A ? from the Sports Commissioner of Malaysia.

( Malaysian Sports Commissioner Y.B.Datuk Zaiton Othman in the middle )

Met-up with the Sports Commissioner(COS) recently when submitting some  documents on behalf of a sports NGO. COS used to be a Top Athlete herself whose 1981 heptathlon record set in Manila is yet to be broken and also a former Sportswomen of the Year in 1982 ( refer Zaiton Othman ).

Certain matters were discussed with, one of which is beyond my scope when COS asked as to whether chess will be in the next SEA Games or not?...to which I replied I've no idea as I'm not privy to the discussions but hopefully.

From what I gather, chess was dropped from Singapore SEA Games recently as the hosts were not confident of securing any of the gold medals at stake. It'll be interesting as to how hosts Malaysia chooses which sports to include (or NOT for SEA Games 2017.

16th ASEAN+ Age Group 2015 - Overall a Disappointing Trip but Still Some Glimmer of Hope

OVERALL Summary

Vietnam, P13 - W7 D1 L5 (57.69%)

Philippines, P4 - W1 L3(25%)

Mongolia, P1 - L1 (0%)

India, P1 - D1 (50%)

Singapore, P6 - W6 (100%)

CLASSICAL Summary

Vietnam, P4 - W2 L2

Philippines, P2 - L2

India, P1 - D1

Singapore, P2 -  W2

RAPID Summary

Vietnam, P4 - W2 D1 L1

Mongolia, P1 - L1

Singapore, P2 - W2  

BLITZ Summary

Vietnam, P5 - W3 L2

Philippines, P2 - W1 L1

Singapore, P2 - W2 

Placing 29th in Classical(4.5pts placed from 28th to 30th), 13th in Rapid(4.5pts placed from 12th to 15th) and 12th in Blitz (6pts placed 6th to 12th) out of 58, 55 and 53 players respectively is a disappointing result for CP.
Looking at the points earned in classical event CP only met his first and perhaps easiest KPI of 50% and 2 other "minor" pre-determined KPI's out of 8.

The 3 out of 8 KPI's achieved are as follows:-
Major KPI
(1) 50% score for the Classical, Rapid & Blitz events (Minimum Major KPI No.4)
( Classical, 4.5/9 @50% / Rapid, 4.5/7 @64.29% / Blitz, 6/9@66.67% ).

Minor KPIs

(2) 50% score against Vietnamese players
= Played(P) 13 - Win(W)7,  Draw(D) 1, Lost(L) 5 @57.69%
( Compared to  2014 Macau's ASEAN+ = P9 - W0 D1 L8 @ 5.56%);

(3) 75% score against Singaporeans = P6 - W6 @100%.
( Compared to 2014 ASEAN+ Age Group C.C. = P5 - W3 D1 L1 @ 70%
& Won against Singapore's Top Player).

However, there's still a glimpse of hope based on his blitz score where he earned 6 hard-fought points, 3 of which were against Vietnamese and 1 against a Pinoy player, and placed 12th from 53 players.For me, his blitz results against GM(s)-trained Vietnamese and Pinoy players as well as "structured" Singaporean U8s indicates that the talent is still there but foundation gaps are appearing and would require a lot of hard work in addition to interest in order to rectify it.

CLASSICAL
RESULTS
R1 - WON, Vietnam - 35th(4pts)
R2 - WON, Singapore - 41st (4pts)
R3 - lost, Vietnam - 32nd(4pts)
R4 - lost, Vietnam - 6th (6.5pts)
R5 - lost, Philippines - 15th (5.5pts)
R6 - WON, Singapore - 54th (2.5pts)
R7 - Draw, India - 33rd (4pts)
R8 - WON, Vietnam - 21st (5pts)
R9 - lost, Philippines - 13th (5.5pts)

Summary
Vietnam, P4 - W2 L2
Philippines, P2 - L2
India, P1 - D1
Singapore, P2 - W2 


RAPID
RESULTS
R1 - WON, Vietnam - 39th (3pts)
R2 - WON, Singapore - 45th (2.5pts)
R3 - lost, Vietnam - 18th (4pts)
R4 - WON, Singapore - 3rd (5.5pts)
R5 - Draw, Vietnam - 4th (5.5pts)
R6 - lost, Mongolia - 15th (4.5pts)
R7 - WON, Vietnam - 27th (3.5pts)

