5th Title for AMIR FAIZ b. AMIRUL & 1st STATE Title - CHAMPION MSSKL, U-9 Category.

In the Final and Only round played today, Amir Faiz was in the office for only 7minutes in what was supposed to be a 90minutes encounter. He won by Q checkmate.

Consequently, he finished the event with 7wins in 7 rounds and emerged as the Champion of the MSSKL Boys U-9 category...his Fifth Title in total and his last as a 6-year old kid a few days short of his 7th Birthday on 3rd March.

As for me, what is more important is that he'd rose to the challenge after the brickbats hurled at him after his lackluster performance during his participation in the Bangsar Zone event a few weeks back. After his win with his trademark smirk of being able to prove me wrong ....he claimed for his incentive, amongst others some toy cartoon characters. Why la this particular cartoon got so many characters????
 Am going to be out of pocket for a couple of weeks and need to forego some teh Tarik sessions then....so be it!

Congratulations again Amir Faiz @ The cHEss pIRATE - CHAMPION MSSKL Boys U-9 Category.
Hopefully, many more titles to come when you turn 7.

Results:-
Round 1, Board 8: B v. Muhd.Malek Danish @SK.Manjalara - Won
R2, B5: W v. Ryan Seow @MBS - Won
R3, B4: B v. Umar Shamsuddin @SHSHAS - Won
R4, B2: W v. Woo Ka Wai @ SJK(C) KC1 - Won
R5, B1: W v. Tam Li Zhang @ SJK(C) Lee Rubber - Won
R6: B1. Black v. Daranesh @Global Indian International School(GIIS) - WON
R7: B1. White. ??? @ SJKC Lee Rubber - WON

INDIVIDUAL Event - MSSKL, Starts TODAY

 ( Boys U-9. Round 6, Board 1. Black )

 (Girls U-12. Round 6, Board 1)

UPDATE 3 @ 27/02:
Visited the tournament venue today to collect some forms for endorsement.
Managed to see the pairings/results for previous rounds. Amongst the rare occasion that both siblings are on Board 1 in the same round i.e. Round 6...and both playing black.

CP
Round 1, Board 8: B v. Muhd.Malek Danish @SK.Manjalara - Won
R2, B5: W v. Ryan Seow @MBS - Won
R3, B4: B v. Umar Shamsuddin @SHSHAS - Won  
R4, B2: W v. Woo Ka Wai @ SJK(C) KC1 - Won
R5, B1: W v. Tam Li Zhang @ SJK(C) Lee Rubber - Won
R6: B1: B v. Daranash - Won

hAnA
R1: Won
R2: Won
R3: Won
R4: Won
R5: v. Esther Tang - Draw
R6, B1: v. Allaida Siow - lost
Note: 10 / 11 Games Streak

UPDATE 1 & 2 @ 26/02:
Over dinner, when asked who he played with - CP said Ryan fm MBS & won a revenge game against Umar who he'd lost during Bangsar zone...the other guy he won against was another player from MBS.

hAnA called just before I started my TV Shoot for TTP Season 4 programme to inform that both of them won all 3rounds today.
Note: hAnA - 9 Games streak (1- Bangsar Zone, 5-State Team & 3-State Individual ) ; CP - 4 Games streak (1 fm Bangsar Zone Individual event).

>>>>>>>
After the team competition, the individual event starts today.

3rd straight day for hAnA at the venue as she'll be taking part in the Girls U-12 event.
As for The CP, finally some action after almost 2 weeks in hibernation since the last day of the individual event at Bangsar Zone as he'll be taking part in the U-9 event.

All the best kiddos.

MSSKL State Finals, Begins TODAY. TEAM Event @24-25 FEB.

UPDATE 2:
hAnA Won All 3 Games Today.
R3:
R4:
R5:
Note 1: Teacher I/C I.e. Ust. Rosdi said that the team will finish in the Top 5. Scant consolation whenthey'd finished Champions of Bangsar. If only the school had provided some semblance of a training, they could have done much, much better.
Note 2: 6 Game Streak.

