Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Malaysian Women Master 2010?

Heard this news.. there will be Malaysian Women Master 2010?! hope... this is true coz it sure is a good news to all Women players!

The likes of WIM Siti Zulaikha Foudzi, WCM Nurshazwani Zulkafli, NWM Roslina Marmono.. sure sounds too good to be true to see them in action again. Cant wait to watch these players compete against the younger players like WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham, WFM Nur Najihah, NWM Tan Li Ting, Renitha Narayanan.... etc... (juz mention few names)

Hope I could be there too.. But I dont think I am strong enough to play. Most probably ended up losing all games.. hahaha.. but in either way, I am so excited if the the Masters Event happened! At least this year we have the woman team for Siberia 2010 Olimpiad! (Our women missed the Dresden 2008).. I dont really bother / care much if the team is formed from our young players. To me, if the shoe fits and they deserve the spot to represent Malaysia, then they earned my support in their journey Siberia 2010!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Chess In SEA games 2011

Chess is in the SEA games again!!!! great huh?!

Chess was one of the sports contended in Sea games held at Singapore,Vietnam, Philippines until Thailand list it out from the games, and Laos too this year.. but Indonesia in 2011 wants the game in! why wont them, Indonesia had the potential in the golds contended with her strong GM Susanto Megaranto and WGM Irene Sukandar. Other countries are please with the news and I bet preparations will be held in the countries to select the best players to represent the countries... In Sea games chess history, the best Malaysia could have are Bronze medal from Siti Zulaikha and from the Malaysian Team.

Which lead me to the question, who shall it be for Malaysia? I hope the selection of the players will be done in full integrity and the players picked are the best in its field. The categories that most definitely will be in are the Classical Chess, Rapid Chess and Blitz. I knew some players are good in Classical but not necessarily good in Blitz, so I do hope players were chosen wisely.

Chess will also be contended in Asian Games in Guangzhao 2010 too! the first in Doha Qatar 2006, we didnt send any players, juz hope next year the sports comittee will say it otherwise! With the coming of a new national chess coach in Malaysia, hope that investment will produce future champion in chess!

2009 Malaysian Interstate Chess Championship

A tournament held at Sibu, Sarawak which starts today until Dec 27. It is a team tournament. There are 10 teams taking part, and you can find the list at Hairulov's blog. I juz want to announce that Pahang is not one of the teams taking part, unfortunately.

But I wish to thank Mr Lim Kian Hwa for the invitation. It was a great offer for a free board and lodging throughout the tournaments which was the last time I had the opportunity was during the Merdeka Team held years ago! It was a generous offer from the organiser. And besides how many team event that we actually had to regard the best state in Malaysia? I was thrilled at first and was hoping that Pahang could send a team, but sadly that Pahang cant send any team... (too bad). Hopefully next year we can a team and participate in any event that gives us the quota to send players.. All the best to the players!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Malaysian Master 2009

The Malaysian Master 2009 had juz ended last week. The finals are between FM Nicholas Chan and IM Mas Hafizulhilmi. There are 6 rounds to be played in the finals but IM Mas won the first 2 rounds, and drew round 3 and won the round 4, therefore the Master 2009 was him!! and because of that, I think he is best suited to be known as the Malaysian's Best 2009! after all he is currently ranked 1 in the Malaysia FIDE rating list.

The journey through the finals was a real tough! only the selected best from the hundreds of Malaysian were picked to play. Top 4 from the FIDE list, Top 2 from National Closed 2009, NJM 2008 and one MCF choice. The first quarter finals saw IM Mas was paired to play against NJM 2008 - Tariq Amru. IM Mas won the game and proceed to the Semi-finals. The second quarter finals are between FM Ooi Chern Ee and FM Mok Tze Meng. Where the latter won the event and proceed to Semis too. The third quarter - IM Lim Yee Weng vs NM Edward Lee. Yee Weng won the match. And the 4th quarter finals - FM Nicholas Chan vs NM Evan Timothy Capel.

There was a prediction made by IM Jimmy Liew that the one who won the semis against FM Mok will be the one that will win the Master event! All of us was anxiously watching and waiting for the results of the game for the 1st semis between IM Mas vs FM Mok. A hard fought game between them but IM Mas prove to be the at his best. Later on FM Nicholas joined him in the finals when he won against IM Yee Weng in the semis.

Many blogger made the highlights toward the event (which is good news to us chess players), but let me list you the one blog that I often click to find out about the result. Here

Congratulations to IM Mas Hafizulhilmi and may his quest for the GM title inspire us all in moving forward too!

