AMIR FAIZ - RUNNERS-UP, U7 Open@10th ASIAN SCHOOLS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2014, Taichung-TAIWAN

( Amir Faiz Amirul, RUNNERS-UP after Tie-Break - 10th ASIAN SCHOOLS C.C. 2014 )

* Pict.courtesy of Mr.Yueh Wei Po *

September 2014 UPDATE:
TIMES of INDIA Report
KLCA Report

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Official RESULTS

...Finally, a respectable result in international competition for Amir Faiz enabling him to move up a notch from just being a "Jaguh Kampung".
RUNNERS-UP, U7 Open event at the 10th Asian Schools Chess Championship 2014 held at Washington High School in Taichung-TAIWAN.

Finishing with 7 points from 9 rounds, he tied on points with the champion from India but lose out on PE Tie-Break.

As per announcement made during the closing ceremony, the top 3 in the U7 event will be awarded "Candidate Master" or, CM.

Thank You Very Much to the Malaysian contingent for the morale support given and "putting up" with his myriad of emotions. A big thank you to all those in Malayisa who had prayed/doa for him and also for the encouragement given.
Special thanks goes to his coach and former National Champion FT Peter Long and the Polgar Chess Academy for the scholarship extended.

Some Pictures from 10th ASCC 2014.

( 10th ASCC Promo Banner in the Middle of the Road, on the way to competition venue )

 ( Washington High School Classrooms became the Players' Lounge. Each country assigned a classroom )

( Competition Venue, prior to start of Morning Round )

Day 3: 10th ASCC 2014

UPDATE Day 3:
R5, Bd.1: W v. Raahul Mullick (INDIA). Lost
R6, Bd.2: B v. Arjun (INDIA). WON.



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( Banner promoting 10th ASCC 2014, spotted on the way to Competition Venue )

Its Day 3 and things have pretty much settled down. No more kids crying or irresponsible parents shouting instructions....though the odd handphone ringing can be heard at the galley above.

Almost everybody is looking forward to the rest day tomorrow. We've not decided yet whether to go on the excursion organised by the host. It'll depend on how CP performs today and whether he'll be in the mood for an outing tomorrow.

Day 2: 10th ASCC 2014

UPDATE Day 2:
R3, Bd.1: W v. B.Odgerel (MONGOLIA). WON (1h 40m). Promoted 2 Qs.
R4, Bd.1: B  v. Tuguzbay Alim (KAZAKSTAN). WON (+2hrs). Promoted 2 Qs.

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(R3. v. B.Odgerel - MONGOLIA, Top Picture )

I was happy to be able to view CP's games from the wing stands for Rounds 1 - 3.......that was until some idiotic father from one of the "Stan" countries started shouting something to his son playing in the U5 category. Another mother from the sub-continent had her "loud" phone ringing a few times....perhaps she doesn't know how to put in on mute!?

Due to the above incidences, the Chief Arbiter decided (rightly so!)  to close the wing from Round 4 onwards...and rather reluctantly, I had to use the binoculars for the first time ever in competitions.

10th ASIAN SCHOOLS C.C.2014, Begins TODAY.

( Washington High School. Taichung, Taiwan - Venue of 10th ASCC 2014  )

UPDATE Day 1:
R1: v. Karunaratne (SRI LANKA). WON in 1hr++. Note: CP lost to him in 9th ASCC-Sri Lanka.
R2: v. Geganage (SRI LANKA). WON in 27mins.

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The 10th Asian Schools Chess Championship 2014 Begins today in Taichung, Taiwan.
The event takes place at the Washington High School...which is about 20 - 40 minutes by Shuttle Bus from the Twinstar Hotel.

More countries are taking part from last year. Notable abseentees are Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.

10th ASIAN SCHOOLS C.C.2014....Here We Come!

Event INFO

For whatever its worth, 10th Asian Schools C.C.2014....HERE WE COME, TAIWAN!

Initially, I was rather reluctant to enter CP for this event. Mainly because only the classical game will be played compared to the 15th ASEAN+ Age Group in Macau where all 3 versions were played.
Then there were moves to send a team from KL. Anticipating a positive outcome due to KL's MSSM performance, I'd registered CP for the event. Later on, I was informed that a change in Director put paid to those plans.

Hopefully, the trip will be a good one as CP had to forego defending his title at 3rd The Summit Juniors event on departure day (read MalaysianChess 30th June 2013 BlogPOST) and I had to turn down an invitation to be a  Jury member for the 2nd Nusantara Leadership Camp which will be held at Putrajaya from 23-27 August in addition to cutting short my trip up north for a Public Lecture & Working Visit to historical sites around Merbok-Kedah.

WYCC 2014@South Africa - To GO or NOT?

UPDATE 1:
My GP just called - advising us not to go.
However, if we do intend to go we need to take shots for Yellow Fever, Cholera & Malaria.
...emm....