UPDATE 1:
hAnA won both games today.
R1: v. SK Convent Sentul 1. (Team Lost 1 - 3).
R2: v. Sek. Jalan Kuantan. (Team Drew 2 - 2). 
Note: 3 Game Streak.

>>>>>>>
The MSSKL State Finals begins today at SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn.

The team event will be played today and tomorrow (24-25 Feb) whilst the Individual event will be held from Wednesday till Friday (26-28 Feb) at the same venue.

hAnA qualified for both event. CP only qualified for the individual event. Am hoping both can finish in the medals.

A Missed Opportunity - USM Open

Was invited to give a Talk on " Fiat Money and Economic Degradation " in Penang at an event called Mutiara HIKMAH 9 held at the Tabung Haji Complex, Bayan Lepas. Did not do my homework as the USM Open was held at the same time...and nearby to event venue. Would have been a good workout for the kids who's playing in the MSSKL State Finals starting Monday.

LIDC - LimKokWing International Debate Competition, BP-style

UPDATE 3:
Event REPORT

UPDATE 2 @23/02:
Eldest Team lost in the Quarter-Finals.
Good progress anyway as its the 1st time she broke in back-to-back competitions. Considering 9th Swinburne was Asian Style and this event is British Parliamentarian Style, all the more impressive.

UPDATE 1 @21/02:
Eldest Team broke 1st with 13points.
As a reward, her team is granted immunity from the earlier rounds tomorrow.

>>>>>>>

Event INFO

The BP-style LimKokWing International Debate Competition (LIDC 2014) will be held from 20th-23rd February 2014 at Cyberjaya, Selangor.

Hopefully, the 2 person team of Iman and eldest can break for the 2nd time as a follow through from 9th Swinburne's in Kuching earlier this month.

More Details will follow suit.

Siblings on School Stage for the First Time!

Both went on stage together in the school hall for the first time today.

They were given the recognition by the school to receive their Bangsar Zone Medals and Achievement Certificates which they'd won in the Team and/or Individual event last week at SK Sri Hartamas.

Hope there'll be more occasions like this.

Selectors / Selections.......Emmm (xXxX!#) Am Reserving Comments First!

Went to visit eldest today.

When queried as to when the District Chess Competition is, she informed that the event had passed without her knowing it and that she was not selected to be in the team.

Considering that last year, there were only 2 students who represented the Zone at the state finals in Rembau I.e. 1 in the U-18 category and another in the U-15 category...I find this very, very strange and disturbing indeed!

Am going to get to the bottom of this.

MSSKL State Finals, 24-28 February @SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn

 ( Bangsar Zone CHAMPIONS, Girls -12. 

All Pictures courtesy of Polgar Chess )

 

 ( U-9 Boys )

More Pictures HERE

During the Bangsar Zone Prize-giving ceremony, it was announced that the KL State Finals will be held at SK Desa Tun Hussein Onn from Monday,24th February till Friday, 28th February 2014.

In the team event, the Top 5 teams will be chosen to represent Bangsar Zone. On the other hand, the Top 12 finishers in the U-12 and U-9 categories are automatically the Bangsar Zone representative.

By virtue of her SK TTDI(1) Team emerging Champions in the Girls U-12 team event and Runners-Up on tie-break in the Individual U-12 event, hAnA will be representing Bangsar Zone in both events for the 3rd year running. 2 of her team mates I.e. Najwa and Alyssa who'd finished 4th and 5th respectively in the Individual event will also be making the trip for both events. Another school mate just missed out on tie-break when she'd finished 13th.

As for CP, well what can I say - Am just grateful that the defeat and draw did not hinder him from finishing in the Top 12. He finished a "disappointing" 6th and hopefully he'd learnt his lesson as to what to do or not do. He'll be accompanying his school mate M.Al Waqeef who's the Champion in the U-9 category. Hopefully, both of them will finish in the medals  at the KL State Finals.

