LUCK SAVES ALIF AND TUMPAT TEAM

Muhammad Alif from Tumpat

 

Muhammad Alif survived the final day misfortune which happened to his unlucky friends from the Tumpat team and clinched the final place in the under 18 male category. It has been a long time desire for the plucky lad as last year was the closest he has been to be a Kelantan representative. It was all down to hard work in training and, of course, a little luck.

PPD TUMPAT MAINTAINED 2 STATE REPS

At last, the state selection ended. PPD Tumpat, like last year, managed to send two of its players to represent the state in the MSSM. The players are:

1. Wan Muhammad Zikri Wan Mohammad (Boys Under 18 Category)
2. Wan Nur Fatin Athirah (Girls Under 12 Category)

The selection, held at MRSM Kuala Krai from 5 - 7 May 2011, saw 64 participants in every categories totaling to 384 junior chess players competing to be the state representatives. The Kota Bharu contingent returned home with the most golds - 5 from 6 categories! Even though the contingent was divided into two - Northern KB and Southern KB - with 12 winners overall, it did not deter the fact that the other contingents still have a lot of catching up to do. Kuala Krai was next with 9 winners in all categories, while Pasir Puteh came third with 5.

1. Kuala Krai (9)
2. Northern Kota Bharu (8)
3. Pasir Puteh (5)
4. Southern Kota Bharu (4)
5. Pasir Mas (4)
6. Tumpat (2)
7. Machang (2)
8. Tanah Merah (1)
9. Jeli (1)

Uniquely, the Boys Under 18 Category saw 6 participants from 6 different contingents, whereas the Boys Under 12 Category was dominated by Kuala Krai. Gua Musang and Bachok did not have a single representative. The names of the winners:

Boys Under 18

1. Wan Mohd Adli (KBU)
2. Mohd Fadhil (PPH)
3. Wan Mohd Zikri (TPT)
4. Nik Muhd Sharifudin (MCH)
5. Fadhil Aiman (KKR)
6. Muhammad Syahmi (JEL)

Boys Under 15

1. Wan Mohd Amirul (KBU)
2. Muhd Ikmal Hakimie (PMS)
3. Alif Omar (PPH)
4. Wan Muhd Imran (KBU)
5. Muhammad Adam Hafiz (KBU)
6. Muhamad Izani (KKR)

Boys Under 12

1. Nik Muhd Haziq (KKR)
2. Muhammad Syakir (KKR)
3. Mohd Firdaus (KKR)
4. Abdul Manaf (KKR)
5. Muhamad Akram (MCH)
6. Muhamad Irfan (KBU)

Girls Under 18

1. Wan Aemellia Elisha (KBS)
2. Ayu Anabihah (TMH)
3. Nabilah (KBS)
4. Wan Zarif Sofea (PPH)
5. Norazlisa (KKR)
6. Aisyah Nabilah (PMS)

Girls Under 15

1. Siti Nur Afiqah (KBU)
2. Najihah (PPH)
3. Laila Husna (KBS)
4. Nur Ain Syahirah (PPH)
5. Nik Nur Ain Sabrina (KBU)
6. Nur Hanis Natasha (KBS)

Girls Under 12

1. Nur Fatini (KBU)
2. Nurfatin Aisyah (PMS)
3. Nik Nur Nadzirah (KKR)
4. Wan Nur Fatin Athirah (TPT)
5. Nik Anisy Syakirah (KKR)
6. Nur Anis Fazliyana (PMS)

Pictures from the event:

The Tumpat Team



Sending a full force in each category, the Tumpat team managed to make the other contingent run for their money. The targets were Wan Nurhazirah (Girls Under 18), Wan Muhammad Zikri (Boys Under 18), Abdul Haiyi (Boys Under 18) and Wan Nur Fatin Athirah (Girls Under 12).

Heartbreak for darling, she only managed to get 7th in her category. She won her games before losing to Aemellia, the eventual champion, in Round 4. Then, she drew all her games before winning her last. Finishing 5.5 points with the strongest tie break did not ensure her a place in the state team.

While Abdul Haiyi only managed to finish 11th when he lost to a player from Machang in Round 7. Although he won his last game, 5.5 points were never enough to secure a top 6 finish.

