Monday, December 24, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
National Junior: New Champions
The 5th National Junior concluded this morning with new champions crowed in the boys and girls events.
Perakian Fong Yit San won the boys while Tan Li Ting took the girls champion title. While Li Ting win was not in doubt, Yit San could have to go into a play-off with Tan Jun Feng if the latter won his last game. However Jun Feng choose to offer a draw in a R+B vs R+B ending where he had twenty-five minutes to Lim Chuin Kai's ten minutes.
Thus the winners are 1st Fong Yit San, 2nd Tan Jun Feng and Lim Chuin Kai tied for third with Aron Teh and Subramaniam Shreyas.The ratings are quite accurate as two of the three top seeds finished in their ranking spot. The dark horse is Tan Jun Feng who took second from a starting rank of sixth.
In the girls' event, Tan Li Ting came first followed by Nur Najiha and Nithyalakshmi third. Final rankings -
Perakian Fong Yit San won the boys while Tan Li Ting took the girls champion title. While Li Ting win was not in doubt, Yit San could have to go into a play-off with Tan Jun Feng if the latter won his last game. However Jun Feng choose to offer a draw in a R+B vs R+B ending where he had twenty-five minutes to Lim Chuin Kai's ten minutes.
Thus the winners are 1st Fong Yit San, 2nd Tan Jun Feng and Lim Chuin Kai tied for third with Aron Teh and Subramaniam Shreyas.The ratings are quite accurate as two of the three top seeds finished in their ranking spot. The dark horse is Tan Jun Feng who took second from a starting rank of sixth.
In the girls' event, Tan Li Ting came first followed by Nur Najiha and Nithyalakshmi third. Final rankings -
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| Boys Event - Up to 5.5 pointers only |
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| Girls Event |
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| View of top boards. In the foreground Low Jun Jian - Aron Teh |
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| Yit San's winning position with pawn to d6 |
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| Lim Chuin Kai - Tan Jun Feng , draw |
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| Low Jun Jian thinking hard. Accepted a draw in a winning position |
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| Mark Siew analysing Aron's game |
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| Ho Chen Ee (left) lost to Nithyalakshmi (right) |
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| Two participants still battling after most of the games finished. |
Friday, December 21, 2012
National Juniors: Last round decider
Just when we thought the boys event was going to go to Fong Yit San, the unexpected happened. A loss to Aron Teh in the eight round throws the championship wide open.
By my reckoning, no less than five players have chances to take the title. They are Yit San and Tan Jun Feng both with 6.5 points. The others are Aron Teh ,Lim Chuin Kai and Rosli Ahmad Afiq Afyfy with six points.
Aron Teh beat Yit San and Jun Feng won against Lim Kim Siong. Rosli Ahmad Afiq Afyfy shocked the more fancied Mark Siew. I guess the latter have to go for more sharpening.
The pairings for the last round - the title will be decided on the first three boards.
All the five contenders have to go for win. If both Yit San and Jun Feng draws while Aron wins, then there is likely to be a play-off. If Aron wins and Yit San draws and Jun Feng loses, Aron takes the title (having defeated Yit San). If Chuin Kai beats Jun Feng and Yit San loses, than Chuin Kai and Rosli will tie for first. Many possibilities. Exciting round tomorrow, I think I'll drop by.
Over at the girls event, there is zero excitement. The championship has been decided and Tan Li Ting is the winner. Mathematically, Najiha can still catch her, but the personal encounter was won by Li Ting so even if she loses, she should end up the champion.
By my reckoning, no less than five players have chances to take the title. They are Yit San and Tan Jun Feng both with 6.5 points. The others are Aron Teh ,Lim Chuin Kai and Rosli Ahmad Afiq Afyfy with six points.
Aron Teh beat Yit San and Jun Feng won against Lim Kim Siong. Rosli Ahmad Afiq Afyfy shocked the more fancied Mark Siew. I guess the latter have to go for more sharpening.
The pairings for the last round - the title will be decided on the first three boards.
All the five contenders have to go for win. If both Yit San and Jun Feng draws while Aron wins, then there is likely to be a play-off. If Aron wins and Yit San draws and Jun Feng loses, Aron takes the title (having defeated Yit San). If Chuin Kai beats Jun Feng and Yit San loses, than Chuin Kai and Rosli will tie for first. Many possibilities. Exciting round tomorrow, I think I'll drop by.
Over at the girls event, there is zero excitement. The championship has been decided and Tan Li Ting is the winner. Mathematically, Najiha can still catch her, but the personal encounter was won by Li Ting so even if she loses, she should end up the champion.