All the Very Best to SK TTDI(1) students who'd qualified to represent  Bangsar Zone in the State Finals.

MSSKL BANGSAR Zone - Individual Competition, Starts TODAY!

UPDATE 4 @14/02:
R7 & Final:
hAnA - Won
Note 1: 6pts/7 (6 W & 1 L)
Note 2: 3 players finished on 6pts. After tie-break, hAnA emerged Runners-Up.

R6 & Final
CP - Won v. Adib.
Note: 4.5pts/6 (4 W, 1 D, 1 L).
Note 2: CP finished 6th. Champion on 5.5pts.


UPDATE 2 & 3 (11am & 11pm) @13/02:
hAnA
R4: Won. W
R5: Lost. B
R6: Won. W
Note: 5pts/6. Winning Streak ended at 9 Games.

CP
R4: Won.
R5: Lost. B v. Umar
Note 1: Final tally @3.5pts/5 (3-1-1).
Note 2: Only 5 rounds played for U-9.

UPDATE 1 @12/02:
hAnA
R1-R3: Won All Games
Note: Undefeated 8 Games (5 from Team event)

CP
R1: Won. v.
R2: Won. v.
R3: Draw. v. SK TTDI (1)
Note: 4 Games Undefeated. (1 from Team).

>>>>>>>
Bangsar Zone's MSSKL Individual chess competition begins today at SK Sri Hartamas-KL.
Was informed that 7 rounds will be played i.e. 3 rounds today, 3 rounds tomorrow and the 7th and final round on Friday. Each player will be given 25minutes to play in each round.

hAnA will be taking part in the Girls U-12 Individual event whilst The cHEss pIRATE will be taking part in the  U-9  Open/Boys event. Hopefully, they can carry their good performance from the team event into the individual event. All the Best Kiddos!

Bangsar Zone - MSSKL, Team Event Begins TODAY!

UPDATE 3: 12/02
Confirmed, SKTTDI(1) Girls Team - CHAMPION Bangsar Zone
SKTTDI(1) Boys Team - 11th in Bangsar Zone (Champion-SKBD. 2nd-SJK JD)

UPDATE 2: 11/02
hAnA:
Round 3 - Won her Game on Board 3
Round 4 - Won her Game on Board 3
Round 5 - Won her Game on Board 3
Note 1: 5/5 for 100%. Hopefully, she can start a winning streak of her own with the Individual Event.
Note 2: Her Team mate Najwa is also 5/5. Others are on 4/5 and 2/5
Note 3: Unconfirmed - The SKTTDI (1) Girls Team is in the Top 3.

CP:
Round 3 - W v. Vickna Ganesh, SK Hartamas. Won on Board 1
Round 4 - B v. Aqif, SK Bukit Bandaraya. Lost on Board 1. Sacrificed 2 Rooks for 1 Queen.
Round 5 - W v. Muhammad, SKSHAS. Won on Board 1
Note: 4/5 for 80%. Undefeated streak, ended at 10 Games.

UPDATE 1: 10/02
hAnA:
Round 1 - Bye
Round 2 - Team drew with SKBD, 2-2 ( Won her Game on Board 3)

CP:
Round 1 - B v. Najmi, SBBSP(1). Won on Board 1.
Round 2 - W v. Lingesh Sivabalan, Global Indian IS. Won on Board 1.
Note: 7 Games, Rapid Winning Streak. 9 Games, Undefeated Streak.

>>>>>>>
The Bangsar Zone MSSKL competition begins today at SK Sri Hartamas-KL for the 3rd year running .

hAnA & CP have been chosen to represent SKTTDI 1. 3rd Year for hAnA and debut year for CP.
Was informed that both will be taking part in the team and individual events. hAnA will be taking part in the Girls Open U-12 team event and U-12 Girls Individual event. CP will be taking part in the Boys/Open Team event for U-12 but for the Individual event the school had entered him for the U-9 event.

