Minister want sports to be given priority in schools.

Ref: Here.

Will chess be a beneficiary of this "new" policy? Not according to this feedback. Here.

I believe the key issue lies in the selection of players to represent the Country. Are we sending out our best and strongest players well trained, well prepared and well supported? Or are we sending out players from the failed trainers? Ref: Here.

I am not even sure if it is what our chess community thinks that will be the determining factor. I think it is what MOE, NSC and the University thinks that will be the deciding factor. But I do think that if we make a clear stand on this, it will be a good first step.

And that is why I have argued so strongly for clear, unbiased written selection criteria. And clear implementation clean of manipulation. And this process must be open and transparent.

What is MCF doing to ensure that all our investments into our players and for the genuine development of chess is not washed down the drain?

See these posts to see how it can be if we get this right. Here. And Here.

Some good questions raised by Khairy.

Ref: Here.

Asking who is responsible is a good start.

Khairy voices opinion on sports.

Ref: Here.

This is a good dialogue, isn't it?

Here.

A King's chessboard.

Ref: Here.

Amazing what the chessboard of a real King is worth.

Parenting your kids to success.

Ref: Here.

I think this is something that parents, officials and trainers need to look at to enable us to foster a culture of excellence in Chess. Far too often the result is burn out and psychologically damaged players. This article can clue you in on the result of a negative culture.

The players are the victims.

Ref: Here.

While it is true that the players themselves carry some responsibility, I think the vast bulk of the responsibility lies with the Associations. If the Associations reward back door dealings; have no proper rules, then many players will attempt the shortcuts or have no real way to succeed. Caught between a rock and a hard place. Improve your chess and risk getting banned when you become a threat or work your own deal and not have the time and energy for chess improvement. Both efforts require focus and dedication.

Note: We have the Jimmy method as an example in Malaysia to see how much effort and work is required for the back door engineering.

I think by now most of us are convinced that MCF needs a change in leadership or we will completely disappear from the chess radar in a few more years given the speed of improvement of our neighbours.

But something still puzzles me. Why is Fide not doing anything to stop this? If Fide wants Chess to be included in the Olympics then action must be taken now or we may also find future disqualifications in chess. Or this may even be used as a reason to exclude Chess from the Olympics.

2 types of competition.

Ref: Here.

Healthy competition is rule based. It includes collaboration. It is about building something. It is about unblocking ourselves to be the best that we can be. And with each goal achieved then one's confidence is increased. It requires a fleeting commodity called courage. You are called again and again to be courageous and to retain your own personal power. It builds character.

Unhealthy competition is about tearing down. It builds nothing. It's about spreading lies and sabotage. It's about collusion. With unhealthy competition you will find that you are in the same spot 30 years down the road. Why? Because the moment anyone tries to build, someone else will try to tear it down. There are no rules in this type of competition. It's about keeping the other down as opposed to raising yourself up. Ergo, the glass ceiling.

Reminder. This is part of what you should be learning from chess. Here.

Note: There is one revealing characteristic about healthy competition. Information is not hidden. All is revealed. Why? Because with the same available information, some will learn and some will not. It's all about learning and the speed that you acquire knowledge. This is the antithesis of small mindedness; of prejudice and bigotry.

And from this environment our GM will come.

The mind of a champion.

Ref: Here.

He is able to still his mind and to hold on to his game plan and trust in his training. He is able to keep strong emotions at bay and to trust his strategy and reasoning. And he can only do that if his confidence remains intact despite the pressure.

That ability has to be horned through tough training. You are not born with it.

Not giving in to excuses and blaming others for the loss of our own self control.

That comes from being able to solve problems and continuously improving.

We will not have that so long as the money is drained from our associations. So long as we attack our own players or try to ban the strong ones.

So we need to speak up and ask our association reps to vote in the leadership that can give us those conditions. That there are proper guidelines. That associations do what they are supposed to do and private academies/organisers do what they should be able to do.

It is possible.

Here.

A strong faith, self believe and a willingness to pay the price and anything is possible.

Why was this coach fired?

Here.

He is just ranting and raving. Isn't that normal? So why would anyone be upset by that? Does it demoralise the team? Which is louder? The one who rants and rave or the one who quietly tells you the truth? The one is louder on the outside but the other rings loud in the mind, maybe? Or is the lie more comforting?

Could the answer be that the one that rants and rave is destroying and the one who quietly tells you the truth is actually building!!! Can you tell the difference? Both seems loud right?

Or have we gotten so used to the ranting and raving, it is normal for us? And it is the quiet truth now that seems so loud.

Is this what we need to build our own players?

Here.