Summary
Vietnam, P4 - W2 D1 L1
Mongolia, P1 - L1
Singapore, P2 - W2 


BLITZ
RESULTS
R1 - WON, Vietnam - 22nd (5pts)
R2 - WON, Singapore - 40th (3.5pts)
R3 - lost, Vietnam - Runners-Up (7.5pts)
R4 - lost, Vietnam - 27th (4.5pts)
R5 - WON, Philippines - 29th (4pts)
R6 - lost, Philippines - 11th (6pts)
R7 - WON, Singapore - 34th (4pts)
R8 - WON, Vietnam - 31st (4pts)
R9 - WON, Vietnam - 24th (5pts)

Summary
Vietnam, P5 - W3 L2
Philippines, P2 - W1 L1
Singapore, P2 - W2 

16th ASEAN+ Age Group C.C. 2015 - Classical Event ENDS

 (R1. White v. Vietnam - WON )

 ( R2. Black v. Singapore - WON.
Trying very hard to "psycho" the opponent who is playing in an international event for the first time )

 ( R3. White v. Vietnam - lost.

"Irritated" at either playing another Vietnamese or being asked to pose by his Mum )

 ( White v. Philippines - lost )

 ( White v. India - Draw. Precious half point "given away" )

 ( Black v. Vietnam.  )

( Black v. Singapore - WON. 

Always confident and fooling around when playing Singaporeans )

 

Classical Summary
P9 - W4 D1 L4(50%)
Vietnam, P4 - W2 L2
Philippines, P2 - L2
India, P1 - D1
Singapore, P2 -  W2




Classical
R1 - WON, Vietnam - 35th(4pts)
R2 - WON, Singapore - 41st (4pts)
R3 - lost, Vietnam - 32nd(4pts)
R4 - lost, Vietnam - 6th (6.5pts)
R5 - lost, Philippines - 15th (5.5pts)
R6 - WON, Singapore - 54th (2.5pts)
R7 - Draw, India - 33rd (4pts)
R8 - WON, Vietnam - 21st (5pts)
R9 - lost, Philippines - 13th (5.5pts)

The classical rounds in the 2015 16th ASEAN+ ended with no points improvement and disappointment for CP when more was expected of him. In last year's event, 4.5 points is good enough to be ranked 16th - 20th out of 36 players ( 2014 15thASEAN+ U8 Open Macau Results ). However, this year the same points tally is only good enough for a 28th - 30th finish out of 58 players ( 2015 16th ASEAN+ U8 Open Singapore Results ).

Vietnam with 7 players outdid themselves by deciding to have their own "National Age Group U8 Boys competition" on the side when they entered 15 players in the U8 Open category,  while hosts Singapore had 'only' 20 players. Other countries with enough players to compete in the U8 Open team event were Malaysia, Mongolia and Philippines with 5, 6, and 6 players respectively. India(2players), Kazakstan(2) and New Zealand(1) made it 8 countries competing for honours in the U8 Open event.

MSSM Pulau Pinang 2015 Ends Today with a Complimentary BLACKOUT!

The 2015 MSSM Chess Finals held at SJKC Shang Wu Pulau Pinang ends tonight with a blackout into the closing ceremony. The joke amongst visitors was that even at the very last Minute the results for the overall champion remains undecided and that certain "things" needs to be done during the Blackout...Ha! Ha! It can be said that the competition is a low-key event judging by the publicity or rather lack of it surrounding it.

What is good about the games this time is that the "2nd tier" teams have managed to to stop the total dominance by KL, Selangor and PP in the Top 3 medals compared to last year's Kuching edition where despite Selangor being overall champions KL brought home 6 Gold medals.Who would have thought that Kedah, Perak and Johor would be in the medals albeit only the Bronze by edging out PP(U15 Girls), KL(U12 Boys) and Selangor (U18 Boys) respectively.

The unpleasant thing about MSSM 2015 is the constant tripping of electricity which is relatively OK for morning games but players were made uncomfortable in the afternoon rounds where such incidences occurred. I suppose the letdown for spectators was the fact that they can't view the ongoing competition as opposed to KT 2012 and Kuching 2014 which were held in an Indoor Stadium.