4th TITLE for AMIR FAIZ b. AMIRUL - JOHAN, Pertandingan Catur PERINGKAT UMUR SHAH ALAM 2014 ( Rating Kebangsaan Bawah 1300)

( CHAMPION receives RM100 & Achievement Certificate )

Event INFO.
Event REPORT
Official RESULTS

A good start to 2014. After hibernating for 1month 1week and 6days ( 44days) since his last game i.e. Round 11 of the WYCC 2013 against Toksombaev Sandzhar from Kyrgyzstan on 28th December 2013 in Al Ain-UAE, Amir Faiz participated in his first chess competition in 2014. To my surprise, he'd performed above my expectations.

CONGRATULATIONS to Amir Faiz bin Amirul aka The self-proclaimed cHEss pIRATE (BlogPOST HERE) for adding a FOURTH title to his name I.e.JOHAN - PERTANDINGAN CATUR PERINGKAT UMUR SHAH ALAM 2014 (Rating Kebangsaan Bawah 1300), Kategori Bawah 12 Tahun (Shah Alam Age Group Category Chess Championship - National Rating Below 1300, U-12 Category). In a competition reduced by 1 round to 5rounds, he won all 5 Games and finished the event with a Perfect Score of 5 Wins. Coming from the WYCC 2013 where he won and drew the last 2 games, he's currently  undefeated over 7-games in competition.

He won his first title last year in the 2012 Malaysia Day Chess Challenge organised by Polgar Chess Academy in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur (2012 Malaysia Day Challenge Event REPORT &REPORT 2). In 2013, a second title was earned in a shopping mall i.e. at the 2nd THE SUMMIT JUNIORS Open 2013, U-7 category organised by Lim Tse Pin (BlogPOST HERE) in Subang Jaya whilst the 3rd Title was won during the 2013 fasting month at an event organised by Hamid Majid in a Petaling Jaya mall i.e. 1st SStwo Mall Chess Championship 2013, U-12 Category (Read 20 July 2013 BlogPOST)

  ( CHAMPION, 1st SStwo Mall Chess Championship 2013. U-12 Category)

Well, actually this should have been his 5th title BUT...Read HERE & HERE2!

CONGRATULATIONS Amir Faiz @ The cHEss pIRATE..with the 2014 MSSKL Bangsar Zone starting tomorrow, hopefully you can start another winning streak, InsyALLAH. 

SELECTION CRITERIA to Represent MALAYSIA

Finally, after lots of discussion regarding this topic on and off-line a transparent Selection Criteria have been released by MCF.
Love it or hate it, at least there's a reference point.

Refer BlogPOST.

Compare the Present Criteria to the Previous MCF Criteria (refer BlogPOST).

Hopefully, the respective states' chess association can issue their criteria for state players as well.
Might have missed it but have only seen Selangor's CAS doing it. 

Personally, I feel that the criteria needs some tweaking.
Why?  Based on 2012 and 2013 experience of entering the kids for the year end FIDE-rated NJCC and Penang Open, they tend to lose substantial NR points when the  Jan-March NR is released.
Does this mean that the kids should stop participating in the NJCC and Penang Open to "protect" their NR when FIDE-rated events are few and far in between? ......emmm, something for the "powers that be" to consider.

Example:

*****  4Q NR  /  NJCC   /   PENANG OPEN  / 1Q NR  / Remarks
2013
hAnA  xxxx   /   - 17.22    /   - 23.96   /   1264   / No NR events to "cushioned" the drop
CP       xxxx   /   + 10.39   /   - 23.98   /   1201   / ***   ditto   ***

2012
hAnA 1264   /   - 30.43   /   - 35.17   /   1202   / Other NR events cushioned the impact of the drop
CP      1157   /   - 48.00   /   - 40.00   /   1189   / ***   ditto   ***

Comments to Follow.

The ruling re qualifying for "High Performance Events"  when a player is NOT from the "Current Cycle" National Youth Squad should also be tweaked.