National Junior Chess Championship 2009

The National Junior Chess Championship and the National Junior (W) Chess Championship 2009 (the event that held annually beginning 2008), has ended last Sunday with this year title goes to NJM Yeap Eng Chiam from Kuala Lumpur the newly crowned NJWM is Nur Najiha Azman Hisham.

I was there last Sunday, juz to get out of hectic working schedule and take a break (those who saw me with the pimples on my face severely would understand how stressful I am lately), where would be best for me to take a break, even if it juz for one day (phew!)

There was a tie for the champion title in the open section between Yeap, Sumant, Evan and Justin. But the play-offs that held afterward (I heard it was a rapid event) decides that Yeap is the title holder!. And it looks like NM Evan who was in May won the NM title because of the play-offs wasnt lucky enough to get the NJM title in the same year (or else history is created!).

In the Girls section, WFM Nur Najiha takes the challenge trophy home and it has stayed in the family ground for 2 consecutive years now! the first time the championship was held last year, the winner goes to her elder sister WCM Nur Nabila. It sure does makes my second cousin Kak Zaza (her mom) proud! (I can tell from the looks in her face when Najiha together with Amira Syamina and Latifah Kaiyisah were in the same points after the last round, waiting for the results from the arbiter either it is a confirm that Najiha won becoz she won against those two or it is a play-offs like the open section).

More news on this you can visit Gilocatur at here. He was there supporting his children playing.

The four kids from Kuantan manage to get a good score too (at least from my point of view). Kuhan and Khirranya Ganesan - both got 3 points from 9 rounds. That is the minimum score that I told them to get (at least). This is their first tournament in a major event like this, all feelings are there, but overall they were all excited to continue their journey in tomorrow's Jax Tham rapid event and next year National Age Group 2009! Another 2 kids Muhd Firdaus Afiq Asman (5 points) and Nur Sabrina Aliya Asman (4.5 points). Sabrina create a lot of stir on her opponents when she drew her first round against Camilia Johari (National Junior Squad) and when she won against the Perakian Nur Munirah Mat Rahim (if I am not mistaken she was the MSSM U-18 champ).

Congratulations to all of them! I thank their parents for taking them to the tournament, and hope others make take the same step too, and may the hopes of the next National Player will hail from Kuantan soon! (insyaAllah)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Regarding chess tournament in Kuantan

From the shoutbox and sms that I received, I know the chess fans in Kuantan is craving for at least one tourney at this year end. I wish the same thing too. But things are out of my hands. I can do the paperworks, the submission to find sponsors but to finally get someone to finance a chess events is totally frustrating. However, few local chess friends did have a small league here in Kuantan (I wasnt the organiser nor the player), I was there witnessing the event and renting our chess sets for the mini tourney.

I thought that the tourney juz ended there, but who knows those few friends that organise and sponsor the mini tournament decided to have another event! Currently they are working to get the major sponsors. To me, it doesnt matter whether the tourney is organise by Kelab Catur Kuantan or Persatuan Catur Kuantan or any interested individual as long as there is tourney in Kuantan and it follows FIDE rules and regulations!

As I mentioned so many times, I am quite busy in my working schedule, not juz me infact most of our AJK at Persatuan Catur Kuantan as well as AJK at Kelab Catur Kuantan are often occupied with works. Therefore we need volunteers from anyone out there to join the Kelab or Persatuan and become the AJK. Your ideas and effort can help expand the Kelab's and Persatuan's activities!

When everyone is counting on me alone, I feel sad and frustrated when I cant deliver. To not having any chess tourney this year also makes me feel terrible. And I wish I could have done more.... My sincere apology regarding this matter...

National Junior (U-20) Chess Championship 2009

Dont have the time to post this earlier, but those potential players of Kelab Catur Kuantan members were well informed about this tournament. Kuantan will be represented with 4 kids ranging from the age of 10 to 14 years old (so far that I know of). Hopefully in the future, if anyone from Kuantan interested to participate in this MCF event, they can juz let me do the submission.

For todays news, here are the list of players for National Junior Chess Championship beginning on the 16th - 20th Dec 2009 at Jalan Cochrane, Kuala Lumpur. I wish all the Kuantan players the best! (with the best play!)

