( Amir Faiz receiving his NAG 2014 U8 Pewter Trophy )
Finally, after a few "minor" titles in local competitions and one at state level Faiz managed to bag a National title albeit at Age Group level. Even more memorable is the fact that the NAG competition i.e. NAG 2012 was where he made his competition debut despite being advised not to compete by a few.
2 rounds played on the final day. Going into the penultimate Round 7, he had a chance of finishing at least in the Top 5 if he wins. I knew he had an advantage once he started doing Ultraman gestures and walking around to see other players. Going into Round 8 and the final round, was not really perturbed as target set (i.e. to improve from last year's results, Top 3 Finish) had already been achieved as worst case scenario he'll finish Runners-Up.
Amir Faiz finished the championship with 8 wins in 8 rounds and emerged as the Champion of the Malaysian NAG Boys U-8 category...his Sixth Title in total and his FIRST as a 7-year old kid as the last title won (U-9 Boys Champion, MSSKL) on 28th February was just a few days short of his 7th Birthday on 3rd March.
( NAG 2014 Backdrop)
His winning the U-8 category ensured 2 additional privileges.
First and foremost, inclusion into the Malaysian Junior team at the U8 Age Group(and by default U7) level and secondly, just as important is that organisers will pick up the tab for his accommodation and/or food in certain events. Last year, there were 2 age group events that I'm aware of where the organiser picks up the tab for 1 official representative in each age group i.e. 9th Asian Schools C.C.in Sri Lanka (9th ASCC) and the World Youth C.C.in Al Ain, UAE (WYCC 2014).
Perhaps, another privilege that might be extended is to be part of the National Team in the annual Malaysia-Singapore friendly in the U-9 category as last year's U-8 winner played on the U-9 board.
Having said the above, one thing I "don't like" about his win was that without telling anybody he tried a new opening which he had never played before in any competition. He witnessed this opening during the recent KL International Open in the game between Indian GM Venkhatesh MR against eventual winner and Top 100 player GM Sergei Tiviakov. Even after being told not to experiment, he must have followed one of his "6 Brains" and went ahead to play the exact "same" opening albeit in a 2-move variation... and just to prove me wrong used it in the critical R7 game as well. Grrrrrrr.!
After his win, with his trademark smirk of being able to prove me wrong, he claimed his incentive... amongst others - computer time. Am going to be out of pocket until the next month(at least) to fulfill my end of the bargain fpr other incentives and need to forego some meals at restaurants as well as Teh Tarik sessions then....so be it!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all teachers/coaches/trainers who had trained him over the years and made Amir Faiz's victory possible starting from the team of instructors at Polgar Chess Academy in Sri Hartamas namely Beverly, Josephine, Marcus, Dirk and FM Peter Long. Indonesian Fathurahman, AM Fadzil Nayan, Nik Ahmad Faroqi and Ismail Ahmad who had coached him at various camps, sessions or competitions.
Since early 2014, a Special Thank You goes to Louisa Yip and Peter Long for their kind gesture in providing a chess scholarship in terms of classes and coaching sessions at Polgar Chess Academy-Sri Hartamas. Our TQ also extends to S.K. Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (1) teachers namely Ustaz Rosdi, Cikgu Siti and Cikgu Fatin as well as Cikgu Inawarni, Cikgu Zita(PK Ko-Ku) and Headmistress Puan Juriah Jupri; MSSKL teachers led by Cikgu Shuhairi and Cikgu Shamsuddin who selected him to represent KL in the recent MSSM event in Kuching despite him being the 'baby' of the team. Apart from the KL teachers Sofi, Azman, Azha, Haji Syariff, Fizan, Lisa and Ustaz Khairul. Also KL team mates who had given him pointers, sparred with him and more importantly tolerated his behaviour from Centralised training until Kuching.
Not forgetting Lim Tse Pin who "spoke" for Faiz after his winning The Summit competition last year and Gregory Lau who paved the way for his first international assignment by calling to inform that Faiz have been chosen to represent Malaysia in the 9th Asian Schools C.C. 2013 by virtue of his 4th place finish in NAG 2013 at UTP, Tronoh.
Apart from Louisa Yip and Peter Long for their kind gesture credit must also be given to other sponsors who had made contributions in cash and in kind namely FISSAD (M) Sdn.Bhd, Sheikh Ghazali (Pak Arab), OPA, Dato' A.Wahab J.Sidek, MAS, Y.A.Bhg.Tun Dr.Mahathir Mohamad, Polgar Chess Academy, KL Chess Association (KLCA) and Pengarah Pelajaran KL.
Last but never the least to - chess friends, relatives and family members - THANK YOU to all for making this victory possible. SPECIAL MENTION goes to eldest and hAnA who by not wanting and allowing him to play with you all a few years back, "triggered" his interest to learn how to play the game.
Congratulations again to AMIR FAIZ Amirul @ The cHEss pIRATE - CHAMPION, PMB NATIONAL AGE GROUP C.C., Boys U-8 Category. Hopefully, there'll be many more titles to come.
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