For example, qualifying for the World Youth CC (re Section C - National Youth Squad, Items 7 & 8 ).
Why impose such a stringent criteria of only the individual medalist being able to apply?
In my opinion, finishing in the Top 10 of the ASEAN+ Age Group or, Asian Schools CC is a "pretty solid" criteria. Even if we send all our Top 4 qualifier from NAG, NOT ALL will finish in the Top 10...if ANY! After all, NAG is essentially a "Rapid" event whilst the ASEAN+ AGE GROUP & ASIAN SCHOOLS CC, the focus is on "Classical" even though the Rapid & Blitz is played as well.

In addition, the NR minimum ceiling requirements to participate in Developmental and High
Performance events will reduce the number of "qualified" junior players going for overseas exposure since they are not many(if any) FIDE-rated Age Group events in Malaysia. Even the state-level MSSM Chess competition is not a National Rated event let alone FIDE-rated. So how la?

Furthermore, the performance increase or decrease of a player is not catered for when the benchmark competition is either the NAG(usually held in the 1st or 2nd Quarter of the Year) and NJCC(4th Quarter of the Year).

How about cases where a player cannot participate in the NAG or NJCC due to a variety of reasons e.g. Illness, Flood/Natural Disaster, War/Security Emergency, Family Emergency, Representing the School/State/Malaysia for events, Interviews etc. How do we cater for them?

cHEss pIRATE made the SCHOOL Team.

UPDATE 2:
Received news that CP will be taking part in the Team Event (U-12 Open) & Individual U-9 Open. 

UPDATE 1:
Was informed that KL will only be having 2 categories this year i.e. U-12 and U-9 instead of 3 like 2013 i.e. U-8, U-10 & U-12. Not sure whether this news is confirmed though.

>>>>>>>
Just received news that the CP made the school chess team for SK.TTDI 1.
Am not sure which category he'll be playing in but am assuming he'll be participating in the Boys U-8 Category.

Last year, we tried to enter him for the U-8 category as well but the Pejabat Pelajaran did not agree even though the school gave their support and the KL Chess Teacher did not object. (Read Feb.2013 BlogPOST ). I was informed that the official reason given is that "its never been done before!".

Hopefully he can "step up" his game after hibernating for 1 1/2months without taking part in any competitions.

( I didn't made it to any school team until standard 5 and that too was for either Hockey or Athletics. I'm quite sure CP will be bragging about this for many years to come ).

Chess Table/Corner @Hadramawt Restaurant, J.Ampang

My enterprising brother treated me to an Arabic Food lunch at Hadramawt Restaurant, Jalan Ampang-KL(next to Petronas Service Station). Had passed by this place numerous time but this is the first time I'm actually eating here. My Tuan Haji2 brother wanted to treat Mandy Rice with Lamb........but after last year's WYCC in Al Ain am "off" Nasi Arab at least for the next couple of months....not sure whether the rest of the WYCC2013 gang had taken any Arab food since coming back, maybe Pak Sheikh Idris J. Perhaps!? The "twin sisters" i.e. Shima & Imah, "kalau makan nasi arab pun senyap2 kot, guilty conscience...WaQAQA!....and Coach Ismail will most probably cook his own Arab food! So we had some lamb and clay pot chicken with Muwallah (I think!).

Anyway, whilst discussing some import and export matters from the Arab land, I noticed that the restaurant owners had allocated a table/corner for those wanting to play chess and perhaps other board games. So anybody in the vicinity who wants to play chess while having Arab food can head over to this restaurant in Jalan Ampang.
(PS: There's also a call gadget on the table but nobody gives a heed and btw even if you come early the roti maker will only start work at 12noon. Biasalah Pak Arab !!!)

PS 2: Never thought plain Indomie@5dirham can be quite popular and "tasty" during WYCC2013....which reminds me Nasi Arab and terung gravy costs 20dirham at the UAEUniv cafeteria and that too depends on what they want to quote for the day - they'll just simply quote the price depending on the demand for that particular time and/or day......Emmmmm!!!