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.

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:

CHESS ACTIVITIES MSSM

The dates of chess tournaments have been confirmed. The district selection will be on the 9th - 11th of February at SMK Tengku Bendahara, Jerek, while the dates for state selection will be on the 19th - 24th of February in Jeli. After that, the national championship will be held in Selangor on the 16th - 20th of March 2009. I am training my charges so that at least one of them will represent the state for the national championship, although I don't mind if any of the district players (also under my charges as the district head coach) gets the call. Last year, one of the students from Gua Musang district manage to fly the state flag at the national championship in Melaka.