4th MERDEKA CHESS CHALLENGE, 2012

( Merdeka Day Chess Challenge Prize Winners )

( Amira Farhana WON 2 Prizes )

OFFICIAL RESULTS:
hAnA, AMIRA FARHANA
Open Category: 7th fm 52 (4pts, BH: 13.5)
U-9: 4th
Note: Her 1st Round opponent No-Show resulted in hAnA having a low BH score and affected her Overall position. Even her brother who secured only 2 points had a higher BH score than hAnA I.e. 14.

( xxxxxx )


cHEss pIRATE, AMIR FAIZ
Open Category: 32nd out of 52 (2pts@1win & 2draws. BH: 14)
U-9: 12th?(TBC)
Note: Special Prize for YOUNGEST PARTICIPANT

UPDATE:
hAnA
R1,B06(B): Ng Yan Han, 1 - 0, Forfeit(NO Show)
R2,B06(W): Alexander Henderson,1 - 0, Checkmate
R3,B06(B): Ivan Yap 0 - 1, Checkmate.
Note: Did NOT See, similar situation as per game against S'pore player during 23rd Selangor Juniors Open.

R4,B05(W): Jaydon Leong, 1 - 0, Checkmate
R5,B05(W): Sofea Syahril, 1 - 0, Checkmate

( The cHEss pIRATE in Action )


cHEss pIRATE
R1,B10(B): Rathakrishnan Ruvesh, 0.5 - 0.5, Stale Mate (Blunder)
R2,B13(W): Zulkifly Azim, 1 - 0, 3 Illegal Moves
R3,B. (. : Mira Kaur Ajeet, 0.5 - 0.5, (Blunder, with only opponent's King remaining)
R4,B07(w): Sofea Syahril, 0 - 1, Checkmate. Note: (Blunder, whilst a Queen Up)
R5,B11(B): Joel Pang, 0 - 1, Lost due to 3 Illegal Moves

Competition: PCA MERDEKA CHESS CHALLENGE
Date: SUNDAY, 29 JULY 2012
Time: 1.00PM - 4.00PM, (Break: 1-2PM). 5 Rounds
Venue: PCA, Sri Hartamas
Organiser: POLGAR CHESS ACADEMY / Arbiter: ???

...Comments received prior to registration:-
- Your Daughter is CAPABLE but not sure whether she's interested.
- SON is INTERESTED but NOT SURE yet whether he's CAPABLE.
(Would have to agree with his spot on assessment).

2nd Ramadhan tournament for hAnA & the cHEss pIRATE after Insofar's Shah Alam Age Group competition last week. The main difference is the start/end time and also the categories a player competes in.

1,000 pageVIEWS 4 AMfaCHESS blog

Just realised that there have been more than 1,000 pageVIEWS for this blog which were started in April of this year. As at time of writing, there were 1,007 views...GO Figure!

I'm a bit piqued as to why there would be visitors from out of Malaysia or, any visitors for that matter to this blog as it was started more as a Journal for my family's chess escapades and NO picture is uploaded. Readership appeal, would most probably be limited to between 5 and 10 family members.

Apart from MALAYSIAN visitors, visitors to this blog country of origin (where there are more than 1 visitor) are:-
(1) USA - 89
(2) UK - 78
(3) Russia - 65
(4) Germany - 9
(5) South Korea - 3
(6) Singapore - 2

PageVIEWS by BROWSERS:-
1. Safari - 579 (57%)
2. Firefox - 132 (13%)
3. Internet Explorer - 116 (11%)
4. Chrome - 103 (10%)
5. Mobile Safari - 60 (5%)


Top 5 PageVIEWS according to OPERATING SYSTEMS:-
1. iPad - 564 (58%)
2. Windows - 207 (21%)
3. Linux - 90 (9%)
4. Android - 56 (5%)
5. iPhone - 14 (1%)

COMMENTS / Inputs as to the future direction for this blog will be much appreciated.

