SEA games chess results for Malaysia.

Ref: Here.

Yes, we got a bronze medal. But really there is a question here. That question is what chess event did we get a medal in? I am informed that this medal is won in Myammar chess, a game only played by a couple of Countries. It is not in International chess which is what MCF was formed to promote and develop in Malaysia.

A wild conjecture. Since if other Countries don't play at this event then it cannot be in the SEA games, they will need willing victims to play so that they can grab more golds yes? I mean it won't look right if Myammar was to win all the medals if only Myammar was playing no? So I think it's fair for them to donate a bronze to us for our generosity. Or do you think that's too much of a conspiracy theory?

There is another question of course if we look even deeper. For the players that went to SEA games to play Myammar chess, would they get a certificate of merit of playing for Malaysia? Was there a selection or was this a side deal? Would those players now be able to use those certs for their further education application to Universities? Would their certs say Myammar chess or just chess? Can be misleading no?

And what would happen if the Universities were to find out that our chess certs can be misleading? Ref: Here.

And finally is this fair to the real chess players that MCF was formed to develop?

Observations and learning from Langkawi.

I think one of the most glaring observation from Langkawi is that Malaysian chess has gone up a lot in the last couple of years. Almost gone are the days of a few easy wins in many tournaments. With the advent of the internet many players are at least strong in the normal lines they play. So this again begets the question in my mind if some of our senior players are competent anymore.

We were lucky to room with Nelson Villeneuva and I asked him about how they did selection over in the Philippines. This is what he told me. I can't remember the detail of the second level selection process but this is the gist.

There is an open tournament where all non titled players compete. The top 30 gets to play at the Masters level where they compete with IM's, FM's and NM's. Here the detail is a little fuzzy but I think the top 10 then moves on to compete with the GM's.

And then the top 6 gets to represent Phillipines at the Olympiads. I see their system as all about chess with no respect for titles if you cannot compete anymore. And everyone has a fair shake. Even if you have no rating but play strong chess.

How does this compare with our current system?

I am not sure if you remember this but I wrote earlier that their Juniors compete for 15 rounds, Standard time to earn the right to play in Asean.

My belief is that if we even adopt some of those measures and stop trying to have selection to preserve those that cannot compete anymore then we will see an almost immediate improvement in our ability to compete overseas. Just that alone can change our fortunes. We have many strong players but we have also created a bottleneck. Remove that and we will see Malaysia truly boleh.

Can you see that too?

FGM comments on Zhuo Ren's inclusion into Malaysian Masters.

Ref: Here.

It is important that the selection criteria of MCF be properly respected and not only be fair but also seen to be fair. It was the perceived unfair past practices of MCF that lead to the serious revolt from the Malaysian chess community and I hope the new MCF council will take note of our concerns.

Peter argues that Zhuo Ren has been included for 2 reasons. The first is that his exams clashes with National Close and the other is that he has been covered by IM Goh. Ref: Here.

My questions are these. If the selection is based on the top 6 of the active list plus current NM, ref: here, then were the players ahead of Zhuo Ren contacted and given the right of refusal? This is important to show that there is no favoritism or personal agendas in the selection.

His reason that Zhuo Ren's exams clashes with National Close also does not carry much water. I was informed that the dates for National Close has not been confirmed and it was speculated that it may fall sometime in early June as sufficient time needs to be given for a National event and the next Council meeting is after Selangor Open. So how does Peter know that the dates will clash?

Surely we must be past the stage of PR campaigns for National selection by now? Hasn't any lessons been learnt from the Li Tian PR campaign and the uproar it caused?

Yes, there are many strong players that may be missed out by the narrow selection criteria as it now stands. The best way to make it more representative would be to increase the numbers allowed to qualify from National Close. This way we will probably see the strongest Malaysian Masters and also the strongest National Close ever as well.

I hope that the new MCF Council will take note of this. Peter's inclusion of Zhuo Ren could very well be perceived as an attempt to perpetuate the back doors for hidden agendas.

Thank you for your time MCF, in hearing our concerns.

Note: The game on IM Goh's site is against a 1800. See here. It's not even a high quality game is it? There are only 2 GM's there so of course he is just behind them. Doesn't this look like another attempt to hoodwink the Malaysian chess community again?

If Peter's logic holds, then can we also send in a game against a 1900, cover the game on FGM blog and then cite that our exams will also clash with the unknown dates for National Close to be pre-selected into the Masters? Surely a game against a 1900 trumps a 1800?

And then what about Sumant, who is the first Junior to enter the senior squad by beating Mok and drawing with Yee Weng instead of taking the back door? Doesn't that count too?

FGM comments on Peter's post.

Ref: Here.