As for hAnA, in her 2nd MSSM after Kuala Terengganu 2012...she's going back empty handed despite having secured 4 points in 6 rounds on Board 2 and her Board 3 mate getting 4.5points for the Melaka U15 Girls team. The silver lining for her is getting the College colours after having represented the State Team. Hopefully, she qualifies again next year and gets to play in the individual event this time around.

16th ASEAN+ Age Group C.C. 2015 Begins TODAY @NTU, Singapore

( Some Members of the Malaysian Contingent )

The 16th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championship begins today at the Nanyang Technology University, Singapore. Not many countries are taking part compared to last year. Some absentees are Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Taiwan and Russia. CP's Mum is accompanying him for only the second time after 9th Asian Schools 2013 in Sri Lanka instead of me as per initial plans due to Dr.Rozman's advise.

( Round 1, Board 1, Black v. Vietnam's Nguyen. WON. )

In his second ASEAN+ Age Group competition after Macau S.A.R.2014 (intended to go to Chiangmai 2013 but a change in policy found us performing our umrah as a family), much is expected of CP. This competition being his 6th international assignment, the time for exposure is over. All the Best to the cHEss pIRATE  Amir Faiz.

MSSM 2015 Begins Today in Pulau Pinang

( 2015 MSSM Melaka Team )

The 2015 MSSM Chess Finals begins today at SJKC Shang Wu, Pulau Pinang.
It's the second time hAnA is going for MSSM chess finals having represented F.T. of K.L. In the 2012 Kuala Terengganu edition. This time around she's representing Melaka in the U15 Girls Team event. CP is supposed to play as well for KL in the U12 Individual event but is away on an International Assignment b Singapore i.e. 16th ASEAN+ Age Group held concurrently with the SEA Games. As for me its the 3rd edition that I'm attending the kids' MSSM after Kuching last year.

Opening ceremony and venue familiarisation were done in the morning.
I did not hear this but apparently in the opening speech it was mentioned that the Sarawak-Contingent ..."...datang pakai duit sendiri!". (What's Happening Here!?).

As compared to KT 2012 and Kuching 2014 which were held in indoor stadiums with a gallery deck for viewers to follow the proceedings, this year's spectators are unable to watch the ongoing games.
Additionally, no on-line games were webcasted like last year.

The First Round began around 3.30pm, hAnA and another ex-KL player on Board 1 i.e.Maisarah, managed to hold the NS team to a draw after playing for around 2hrs 40mins.
All the Best hAnA for the upcoming 5 rounds.

off to 16th ASEAN+ Age Group 2015, Singapore.

Flight was delayed by around 1 hour and CP only arrive at NTU around 4.30pm.
>>>>>>>
CP is off with Mum via flight to the 16th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championship in Singapore.
He was supposed to play for KL in the Boys U12 Individual event in the MSSM in Pulau Pinang. However, a clash of dates prevented that.

Its the second time that CP is participating in the ASEAN Championship after last year's  event in Macau where the Malaysian U8 team won the Bronze medal in the Blitz event. This will Be his 6th International assignment after Sri Lanka (9th Asian Schools), U.A.E.(World Youth), Macau S.A.R. (15th ASEAN+ Age Group) and twice to Taiwan (8th Asian Dragons & 10th Asian Schools). He was Supposed to go to South Africa last year for the World Youth but ebola put a brake on things.

All the Best to the cHEss pIRATE.

off to MSSM Pulau Pinang 2015

MELAKA MSSM 2015 Squad Centralised Training Ends Today

The Final day of Melaka's MSSM 2015 Squad Centralised Training ends today.

The day begun with a Closed Invitational Rapid of 5 rounds between all players, a few Teachers and an invited player. However, only 4 rounds were played today with the Final round to be played in Pulau Pinang. hAnA is among the undefeated players going into the Final Round in PP.

After the place were cleaned up and dorms emptied, speeches were made by Cikgu Zaidi, the Contingent Leader and Cikgu Bakri. Jerseys and Tradksuits were handed out to the Players with the Youngest player being 8-year old Arif Danish (a pity that CP wont be playing against him!).

Finally, Players who'll be playing either individual or team events were named.
Players and teams targetted to be medalists were also named. This will be the second state team that hAnA will be representing for in chess after playing for KL in the 2012 MSSM Finals in Kuala Terengganu.

All the Best to hAnA and the Melaka Team in the upcoming MSSM Pulau Pinang 2015.