NEW YEAR, OLD CHESS, ANY IMPROVEMENT?

My new year resolutions include trainings and studying in order to improve my chess positional and tactical skills, not to win tournaments, but mainly to teach my students better chess. I will regard my target this year as a success if three of my students make it to the national level (last year's coaching in Gua Musang resulted with two national level players, improving on the year before that with only one player). It is achievable, even though I have yet to know the level of chess players in my new school at Tumpat. Moreover, it is highly motivating to find that the world number one in the chess scene today is the 19-year-old Magnus Carlsen (picture above), who confided in an interview that despite all the glamorous attention he received, he is still your average teenager. So, what is the difference between our teenagers with this humble champion, apart from he is coached by the great Garry Kasparov? Chess environment, of course! Lucky for us the national chess calendar is full of tournaments, despite the economic meltdown predicted for the year 2010. Some of the tournaments for the students are National Age Group Championship in March, National Scholastic Age Group Championship in May, and National Rapid Age Group Tournament in September (all these tournaments are subject to change). Happy new year, young chess players!

ASAT KELANTAN 2009

SMK Dato' Perdana

Venue: SMK Dato' Perdana, Bachok, Kelantan
Date: 19th June 2009
Time: 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Format: 5 rounds Swiss system

Wan Mohd Alif from PPD Tumpat and Noraihan from PPD Kuala Krai conquered the ASAT Chess Competition held today at SMK Dato' Perdana, Bachok. Wan Mohd Alif won all his games, including against the more fancied Mohd Fadhil from PPD Kota Bharu. The main highlight of the competition was in Wan Mohd Alif's game against Mohd Fadhil where his opponent blundered away a rook in a winning position. Surviving from the scare, he won against his last opponent to clinch the title. Meanwhile, Noraihan needed her last game to take the throne. In a more competitive field, she lost a game against Halimatul Saadiah from PPD Gua Musang in round 4 before winning her last game. Another PPD Gua Musang player, Khairul Anwar, failed to make his presence felt when he only managed to win two games and lost the rest.

Personally, I hope that the two Kelantan representatives will play their hearts' out in the upcoming national ASAT which will be held in Perak.

Boys Category

Girls Category

Khairul Anwar (with Wan Mohd Alif sitting to his left)

Halimatul Saadiah (with Noraihan sitting to her right)

In related story, two chess players from Jeli did not show up at the competition because of an accident. Mohd Rosdi Ahmad and Norazlina Che Hassan were involved in a head-on collision between a Proton Iswara and a Perodua Viva, where the two students were in with their two teachers en route to Bachok for the ASAT Chess Competition. The Proton Iswara driver, Chong Lian Hee, died on the spot while the others suffered serious and minor injuries. The other players were shocked to read the Sinar Harian newspaper, which ran the story on Friday, at the tournament hall (notice that in the first and second pictures there is an empty seat for each category).

You can read the story here.

COLIN SURVIVES MARATHON, LOSES ONLY ONCE

Thanks for the mention in your blog. The final number of games played was 151. I won 116 games, drew 34 and lost 1. My playing performance was 88%. The match lasted 9 hours 50 mins. The actual number of players was 137. Thanks again.

This is the results for Colin Madhavan's record breaking simul. As mentioned by him personally above, he lost only once from 151 games. Even though I did not fully understand what he said, but we should salute this guy who has a very strong stamina. I myself did simuls when I was at the university (my best there was 15 in a go, beating all of them, university teammates) and in central trainings for the Gua Musang MSSM team (36 students, lost 1), I knew that it was a very demanding task, testing your body to the limit, especially your legs.

ASAT GUA MUSANG RESULTS

Here is the full results for ASAT Gua Musang 2009. Complete with tie-breaker taken from ASAT Kebangsaan. Congratulations to the winners! Khairul Anwar and Halimatu, please do your best at ASAT Negeri in Bachok.

Boys


Girls

ASAT GUA MUSANG

I think it's about time I teach them how to use Swiss Perfect. As for now, I am the only one in Gua Musang who knows how to use this pairing programme. Even though I am sick, I do the pairing from my home, and send the result and the pairing using SMS. However, this will not stop PPD Gua Musang from having a successful ASAT Chess. Hopefully next time when I am not available, somebody will step up as the arbiter.

