Friday, February 18, 2011

Najib's new blog

So Najib Wahab has joined into the fun and launched a new blog. First blog by an arbiter/organizer?

He named it Chess Connections. Check it out here. His first few posts are on a hot subject....SELECTION.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr Jimmy, please pass this message to Mr Najib as i cant comment annonymously on his blog. Thanks in advance.


Mr Najib, you sound very optimistic about the selection process, a start will then eventually lead to a more fair and accepted selection. However, one point you are missing is, there is the SEA Games coming up. This event is even more important then the Olympiad, as it is the stepping stone to get Malaysia recognized by OCM. Will you dare risk our selection criteria of 8 top National Closed players (some might be 1900+) to represent the country for this prestigious event? We did incredibly well in the past 2 olympiads (3 bronze(s) in Vietnam 2003, missing a silver in man standard and 3 IM norms in Philipines 2005, while missing bronze in a few event) I would suggest Malaysia choose the top and best players (not to be biased) to go all out for at least 1 medal. This event is too great for exposure, maybe you can keep that selection for less "prestige" event (what i mean is we dont have to go through OCM) i.e Olympiad, Asian Cities etc.

Anonymous said...

correction past 2 Sea Games not Olympiads

Jimmy Liew said...

No need to pass anything, i'm sure najib comes here quite often. interesting angle i must say.

SomeDaysLikeThese said...

Hi Anonymous
I am optimistic that the selection process will mature over time. The way I see it, whilst a good result in SEA Games may get the support of OCM now, a proper selection process, development process, direction, goals and objectives, and achieving them are more important, if not as important. A proper planning for the future may carry more weight to prove to OCM that chess can flourish in Malaysia than one SEA Games results because.... at the end of it all, you need something that can be sustainable over time. The question that I believe OCM will ask, whether or not we have a good showing at SEA Games would be.... "So, what is your next plan?"

My 2 sen worth...

Najib Wahab

Anonymous said...

First of all, our culture does not permit us to pursue a full time chess career (95% would not), and to play in National Closed without a good prize money (considering taking leaves etc.) will still not be attractive. In order for a good selection process, we need to invite top players or a good prize fund so that our national players can come and play. Isnt it crazy to have tournaments like MAS Open to give away the good cash prizes to foreigners when you cant even hold a good National Event in such a prestige manner. Why does the selection takes place when no top players are playing. The national closed list is more like a National Junior Event plus some other seasoned players. Is this what malaysian want? I am sure many will support your concept because most of our players strenght are below 2200, but that does not mean u are getting all the support you need. Have you tried to talk this out with the national top players? I think this would be fair for them. Let them decide how the selection should take place and whether they are interested for the SEA Games. This is too hasty and i am doubtful it is going to be a success. Over to you, Najib

DAT Chess said...

Agreed... This MAY not be what Malaysian wants but this is reality. Even when there were prize money offered last year, only a handful of the strong players showed up to play. Malaysian Open, KL Open and Penang Open offer good prize money but still, only a handful of top players come and play. Is it because of the high entry fees? Or player can't take leave? Or due to work commitment? Or the players do not have what it takes to take on the "big boys"? If our players can't even compete against the big boys on our home soil, what makes them be able to do abroad?

If the glamor of representing the country is "high on the list" then the money part of it (including whether there is prize money or not, or the high entry fees) should not be an issue. So which is more important - the prize money, or the chance to wear the national jersey? And, if they win the event, will they still go? Can we "contract" them to represent the country? This is a question that you have to answer. Can you "force" the winners to play for the country? Can you tell them that "hey, you have win so much prize money, the least you could do is play for the country"?

It takes a few links to make up a chain and one weak link disrupts the entire chain. Organizers need to create more events to stir the interest, the players need to play to support the events, the sponsors need to come in to assist the event, the officials need to prepare guidelines to manage the events, etc..... There are too many weak links in the chain so the best way is each link to focus on strengthening its own and this will help the other links in return.
Over to you Sir....

Post a Comment