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Ebola seemed to be spreading in Africa...Latest being reported deaths in Nigeria.

Despite having made the necessary payments and flight reservations for WYCC 2014 in Durban, am still concerned as to whether we should go or not!? Better to lose a bit than to play around with health/life...I supposed!

A letter issued by ISN does not allay my fears.

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Comments Please.

RSC JUNIORS: Another 5th Place.....and some Spending Money for ASCC.

Event INFO
Official RESULTS

Another 5th place finish in the U-12 event after last week's SStwo event. This time, he finally got some pocket mone to spend in Taiwan for the 10th ASCC which after conversion should get him at least 1k Taiwan Dollars...enough for a daily visit to Come Buy and 7-11 or Family Mart.

Last year he got a prize in the U8 special category (Read 17 Jan. 2013 BlogPOST). Slight improvement this year by getting a prize in the U10 category.

If not for the upcoming 10th ASCC would not have entered CP for this event as would have prefered  to stay in Melaka after the wedding and catch up with family members and relatives. 

2nd SStwo Mall C.C. - Close but NO DUIT RAYA!

( CP receiving his 5th Place Hamper from CAS's Tse Pin )

Event INFO
Official RESULTS

This is the second time CP is participating in this event after last year's inaugural which was held during the fasting month and he nearly did not make the starting line...well actually he wasn't there at the starting line and only started playing around 5-10minutes after the start! I'd actually written off the first round due to the late start but surprisingly he managed to secure a point.

Though ranked 3rd after 5 rounds and playing on Top Board in the final round, he lost the game mainly due to a King/Queen fork whilst trying to exert time pressure on his opponent who was down to 5 minutes as opposed to his 12-13minutes left. (Lesson Learnt: Another player's initials which I will use constantly to remind him when trying to exert time pressure). As a result he only finished 5th overall and failed to defend his title (Read 20th July 2013 BlogPOST ). By default, he's also the Top U-8 player. His prize for finishing 5th is a hamper but no duit raya for him. Still he's happy with it and shared the spoils with family members who were given the option to chose 1 item each.

One matter that I must commend the organisers is the fact that certificates are issued with the participant's name printed on it. If I recall correctly, there are only 2 other organisers that issues certificates with players' names printed i.e. Louisa Yip's Polgar and the now defunct DCC which was helmed by Najib Wahab.

Furthermore, of the many competitions I've been to in shopping complexes - this event is the most "coziest" mainly due to lack of crowd and as such not as noisy in addition to I can easily spot CP when he's roaming around in between games..

A Call to SPAR.

Whilst in Singapore for Raya celebrations, received a call followed by a few sms from a parent who wanted CP to spar with his kid in preparation for the 10th Asian Schools in Taiwan later this month.

I'd warned him that I don't see how CP can help his kid as he's playing in the U7 category and is relatively weak compared to his kid who'll Be playing in a higher category i.e. either U9 or U11 but he said its OK. I supposed it'll be a good way to start preparing CP for the event as well.

1498 - Faiz's Maiden FIDE Rating

Finally, after umpteens (12x) participation in FIDE-rated classical events, he got his FIDE-rating for the classical game...thanks mainly to his recent performance in the 8th Asian Dragons U-16 tournament  in Taiwan where HE got 2points against 5 FIDE-rated Players.
Refer Amir Faiz's FIDE Rating.

Am not really bothered by what his rating is as his game would commensurate with the published ratings. The savings from a reduced entrance fees is the reason for the celebrations. As an example, if I were to register him for the Johor or Penang Open - I'll save RM50 per event.

Having said the above, I was always under the impression that a player needs to have played against at least 10 FIDE-rated players and getting at least 1point before getting a maiden rating. What I don't understand is even though he secured 3points, why is getting a rating after playing against only 9 players? Perhaps, the newly introduced rules have something to do with this.

Hopefully, as a result of this the pairings when HE participate in the 10th Asian Schools C.C. Later this month would be in his favour.

Just to recall, the following are the FIDE classical events that he'd participated:-


2014
(12) 8th Asian Dragons International Chess Tournament, U-16 Open (TAIWAN)
(11) 15th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championship, U-8 Open (MACAU)
(10) 41st Selangor Open, Open (KL)
(09) DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Kuala Lumpur International Open Chess Championship, Open (KL)

2013
(8) World Youth Chess Championship, U-8 Open (UAE)
(7) 5th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open, Challenger Section (PULAU PINANG)
(6) 6th National Juniors Chess Championship, U-20 (Johor)
(5) 9th Asian Schools Chess Championship, U-7 Open (SRI LANKA)
(4) 8th AMBank Chess Challeng (KL)
(3) DCC Golden Special (KL)

2012
(2) 5th National Juniors Chess Championship (KL)
(1) 4th Penang Heritage City, Challenger Section (Pulau Pinang)