National Junior: Clear leaders
Fong Yit San has taken a clear lead after beating Amier Hamzah in the six round. He now has a one point lead. No less than nine players have 4.5 pointers amongst them Duncan Lucas Matthew, Mark Siew, Aron Teh, Amier Hamzah, Rosli Ahmad, Mohd Noor and Liew Ken Yew, Tan Jun Feng and Lim Kim Siong. All of them will be fighting for the second placing in the rounds to follow.
Duncan Lucas Matthew will face Yit San tomorrow morning. Can he defeat Yit San to catch up with him?
In the girls section, the lead is similar. Li Ting beat her co-leader, Nithya to take her tally to 5.5 points, one point ahead of Nur Najiha who has 4.5 points. She next meets Kelly Lim who only have 4 points. Unless Li Ting loses this game, she is almost certain of becoming the champion. Najiha meets her sister and have to win to maintain chances of catching Li Ting.
Duncan Lucas Matthew will face Yit San tomorrow morning. Can he defeat Yit San to catch up with him?
In the girls section, the lead is similar. Li Ting beat her co-leader, Nithya to take her tally to 5.5 points, one point ahead of Nur Najiha who has 4.5 points. She next meets Kelly Lim who only have 4 points. Unless Li Ting loses this game, she is almost certain of becoming the champion. Najiha meets her sister and have to win to maintain chances of catching Li Ting.
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| Girls Standings after Round 6 |
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| Boys Standings after Round 6 |
Thursday, December 20, 2012
National Juniors: New leaders emerge
The fifth round of the on-going National Juniors at DAT Chess Connections produced new leaders. Fong Yit San beat Mark Siew to take over the lead. Amier Hamzah joined him with a win over Tan Jun Feng.
Yit San and Amier Hamzah will play each other in the sixth round and this could be a decider if Yit San wins as he will have met most of contenders.
In the girls section, Tan Li Ting beat Nur Najiha in the fifth round. This means that Li Ting have beaten both sisters who have been very successful at the top in women's chess for the past year. I'm quite curious whether Li Ting have made a quantum leap in strength or Najiha and Nabila have reached a plateau in their chess. This does happen and it takes a shift in their chess training or mind-set to continue their progress beyond this.
I'm quite happy to see Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan share the lead with a win over Kelly Lim. She has been around for some time now. It's just that the quartet of Li Ting, Najiha, Nabila and Camilia have been dominating the women's chess scene. It is good to see other girls challenging them and take them out of their comfort zone.
Nithyalakshmi will play Li Ting in the sixth round. Both have already played Nabila and Najiha so this could be a decider for the title. I prefer to see a Nithyalakshmi win to generate more interest in the womens chess scene as she is not considered a favourite for the title. Will there be upsets on the top boards for the sixth round? Let's wait a while to see :)
Yit San and Amier Hamzah will play each other in the sixth round and this could be a decider if Yit San wins as he will have met most of contenders.
In the girls section, Tan Li Ting beat Nur Najiha in the fifth round. This means that Li Ting have beaten both sisters who have been very successful at the top in women's chess for the past year. I'm quite curious whether Li Ting have made a quantum leap in strength or Najiha and Nabila have reached a plateau in their chess. This does happen and it takes a shift in their chess training or mind-set to continue their progress beyond this.
I'm quite happy to see Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan share the lead with a win over Kelly Lim. She has been around for some time now. It's just that the quartet of Li Ting, Najiha, Nabila and Camilia have been dominating the women's chess scene. It is good to see other girls challenging them and take them out of their comfort zone.
Nithyalakshmi will play Li Ting in the sixth round. Both have already played Nabila and Najiha so this could be a decider for the title. I prefer to see a Nithyalakshmi win to generate more interest in the womens chess scene as she is not considered a favourite for the title. Will there be upsets on the top boards for the sixth round? Let's wait a while to see :)
World Mind Games Blindfold results
The women's event was won by China's Hou Yifan.
5th National Junior fifth round starts
The fifth round will have just started this morning. In the boys event, Mark Siew is leading with perfect 4/4. He beat Liew Ken Yew yesterday afternoon. Fong Yit San could only manage to draw with Tan Jun Feng.
The fifth round pairing is crucial for the championship. Mark will play Yit Sand and a win for the former virtually seals the championship for him.
There was a big shock in the girls section. Nur Nabila lost two games in a row, first to Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan and later to team-mate Tan Li Ting. Three players lead going into the fifth round. Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan, Nur Najiha and Tan Li Ting.