Venue: SK Limau Kasturi 1
Time: 9.00 - 12.00pm
Format: Swiss 3 Rounds

ASAT boys

Ahmad Wafi (SMK Paloh)
Md Faizzuddin (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
Md Zul Husni (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
Che Md Sallehuddin (SMK Chiku 2)
Md Khairul Anwar (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
Md Zaidi (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 1)
Afik Affendi (SMK Sungai Asap)
Tn Md Shafiqie (SMK Bandar Chiku)

ASAT girls

Norhayati (SMK Paloh)
Safinah (SMK Sungai Asap)
Norlaila (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
Halimatu (SMK Sungai Asap)
Nurhayati (SMK Chiku 2)
Syazana (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
Nor Syafini (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 1)
Siti Nurain (SMK Bandar Chiku)

Kelantan Girls under-15 Team

GIRL UNDER-15 CHECKMATES THEM ALL

Congratulations for the Kelantan girl under-15 team for retaining their gold medals in the recently concluded MSSM Chess held in the state of Selangor. The tournament, which saw the host state as the overall champions, was held at Goldcourse Hotel in Klang from 16th to 20th March.

The girls are:

1. Wan Zarif Sofea Sazali

2. Wan Aemillia Elisha Wan Azzlan (picture right)

3. Laila Husna Sahadi -Best Board

4. Nabillah Muhamad Najib




Under-12 teams (boys and girls) also produced several achievements:

1. Mohd Lokman Mat Daud (picture left, from Gua Musang district) - Best 3rd Board U12 Boys

2. Siti Nur Afiqah Haslam - Best 3rd Board U12 Girls
3. Wan Ainul Basirah - 9th Place U12 Girls Individual

Kelantan Team

Overall, Selangor is the champions, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Penang while Kelantan only managed to get 6th place.

For full results, please check masterchess91 and MSSMKL blogs, while the contingent pictures from Terengganu Chess website. You can also use these links for each categories:

Under-18 Boys (team, individual)
Under-18 Girls (team, individual)
Under-15 Boys (team, individual)
Under-15 Girls (team, individual)
Under-12 Boys (team, individual)
Under-12 Girls (team, individual)

CONTROVERSY.. CONTROVERSY...

Chess=life, and life=controversy, so chess=controversy. And the recently concluded MSSM chess tournament in Jeli is not free from it. Especially on the last day, where tension was at its fullest; where everybody wants to win his game; where every coach wants his charges to succeed; controversies were bound to happen. Actually, one particular controversial accident happened before the last round in the girl under-15 category between team A player and team B girl where the team B player accused her opponent of getting the advantage by pushing the button of the clock with different hands. It became worse when the team B coach intervened as the arbiter of the category, who is from team A district, only gave a warning when the coach insisted there should be a time-deduction penalty. The arbiter walked away from the table, leaving it for his partner, who is from team C, to resolve to matter. Worst still, he left it to another arbiter, apparently from team A also, to solve the problem. The arbiter gave another warning and the team B player continued playing and eventually lost the game, refused to shake hands with her opponent, slammed the scoresheet in front of the arbiter, and walked away crying. The coach also refused to shake hands with the arbiter afterwards, still insisting that the result dented his player's chance to be among the winners.

Now, we take a step back. Let's think how the controversy happened, or should have been avoided. The team A girl had actually used both her hands from the start of the game, mainly due to her ignorance of the rule, but the team B girl did not say anything. When her queen was removed from the board, she started blaming the team A girl of using both hands. Is this because she was taught to play 'dirty' like this by her coach? One could only speculate. Surely sportsmanships are not highly regarded today, as what matters most is winning the game.

GUA MUSANG TEAM IN JELI

Here are more pictures taken in MSSM Jeli, especially involving the Gua Musang team. Enjoy!