INSOFAR SHAH ALAM Age Group, 2012

RESULTS UPDATE:
It seemed that the tournament is for 4 Rounds ONLY ( Having had a cursory look at the flyer handed out, I had assumed that it'll be for at least 5 or, 6 rounds).Thus, by 1.30pm the competition was over.

cHEss pIRATE @ AMIR FAIZ - 4th(out of 8), U-7 Mixed Category
Note: His 2nd 50% record after Polgar's May Day Challenge. However, he's yet to achieve it in a rated event,

hAnA @ AMIRA FARHANA - 9th(out of 16), U-12 Mixed Category


1PM UPDATE:
cHEss pIRATE. 2-2(50%)
R1(W): v. (NR). WON
R2(B): v. Puteri Rabiatul(NR). WON
R3(W): v. Wong Zi Yue (1266). Lost
R4(B): v. Asia Moo (1028). Lost

hAnA 2-2
R1(. ): v. Syazwan (NR). WON
R2(. ): v. Puteri Munajjah(1613). Lost
R3(. ): v. Bryan Yap (1203). Lost
R4(W): v. Nik A.Muhaimin (NR). WON


Competition: INSOFAR SHAH ALAM AGE GROUP
Date: SUNDAY, 22 JULY 2012
Time: 9.00AM - 4.00PM, (Break: 1-2PM). 4 Rounds
Venue: AMPAC, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah, Shah Alam
Organiser: INSOFAR CHESS ACADEMY / Arbiter: Nik A.Faroqi

hAnA and the cHEss pIRATE is at another NEW Venue and NEW Tournament. More importantly, this would be the FIRST TIME ever that both will be taking part in a competition in the blessed month of Ramadhan. cHEss pIRATE will be playing in the seldom held U-7 category whilst hAnA is in the U-12 category.

A "unique" point for me is that the competition only allows 16 players per age group. Also the organiser asked the player's age as at 1st January for grouping purposes. Hence,theoretically Faiz falls under the U-5 category while hAnA is in the U-10 group.

...Late Kick-Off(10.30AM) to an early start(8.40AM).

" Orang BERBUDI, Kita BERBAHASA. "

The Malays have a proverb which read as follows:

" ...(cont.from above),
ORANG MEMBERI, KITA MERASA."

Which means Good deeds, must be reciprocated with good deeds.

...the very least that we can do for the SKTTDI and MSSM-KL Chess Teachers who'd helped hAnA in her chess journey is to have an Appreciation Dinner.

Had intended for the dinner to be done earlier but work commitments, NGO matters, Alumni 60th Anniversary celebrations and a car accident put paid to those early hopes.

Hence, am quite relieved that we finally managed to host an Appreciation Dinner at Muhibbah Restaurant in Sg.Penchala, KL before the start of the fasting month and just before my taking part in the RSOG-ACD training programme which starts on Monday.

Once again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH and SYUKRAN to all Chess Teachers from SKTTDI(1) and the MSSM KL Chess Team Teachers who made the journey possible for hAnA.

Latest NR of AMfa FAmily: July-September 2012

The July-September 2012 Malaysian National Chess ratings aka NR were just released.
Details, can be observed HERE

The AMfa FAmily's latest NR are as follows:-

(1) AMir FAiz aka cHEss pIRATE = 1112.
Gathered from 2 competitions:-
A. 4th KL Scholastic ( - 0.8 )
B. MBPJ Open ( + 11.2 )
NETT = 10.4 + 1102(Previou s Ratings)

(2) AMira FArhana aka hAnA = 1242.
Accumulated from 3 tournaments:-
A. 4th KL Scholastic ( + 38.42 )
B. 2012 MSSM in KT ( - 74.11 )
C. MBPJ Open (+ 73.19 )
NETT = 36.8 + 1205

(3) AMira FAthina = 1077
NO CHANGE. Even though she took part in the Seremban Zone MSSNS Chess competition, her ratings have NOT changed as the Seremban Zone competition was NOT a National-rated event.