THE 2ND NATIONAL JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2009

BOYS CATEGORY

NAMES AGE

1. EVAN TIMOTHY CAPEL (15)

2. KEOK KAI EN (15)

3. MUHAMMAD HAZIM B. MOHAMAD (16)

4. SHAUN QUAKE ZHUN ZIAN (19)

5. MOHAMED SHABYYL B. MOHAMED AJMAL (16)

6. JOSHUA LIM WEN KWANG (15)

7. KABIR SINGH (9)

8. ROSHAN SINGH (12)

9. LUM ZHUN HOONG (19)

10. MUHAMAD ALFIRDAUS BIN MD NAZIR (20)

11. KUHAN A/L B.GANESAN (11)

12. AMIRUL RAHIMI B. SHAMSUDDIN (17)

13. NIKK B. JOHARI LOW (13)

14. NEO XUE WEN (9)

15. NEO XUE ERN (7)

16. NEO XUE WEI (13)

17. LUCAS MATTHEW DUTTON (12)

18. MARK SIEW KIT – TZE (16)

19. AMIER HAMZAH B. MOHD ZUHRI (8)

20. MUHAMMAD IRFAN RENDRAWAN B. MUHAMMAD NAJIB (12)

21. MUHAMMAD IHSAN SYAHIRAN B. MUHAMMAD NAJIB (10)

22. SEE KAI JUN (15)

23. SEE KAI LOONG (17)

24. ARIF B. MOHD. JAMIL (11)

25. AFIQ B. MOHD. JAMIL (9)

26. YAP QIAN ZHENG , JONATHAN (20)

27. SUNIL A/L KALIVANAN (14)

28. LEE KUANG WEI , DOMINIC (12)

29. MOHD FAIZAL B. ROSLAN (11)

30. FIKRI B. SALEH (13)

31. NG HAN LOONG (16)

32. ARON TEH EU WEN (11)

33. MUHAMMAD FARIS B. AMINUDDIN (15)

34. AHMAD AFIQ AFYFY B. ROSLI (17)

35. DANISH HAMZAH AL – HADI (8)

36. AZARUL AZMIE B. AHMAD ZAINNIE (19)

37. SUMANT A/L SUBRAMANIAM (16)

38. SHREYES A/L SUBRAMANIAM (11)

BOYS CATEGORY

NAMES AGE

39. ETHAN WONG HSIEN AUN (10)

40. VINTON WONG HSIEN LOONG (13)

41. MUHD SYAKIR SHAZMEER B. AZHAR (15)

42. MUHD IRFAN HAQQIM B. AZHAR (12)

43. MUHD ARIFFUDDIN B. JUNAIDI (16)

44. MUHD HAFIDZUDDIN B. JUNAIDI (10)

45. JUSTIN ONG – WAY (17)

46. LOW HONG JIN (13)

47. MAX WONG ZI QUAN (8)

48. MUHD NABIL B. AZMAN HISHAM (15)

49. LOW JUN JIAN (15)

50. LOW JUN KEAT

51. WONG JIANWEN (14)

52. NOOR HISHAM B. AHAYAT (12)

53. NIK MUHD. HAZIQ NAJMUDDIN (9)

54. AHMAD HAFIZA B. YUSOFF (15)

55. MOHD SYAZWAN B. MOHD ZIN (16)

56. FADHIL AIMAN B. ZAKARIA (14)

57. MUHAMMAD FAISAL B. ROSLAN (16)

58. MUHD KHAIRUL B.NASRIN (16)

59. MOHD MUHAIMIN B. MOHD TARIZI (14)

60. CHONG YAN MENG (13)

61. TAN SOON KEAT (13)

62. TAN SOON WEI (10)

63. AHMAD FIRDAUS B. MOHAMAD RODZI (19)

64. NOOR MUHAMMAD AZLAN SHAH B. ATAN (20)

65. YEAP ENG CHIAM (14)

66. YAT GUO JIE (15)

67. NG JEN SHENG (8)

68. MUHAMMAD ZIKRI B. MAT ZAKI (14)

69. TAN JUN FENG (13)

70. AIMAN KAMAL FAKRULLAH B. LATIB (10)

71. LOON MUN CHUN ` (17)

72. MUHAMMAD IZZ SAIFUDDIN (16)

73. MUHAMMAD SIRAJUDDIN MUNAWWIR (10)

74. MUHAMMAD NURISLAM B.YAHYA (14)

75. MUHAMMAD NURIHSAN B. YAHYA (10)

76. MUHAMMAD NURIMAN B.YAHYA (12)

77. NUR NABILA BT. AZMAN HISHAM * (12)

78. MUHAMMAD NAJWAN B. AZMAN HISHAM (8)

79. MUHAMAD FIRDAUS AFIQ B. ASMAN

THE 2ND NATIONAL JUNIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2009

GIRLS CATEGORY

NAMES AGE

1. NUR FAQIHAH BT. AMINUDDIN (9)

2. SARIKA A/P SUBRAMANIAM (14)

3. PUTERI RIFQAH FAHADA BT. AZHAR (9)

4. PUTERI MUNAJJAH AZ-ZAHRAA BT. AZHAR (8)

5. NABILATUL NADIA BT.JUNAIDI (13)

6. NURUL FARHANUM BT.MD RAIS (12)

7. GOH XIN YEN (13)

8. NUR FARIHAH BT. AMINUDDIN (14)

9. NAZARIENE YUVON A/P SIMON (12)

10. ANIS FARIHA BT. SALEH (11)

11. WINNIE HONG WEE NI (15)

12. VICKIE HONG WEE KI (14)

13. CHONG SUE SIN (17)

14. KHIRRANYA A/P B.GANESAN (14)

15. CAMILIA BT. JOHARI (11)

16. SITI AISYAH BT. SABIRIN (11)

17. SITI KHADIJAH BT. SABIRIN (9)

18. SITI NORASIKIN BT. MAHMUD (15)

19. NURUL BT. ABDULLAH (15)