Ahmad Wafi (left) and Mohd Lokman

WAFI AND LOKMAN WILL GO NATIONALS

The results:

Boys under-12

1. Alif Omar (PPD Pasir Puteh)
2. Noor Hisyam (PPD Kuala Krai)
3. Mohd Lokman (PPD Gua Musang)
4. Ahmad Amar Aiman (PPD Pasir Mas)
5. Ikmal Hakimi (PPD Pasir Mas)
6. Ihab Fitri (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
27. Mohd Ikram (PPD Gua Musang)
29. Mohd Afiq (PPD Gua Musang)
40. Fakhri Ariffin (PPD Gua Musang)
58. Ahmad Muzammil (PPD Gua Musang)
59. Mohd Shahrul Nazli (PPD Gua Musang)

Boys under-15

1. Mohd Ahza Daisam (PPD Machang)
2. Ahmad Hafiza (PPD Kuala Krai)
3. Ahmad Wafi (PPD Gua Musang)
4. Wan Muhd Alif (PPD Tumpat)
5. Mohd Fadhil (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
6. Wan Mohd Aqli (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
24. Mohd Khairul Azman (PPD Gua Musang)
32. Mohd Faizzuddin (PPD Gua Musang)
33. Mohd Zulhusni (PPD Gua Musang)
44. Nor Arrashid (PPD Gua Musang)
48. Mohd Firdaus (PPD Gua Musang)

Boys under-18

1. Ahmad Zulhilmi (PPD Kota Bharu Utara)
2. Mohd Alif Fitri (PPD Machang)
3. Mohd Abhar Akmal (PPD Kuala Krai)
4. Hammad Burhanuddin (PPD Kuala Krai)
5. Zulhashime (PPD Machang)
6. Mohd Noor al-Maarif (PPD Kota Bharu Utara)
7. Mohd Helmy (PPD Gua Musang)
30. Zulkifli (PPD Gua Musang)
33. Mohd Ikhram (PPD Gua Musang)
36. Saiful Azhar (PPD Gua Musang)
46. Mohd Khalimun (PPD Gua Musang)
49. Mohd Khairul Anwar (PPD Gua Musang)

Girls under-12

1. Siti Nur Afiqah (PPD Kuala Krai)
2. Nur Hanis Natasha (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
3. Fatih Nur Sahariah (PPD Kuala Krai)
4. Najihah (PPD Pasir Puteh)
5. Wan Nur Farzana (PPD Machang)
6. Wan Ainul Basirah (PPD Kota Bharu Utara)
13. Wan Nur Farzana (PPD Gua Musang)
25. Nur Anis Nabila (PPD Gua Musang)
38. Noratikah (PPD Gua Musang)
55. Siti Nur Haziqah (PPD Gua Musang)
60. Nur Syazwani (PPD Gua Musang)
62. Siti Nur Illyana (PPD Gua Musang)

Girls under-15

1. Wan Aemellia Elisha (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
2. Laila Husna (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
3. Norazlisa (PPD Kuala Krai)
4. Wan Zarif Sofea (PPD Pasir Puteh)
5. Nur Ain Syahirah (PPD Pasir Puteh)
6. Nabilah (PPD Kota Bharu Selatan)
10. Safinah (PPD Gua Musang)
26. Nur Lidaini (PPD Gua Musang)
30. Nurul Ain Farahanim (PPD Gua Musang)
33. Siti Nuraini (PPD Gua Musang)
35. Norlaila (PPD Gua Musang)
45. Maizatul Nadia (PPD Gua Musang)

Girls under-18

1. Nur Aifaa (PPD Machang)
2. Nurul Wahida Atira (PPD Pasir Puteh)
3. Malihah Athirah (PPD Kota Bharu Utara)
4. Nor Safura (PPD Kuala Krai)
5. Nuraihan (PPD Kuala Krai)
6. Nur Elisa (PPD Pasir Puteh)
16. Halimatu Saadiah (PPD Gua Musang)
19. Noor Hayati (PPD Gua Musang)
22. Siti Rokiah (PPD Gua Musang)
45. Nurul Asmaniza (PPD Gua Musang)
52. Roslaila (PPD Gua Musang)
56. Nurhayati (PPD Gua Musang)

WILL GUA MUSANG TEAM CONQUER JELI? episode 2

The contingent took off from Pondok Moden early in the morning and arrived half an hour later at the tournament venue. The Anjung Bestari hall was quite big to ensure that all the odd 380 participants feel comfortable to produce high quality games and to focus solely on chess, not other trivial matters. There will be three games for the first day, two games on Friday (due to Friday prayer) and two games will be played the last day. The team started the day with two players getting the full marks (Helmy in the boys under 18 and Noorhayati in the girls under 18) while others with mixed results. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more joy to the team. Overall, the Kota Bharu and Kuala Krai players dominated the standings, followed by the Machang and Pasir Puteh players.