(4) AHM = 1383
Debut NR in Chess after taking part in his maiden competition i.e. the MBPJ Open in response to hAnA's challenge.

INSOFAR SHAH ALAM Age Group, hAnA & cHEss pIRATE-Registered

Competition: INSOFAR SHAH ALAM AGE GROUP
Date: SUNDAY, 22 JULY 2012
Time: 9.00AM - 4.00PM, (Break: 1-2PM). 4 Rounds
Venue: AMPAC, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah, Shah Alam
Organiser: INSOFAR CHESS ACADEMY

Just registered via SMS, hAnA & the cHEss pIRATE for the above-mentioned Tournament.

" Salam. OK Registered. TQ for support..Zaki "
~ SMS received fm 017-2032051 on 9 July(22:21:55)

TQVM to Mr.Zaki Yeop for the invitation extended on 1st July during the recent Selangor Juniors Open at ATCC.

Further Details, Read INSOFAR

Discussing Matters Related to Chess in School

Today, after school hours I went to see hAnA's Class Teacher(Cikgu Nur Halim) & the School's Principal(Pn.Hajjah Nik Nab) as well.

I was concerned that hAnA's continued absence from class and school due to Chess(around 2-3weeks) and Choral Speaking(1-2 weeks) is starting to take it's toll on her academic performance. Never before had I seen in hAnA's class standing a position any lower than 3rd but, I saw it this year when I collected her report card last week.

Hence, I requested that an official letter be inserted into hAnA's records stating that from January-June of this year she had missed classes due to her representing the school in Choral Speaking.......and of course, hAnA representing the SKTTDI School (@ SK Seri Hartamas), Bangsar Zone (@ SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn) and Federal Territory (@ Kuala Terengganu for MSSM Chess) Team for Chess.

The school Management were very supportive of my request and promised to do so within a week. Puan Hajjah Nik Nab was very supportive and gave hAnA some words of encouragement to work harder at her chess game so that hopefully she can even represent Malaysia in the future.

My sincere thanks to the Principal of SKTTDI(1) - Pn.Hajjah Nik Nab, her Senior assistant - Puan Kamariah and Cikgu Nur Halim for the support given. Not forgetting, Ustaz Rosdi and Puan Norliana for handling the SK.TTDI(1) Chess Team.SYUKRAN, SYUKRAN.

Invitations for hAnA & cHEss pIRATE

Though not taking part in any competitions this week, It has been an interesting week for me due to 2 invitations received by Amira Farhana & Amir FAiz

A gentleman was asking me how old Faiz was during a recent competition. He was thinking that Faiz was in primary school but small for his age. Upon confirming with the cHEss pIRATE himself and then me that Faiz is 5years and 3months - he requested that I send Faiz for an Age Group competition he's organising in July and where's there an U-7 category. Yesterday, I'd received a SMS inviting FAiz to a programme being started to groom chess players.

In the same week, hAnA received an invitation to be part of a Team being sent to the KASUGI Team Chess Open to be held on 14-15 July. It was the first time ever that hAnA received an invitation to be part of a chess team...Don't get me wrong, she's participated in Team events before for the School(SK TTDI) and State(FT) but for me it was more of a "duty call" invitation. Hana was keen to participate. Unfortunately, she has Tae Kwan-Do grading on the same week and had to give the event a miss as she's slightly behind on her grading route. hAnA's sister Amira FAthina got her 1st Dan Black Belt when she was in standard 5...however, hAnA is presently wearing a Yellow Belt despite being in Standard 4 and hence my concern of her "slow" pace. Hopefully, hAnA will be wearing a Green Tip Belt come fasting month this year.

An interesting week of chess invitations for the kids. Am hopeful that some people are starting to notice the kids for the right reasons rather than being sent invitations to make up the numbers. TQVM to the Lady and Gentleman who had invited hAnA and the cHEss pIRATE respectively.