20. NIK NUR NAJMINA (12)

21. FATIH NOR SAHARIAH (11)

22. SITI NUR AFIQAH (12)

23. JOYCE TAN SUE LEE (12)

24. PAVITRANAYAGI A/P JAYAMURTHEY (13)

25. NUR NAJIHAH BT. AZMAN HISHAM (10)

26. LATIFAH KAIYISAH BT LATIB (15)

27. LATIFAH SYAMIMI BT. LATIB (17)

28. AINUR NADIRAH BT. ZULKIFLI (11)

29. FATHIN SAKINAH BT. MOHD RADZI (13)

30. NUR MUNIRAH BT. MAT RAHIM (17)

31. FATIN NUR NADHIRAH BT. MAT RAHIM (15)

32. JANET CHAN CHOOI PO (17)

33. PUTRI NURFARIZA BT. AHMAD DARJI (17)

34. AMIRA SHAHMINA BT. ZULLKAFLI (14)

35. FAIRUZ HAMIZAH BT. AHMAD FUAD (12)

36. NURISLAMURNI BT. YAHYA (8)

37. NUR SABRINA ALIYA BT. ASMAN


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

World Youth Chess Championship 2009

Back in my days (when I was the National Junior Player), the tournament is called World Junior Chess Championship, but since I started my chess career at the late age, I only get the chance to compete in the U-16 girls and U-18 girls and in the Asian Junior event for U-20... Back then U-10 was introduced in 1991. Later on U-8 was included.

Today, categories ranging from U-8 to U-18 is held in the same venue at Antalya, Turkey and the name is called World Youth Chess Championship (for U-20 the tournament is call World Junior Chess Championship and it will held in a different date and venue).

This year, we had representatives in most of the categories except for the U-16 Girls, U-18 and U-18 Girls (If the readers are wondering how the National Juniors are selected to represent the country, well, the results are based from this year National Age Group).

Representing
U-8 are : Teh De Juan and Amier Hamzah Muhd Zuhrin.
U-8 Girls : Teh De Zen.
U-10 Girls : Nur Najiha Azman Hisham.
U-12 Girls : Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (FIDE Elo 1847) and Camilia Johari.
U-12 : Mohd Irfan Haqqim Azhar.
U-14 Girls : Hoh Tjin Li.
U-14 : Wong Jianwen(FIDE Elo 1905) and Elgin Lee (FIDE Elo 1861)
U-16 : Sumant Subramaniam (FIDE Elo 2064)

What makes me eager to write about this even in this busy hour and I had skip my lunch to update this, is that, one of the player is currently 3rd in ranking after 6th rounds!!! The one that the nation has been talking and stay closed by the monitor watching her game live is none other than NUR NABILA AZMAN HISHAM!

She has scored 5 points from 6 rounds, being unbeaten! She beat all her opponents up to round 4 and drew in her last 2 encounter. What an impressive performance! Those who wants to catch the results can click here .

Here are the results of others in their field after round 6:
U-8 : Teh De Juan - seeded 112 now ranked joined 63 (3 points)
Amier Hamzah - seeded 20 now ranked 15 (4.5 points)
U-8 Girls : Teh De Zen - seeded 73 now ranked joined 35 (3 points)
U-10 Girls : Nur Najiha - seeded 57 now ranked 39 (3 points)
U-12 : Irfan Haqqim - seeded 112 now ranked 103 with 2.5 points
U-14 Girls : Hoh Tjin Li - seeded 86 now joined ranked 88 (1.5 points)
U-14 : Wong Jianwen - seeded 79 now joined ranked 88 (2.5 points)
Elgin Lee - seeded 85 now ranked 78 (3 points)
U-16 : Sumant Subramaniam - seeded 80 now ranked 78 (2.5 points)

Overall, most of the players reached 50% score, juz hope that they can improve the score in the remaining rounds to go.

All the best to all the players!

to catch the latest update click here