Some pictures from day 1 of the tournament:

WILL GUA MUSANG TEAM CONQUER JELI? episode 1

Alhamdulillah, 8 cars filled with 36 students who represent PPD Gua Musang arrived safely in Jeli for the MSSM Chess Tournament held at SMK Jeli starting from tomorrow until this Saturday. As a team from a far, far away place, we had to be here a day earlier and lodged at Pondok Moden in Bukit Nangka, 20 kilometres away from the tournament venue. There were three PPDs stayed there - PPD Gua Musang, PPD Kuala Krai and PPD Tumpat. It was a quite comfortable place without water interruption, complete with a hall (dining hall with a stage) and a surau. After a little training session, the team went to sleep for a much needed rest.

GUA MUSANG PLAYERS SHINE IN JEREK

Alhamdulillah, we just finished our selection for students to represent the district of Gua Musang in the upcoming MSSM chess tournament in Jeli later this month. 36 students from various schools made up the 6 categories consisting of boys and girls under-12, under-15 and under 18. From my observation, I found that the standard of play among these students have increased--less stalemates and more spectacular moves happened in the 3 days tournament. What made this tournament more memorable was the participation of a physically disabled student who moved the pieces with his feet. Even though he did not make the final cut, we must applaud his efforts and dedication. Last year's state representative, Md Lokman of boys under -12, also managed to cruise through. The full list of players:

Boys under 18:
- Mohd Helmy (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
- Saiful Azhar (SMK Chiku 2)
- Mohd Khalimun (SMK Paloh)
- Zulkifli (SMK Chiku 2)
- Mohd Khairul Anuar (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
- Mohd Ikhram (SMK Tengku Bendahara)

Boys under 15:
- Mohd Zulhusni (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
- Ahmad Wafi (SMK Paloh)
- Nor Arrashid (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
- Mohd Khairul Azman (SMK Tengku Indra Petra 2)
- Mohd Faizzuddin (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
- Mohd Firdaus (SMK Chiku 2)

Boys under 12:
- Mohd Lokman (SK Paloh 1&2)
- Mohd Afiq (SK Chiku 3)

- Mohd Shahrul Nazli (SK Limau Kasturi 2)
- Ahmad Muzammil (SK Sri Wangi)
- Mohd Ikram (SK Chiku 3)

- Fakhri Ariffin (SK Sri Wangi)

Girls under 18:
- Noorhayati (SMK Paloh)
- Siti Rokiah (SMK Paloh)
- Nurhayati (SMK Chiku 2)
- Nurul Asmaniza (SMK Sungai Asap)
- Halimatu Saadiah (SMK Sungai Asap)
- Roslaila (SMK Tengku Bendahara)

Girls under 15:
- Safinah (SMK Sungai Asap)
- Nur Lidaini (SMK Chiku 2)
- Siti Nuraini (SMK Paloh)
- Nor Laila (SMK Tengku Bendahara)
- Maizatul Nadia (SMK Sungai Asap)

- Nurul Ain Farahanim (SMK Sungai Asap)

Girls under 12:
- Wan Nur Farzana (SK Paloh 1&2)
- Nursyazwani (SK Paloh 1&2)
- Siti Norhaziqah (SK Paloh 1&2)
- Nur Anis Nabila (SK Paloh 1&2)
- Noratikah (SK Limau Kasturi 2)
- Siti Nur Illyana (SK Chiku 3)

Below are pictures from the event:

HOW TO COACH YOUNGSTERS

I am the coach for my school, and also the head coach for the Gua Musang team for MSSM, but I am still finding the best approach to coach these youngsters. No doubt that there are many potentials in the school team, and many more will be discovered when the district tournament is over next week, but all these will account to nothing if I could not find the best practical way to improve their skills and techniques. Last year I tried to instill everything from the opening to the ending part of the game, but still the younger ones, especially under-12s, made unnecessary moves, or moved against all that been taught. This year, with limited time for the central training compared to last year, I will try to focus only on what I think is necessary for their development. Moreover, I will try to personally coach only several who I think have the most potentials to make any inroads in the state championship.