Dear Peter,

Your interpretation of why you are only invited as a lowly match arbiter by ACF is interesting. That means a floor arbiter right? You assume that there is a back door and that only speaks of your own paradigm. May I present you with another possible interpretation?

I wonder if you have noted that its part of a martial arts event in Korea. Is it possible that the organisers are looking for people with fighting spirit to reflect positively on their event? So maybe they are telling you that they have little respect for you. Have you ever considered that it may be about who you are rather than the back doors? Maybe they don't respect back door artists and people who bans without grounds. Maybe they just don't trust you to do a good job.

Even here within the Malaysian chess community we are confused as to who actually trained Li Tian. Did you play a part or are you just riding on his parade? Can I make a suggestion here? Why don't you focus on bringing up KLCA and show us what you can do at the State level first before you aspire for National posts?

And if people can see that you can do a good job without banning players stronger than the ones you can produce maybe they will give you a shot at National and then International exposure. You think?

As a trainer why don't you focus on Roshan? Develop your own players instead of borrowing from the work of others. We look forward to meeting your players as well as Li Tian at National Junior. If your player/s win that may help to lift up your image a little as a trainer.

And if you still want to be known as a strong chess player, may I suggest National Close? Come and dazzle us with your chess knowledge Peter. Don't do a Jimmy. Nobody believes in him anymore. We will also come along to keep you guys company and hope that you may teach us a thing or two on chess. Do try to bring Jimmy along too if he is not too nervous.

Push for National Close and National Juniors to publish the bulletins as well as the cross tables so the whole world can see your accomplishments. You can do your tai chi demonstration or nail bending demonstration or both if you feel the need. Ref: Here. But win is on the board by Fide rules. Agreed?

I think that will do a lot more for you and Jimmy to regain some respect here and within the International Chess community as well. You see Peter, we are very worried that you may embarrass us the way you are going about things now and so we certainly don't want you anywhere near MCF. Do it on the outside first. Show us your fighting spirit on the chess board in Malaysia first. Bring up KLCA first. Bring up your own players first. We suspect you are all mouth and no knowledge. We suspect you and Jimmy are very scared of competition. And chess is about competition is it not? Prove us wrong. I have shown you how it can be done if you accept my suggestions. So see you guys there ok?

Thank you for your time Peter. Have a good day.

World Youth- Interim report.

This is the half way mark compiled by Peter. Here.

From here we see that we have a rising star in U8 Goh Jie Yee. So the first question must be who is her trainer? Results. That's what we want, not inflated self opinion. Of course as Peter pointed out, at that age group some accidents can happen so how far she will travel from here will be based on the few factors mentioned below.

One will be the technical input of a trainer that is in touch with the game of chess in today's world. Lets face facts, Jimmy and Peter just doesn't cut it anymore. Both of them would be trashed even at the U15 level in today's world standard. Peter most likely won't even get 3 points at this stage. That is the primary reason why the vast majority of parents of national juniors use foreign trainers and online resources. At least they are current. My personal belief is to use different trainers according to the players needs which will differ from their particular giftings and their stage of growth.

Peter says he respects the opinions of parents. Words. But his action belies his true opinion. His actions show that he thinks that only people like him and Jimmy can talk about chess. And of course I disagree and then he wants to ban my son against the rules of chess as stated in the Constitution of our Federation.

The second factor that will determine whether Jie Yee will progress further will be in the development of mental strength and deeper reasoning skills. Read here. So again the people to avoid will be trainers who are already defeated mentally, is unable to apply reasoning but instead rely on breaking the rules, belligerence and gangster methods.

The third and final barrier will be of course be at the Federation level. Do we support the players who work hard and train to improve their chess or do we support the back room boys. I say boys because this is more apparent with the guys as apposed to the girls although I have heard of strong chess girls who have disappeared from the radar out of sheer neglect. But in the boy's category we have more blatant discrimination and cheating. False selection, players brought in from outside the criteria and players bypassed even if they qualify from the stated criteria.

So many barriers and certain people with vested interests working against our own players. I hope you can now see the reasons why I say that change must happen in MCF for us to get our own strong International level players. Actually we need more parents of national juniors in our Associations but I place a caveat here. We need parents who will be fair to all our players and not parents who only just look out for their own kids. The parents of our national juniors are by far the biggest investors in Malaysian chess and they actually know more than our outdated trainers because they have invested more thinking into how to bring our juniors forward.

Look at the results again. What has the investment in technical alone brought our older players so far if they have lost their fighting spirit along the way? And who did this to them? Is it the parents according to Peter or is it what I mentioned above? The shame of it all. And he even has the audacity to try to divert the blame to us. Ref: Here. What are you doing there Peter? Ref: Here.

What was your stated aim and goal? Ref: Here. Do you not even have the fortitude to honour that?