23rd SELANGOR JUNIORS Open, U-10: Lessons Learned

The Official Results of the U-10 Mixed Category of the 23rd SELANGOR JUNIORS Open Chess can be viewed at CHESS RESULTS

Articles In the blogWORLD:-
1) Firey Rook
2) Chess in Malaysia


During the prize-giving ceremony,it was announced that there were participants from Penang and Singapore...both of which finished in the Top 10. I was disappointed with the turnout from the girls in this category as there were only 4 girls out of 42 participants i.e. LESS than 10% or, 9.52% to be more specific.

Another matter observed was that Certificates were only given to Top 15 finishers unlike most other tournaments where Attendance Certificates are given regardless of a player's final position.

Apart from being at the ATCC for the 1st time, there was an important lesson learnt by hAnA i.e. NOT to have a heavy lunch and start running around after that. As a result of "throwing up" and not being "physically" fit for Round 4, she lost to her opponent rather "tamely". Hope you keep this in mind hAnA for future competitions.

As for the cHEss pIRATE FAiz, what can I say....he's starting to understand the rules of the competition especially the "illegal move" and "touch move" ruling when he won a game after raising his hand 3 times to complain that his opponent had made illegal moves. The final complain was made despite the fact that he was just one(1) move away from check-mating his older opponent. After he had lodged the results of the game with the Secretariat, I'd asked him -
"Kenapa Faiz complain the 3rd time bila Faiz nak checkmate the next move?"

cHEss pIRATE reply - "Ayah, he made 3 bad moves. GAME OVER!"
Perrghh...despite his mood swings and lack of discipline as a chess player, cHEss pIRATE FAiz can be rather brutal when he feels like it!

Session ended around 6.30PM and we headed straight for the Sg.Besi Camp to hopefully attend the closing ceremony of the "final" OP-PP Games and hear the sound of the
Bugler's Last Post.

23rd SELANGOR JUNIORS Open, U-10 Category

Date: Sunday, 1st July 2012
Venue: ATCC, WILAYAH COMPLEX
Competition: 23rd SELANGOR JUNIORS OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT, U-10 Category

LATEST UPDATE:-
hAnA, No.13, 4pts, BH30
FAiz, No.27 , 3pts - BH24
Note: IF, there were a Girls Only Category...hAnA would have won it.

Their cousins, Aqil placed 5th with BH 27.5 & Arif, is in No.29 with 3pts-BH20


UPDATE, After Round 6:
hAnA, 4 Points.
cHEss pIRATE FAiz, 3 Points.
Their cousins - Aqil(5pts) & Arif(3pts).

Ranking Going into 7th & Final Round;-
No.10 - FArhana, 4pts - BH 20
No.21 - FAiz, 3pts - BH 17.5

UPDATE, After Round 2:
hAnA WON both games.
cHEss pIRATE FAIZ LOST both games

FIRST Time AMfa family (hAnA, cHEss pIRATE & Myself) is at the Arthur Tan Chess Centre at Wilayah Complex. We or rather I was convinced by the gentleman manning the Secretariat to enrol both kids as a Junior Member with the CAS to obtain benefits like reduced fees.

Upon registration, it was discovered thst hAnA and cHEss pIRATE is playing with "improved" ratings in the yet to be released July-September 2012 National Ratings. hAnA's ratings has improved to 1242(previously 1205) while cHEss pIRATE Faiz had improved a little bit to 1112(1102 previously). Was informed by the Gentleman Secretariat that the rankings used for this Tournament had taken into account last week's MBPJ Open. Hence, so far for both hAnA & cHEss pIRATE FAiz, the "new" National Ratings had taken into account of only 2 events they've participated which are as follows:-
(1) NATIONAL AGE GROUP-NAG, March 2012 (hAnA, Girls U-10 & FAiz,Boys U-8)
(2) MBPJ Chess Open, 23 June 2012 (BOTH, Mixed U-12 Category)

Their cousins Aqil and Arif is also playing in the same category I.e. U-10.