔｉｅｓ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ＮＡＧ　ｗａｓ　ｅｎｄｅｄ，　ｔｏｄａｙ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｆｏｒ　ＮＣＣ　２０１１　ｔｏ　ｋｉｃｋ　ｏｆｆ．　

Ｉ　ａｍ　ａｔ　ＮＣＣ　２０１１　ａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｐｕｔｙ　ａｒｂｉｔｅｒ　ｏｎｃｅ　ａｇａｉｎ，　ａｎｄ　ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｉｎｃｈａｒｇｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍｅｎ　Ｓｅｃｔｉｏｎ．　Ｉ　ｆｏｒｇｏｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｍｅｒａ，　ｓｏ　ｉ　ｄｏｎｔ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｕｐｄａｔｉｎｇ　ａｎｙ　ｒｅｐｏｒｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　（ｔｅｒｒｉｂｌｙ　ｓｏｒｒｙ　ｒｅａｄｅｒｓ）！

ＳＣＣ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｃｌｏｓｅｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｔｉｒｅ　ｗｅｅｋｅｎｄ　ｆｒｏｍ　１６ｔｈ　ｍａｒｃｈ　－２０ｔｈ　ｍａｒｃｈ．　Ａｃｔｉｖｉｔｉｅｓ　ａｔ　ｃｅｎｔｒｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｒｅｓｕｍｅ　ａｓ　ｕｓｕａｌ　ｏｎ　２２ｎｄ　ｍａｒｃｈ　２０１１．

NAG 2011

NAG 2011 which was held at UTP Tronoh in Perak has ended last monday. I am so glad to see participants from Pahang esp from Kuantan. It is good that when i posted and advertise at the chess centre during the SCC GP, i can get those newly introduce to chess to play... :-))

in U8G - only one participants from Kuantan :
Nur Iman Hannah, she is 7 years old score 4 points from 8 games (not bad huh!) and placed 6th from 14 participants

in U10B - we had 2 players from Kuantan :
Meor Airil Rahimi - 14th placed with 5 points
Muhd Hazid Ekquan - 15th placed also with 5 points

in U12B - 1 player from Kuantan, and 1 from Pekan :
Muhd Asyraf - placed 22nd with 4 points
Meor Adib Rusyaidi - placed 29th also with 4 points

in U12G - 1 player from Kuantan :
Nur Sabrina Aliya - placed 4th with 5.5 points

in U14B - 1 player from Kuantan :
Muhd Firdaus Afiq - placed 17th with 5 points

It was good to hear them play and gained experiences from the event, which will benefit them in the coming MSSD　Ｋｕａｎｔａｎ　ｅａｒｌｙ　ｉｎ　ａｐｒｉｌ．

SCC Serie B 23/4/2011 (Saturday)

**We are opening the registration for SCC Serie B which will start on 23/4/2011 (saturday). Of course the closing date is on 22/4/2011 but as usual, the place is limited to only 40 paid participants! For your info we will have 5 series before Grand Finale in Dec 2011, all top 5 in each Grand Prix is not allowed to take part in any other remaining series**

**From 3/3/2011 to 7/3/2011 - Setia Chess Centre will be opened by Khair and will operate as usual. Kindly call him (012-6497225) if you want to make arrangement to use the centre if you want to have any small chess tournaments, or any sparring activities.**

SCC Grand Prix Serie A - The Winners!

Pic left : Best Ladies - Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman
Pic Right : Best U-12 Muhd Asyraf Razman

Pic left : Best U-16 - Denieall Joenethen
Pic right : 5th Qualifier to Grand Finale - Sharif Mohd Zaki

Pic left : 4th Qualifier to Grand Finale - Asman Aminullah
Pic right : 3rd Qualifier to Grand Finale - Umar Mukhtar Umar Shukri

Pic left : Second Qualifier to Grand Finale - Kamaluddin Yusof
Pic right : SCC Serie A Champion - Kamal Ariffin

Special thanks to En. Kamal Azmi - Presiden of Persatuan Catur Kuantan for presenting the prizes to the winners.

To all top 5 Qualifiers - please take note : you are not allowed to participate in the other remaining series! However you are officially invited to play (registration fee is FREE) in the Grand Finale this December 2011, and if you decline, your place will be given to the other player finished 6th (and so on) in the same leg.

For the the rest of the winners (best U16, best U12 and best Ladies), you can play in the rest of the series and give out your best performance. We are going to select one or / and up to 5 players from these winners to play in the Grand Finale. This is to encourage the juniors to improve further and gain experience from the seniors!.

SCC Grand Prix Serie A - Pictures!

SCC Grand Prix Serie A - Result

Selesailah sudah Grand Prix Serie A pada kali ini, dan berikut adalah keputusan (tempat pertama hingga kedua sudah dijangka, namun kejutan bagi tempat ketiga hingga kelima) :

Top 5 :
1 - Kamal Ariffin Wahidduddin
2 - Kamaluddin Yusof
3 - Umar Mukhtar Umar Shukri
4 - Asman Aminullah
5 - Sharif Mohd Zaki

Selaku penganjur, sebaik saya menerima senarai peserta yang turun bermain di Serie A ini, saya menjangkakan peserta-peserta favourite a.k.a Otai-otai akan mendominasi (seperti biasa), namun jangkaan saya meleset sama sekali. Dengan kawalan masa tambahan ini, ada juga dikalangan pemain remaja mampu bermain dengan baik dan melakukan kejutan! Contoh paling nyata ialah tersenarainya Umar Mukhtar, Sharif Mohd Zaki ke Grand Finale adalah buktinya! Tahniah dan syabas kepada pemenang-pemenang terutamanya kedua-dua mereka ini! Dan kejutan sebeginilah yang kami cari-cari di SCC!

Best U-16
Denieall Joenethen

Best U-12
Mohd Asyraf Razman

Best Ladies
Nur Sabrina Aliya

For full result, check out at Chess Result

Ucapan terima kasih tidak terhingga kepada para pemain, ibu-bapa penjaga, guru-guru kerana memeriahkan kejohanan!

Hingga kita berjumpa lagi SCC Grand Prix Serie B pada 23 April 2011 pula!

SCC Grand Prix Serie A (26/2/2011)

Perhatian kepada para pemain kejohanan SCC GP Serie A pada hari Sabtu (26/2/2011).

Kepada yang membuat bayaran secara bank-in, sila bawa bersama Bank Slip pada jam 8.45 - 9.00 pagi di SCC untuk tujuan pengesahan pembayaran.

Untuk makluman semua, pusingan pertama bermula tepat jam 9.00 pagi!

Jumpa di sana!