Najiha plays Li Ting and this will be another crucial battle for the first place. Read more at Najib's blog here.
The fifth round pairing is crucial for the championship. Mark will play Yit Sand and a win for the former virtually seals the championship for him.
There was a big shock in the girls section. Nur Nabila lost two games in a row, first to Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan and later to team-mate Tan Li Ting. Three players lead going into the fifth round. Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan, Nur Najiha and Tan Li Ting.
Najiha plays Li Ting and this will be another crucial battle for the first place. Read more at Najib's blog here.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
5th National Junior begins
The 5th National Junior is now in progress at the DAT Chess Centre in Jalan Munshi Abdullah. This is a nine round Swiss for both boys and girls. Two rounds are scheduled daily from Tuesday to Friday except the last round which will be played on Saturday morning (22nd December).
This year is one of the weakest. The top three seeds are Fong Yit San, Mark Siew and Aron Teh. The previous year's champion, Mohd Nabil, current National Champion Roshan and Malaysia's best hope for GM, Yeoh Li Tian, as well as Wong Jianwen are not taking part. Lim Zhuo Ren is studying in England as is Sumant Subramaniam who is studying locally. The fight will be between these three top seeds though I do not discount a possibility of a dark horse emerging to challenge them.
Read some of my writings on juniors here
The top two seeds in the girls event are sisters WCM Nur Nabila and WFM Nur Najiha. They will face tough opposition from Olympiad team-mate Tan Li Ting. However newly titled WFM Camilia Johari is not taking part. In my opinion, the tussle for the title of National Junior Master will be amongst these three.
This year is one of the weakest. The top three seeds are Fong Yit San, Mark Siew and Aron Teh. The previous year's champion, Mohd Nabil, current National Champion Roshan and Malaysia's best hope for GM, Yeoh Li Tian, as well as Wong Jianwen are not taking part. Lim Zhuo Ren is studying in England as is Sumant Subramaniam who is studying locally. The fight will be between these three top seeds though I do not discount a possibility of a dark horse emerging to challenge them.
Read some of my writings on juniors here
The top two seeds in the girls event are sisters WCM Nur Nabila and WFM Nur Najiha. They will face tough opposition from Olympiad team-mate Tan Li Ting. However newly titled WFM Camilia Johari is not taking part. In my opinion, the tussle for the title of National Junior Master will be amongst these three.
World Mind Games Blindfold
The World Mind Games continued with the final event, blindfold. Four rounds were played yesterday with the remaining three rounds to be finished off today.
Blindfold is a tough discipline and there will be bound to be blunders and all sorts of errors happening. The most colorful was the game between Karjakin and Chinese GM Ding Liren.
The Chinese GM played very speculatively and sacrificing pawns to open lines against the white king. He had even sacrificed an exchange to reach the position above where he had just played 31...Nef5. This is a gamble since black should be mated after 32. Rxa6+ Kb8 33. Nd7+ Kc7 34. Nb6+ and mate on a8 with the rook.
Karjakin did not see this and played 32. Qxb5?? and was mated after 32... Rg2+ 33. Kh1 Ng3#
Mamedyarov was one of the leaders at the start of the round. He spoiled this position with a free piece.
After 21. Kg1 Rxh4 22. Nf7+ Kg7 23. Nxh6 Kxh6 24. Re1 he has good winning chances due to his more active pieces and potential queen-side passed pawn. Instead
21. Rc4?? Rxc4 0-1
With this win Aronian is the sole leader after four rounds with 3.5 points.
Blindfold is a tough discipline and there will be bound to be blunders and all sorts of errors happening. The most colorful was the game between Karjakin and Chinese GM Ding Liren.
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| Karjakin - Ding |
Karjakin did not see this and played 32. Qxb5?? and was mated after 32... Rg2+ 33. Kh1 Ng3#
Mamedyarov was one of the leaders at the start of the round. He spoiled this position with a free piece.
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| Mamedyarov-Aronian, after 20...Rf4 |
21. Rc4?? Rxc4 0-1
With this win Aronian is the sole leader after four rounds with 3.5 points.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
World Mind Games Blitz results
The World Mind Games in Beijing, China continued with the blitz event which was won by Sergey Karjakin. Alexandra Kosteniuk won on tie-break from Anna Muzychuk who was leading till the final round. Anna took a safe draw. Kosteniuk was gifted a whole rook by her opponent and therefore tied with Anna. The tie-breaks were in the Russian's favor. The next event is the blindfold which will be played today and tomorrow.
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