11 mistakes in chess. The chessWorld.

Happy reading. Go here.

Mental strength.

This is a good one. Read this to find out more. Here.

Review of Terengganu chess with comments.

Here.

Good luck Terengganu. It does sound like healthy competition in action. Healthy competition builds while the other type tears down.

It is also my hope that when Terengganu does produce a National level player capable of winning his/her place on the National squad, that the situation in Malaysian chess would be one where the better player wins their place through clean and fair selection and the back doors will be a thing of the past.

Many States are also pulling out the stops and moving their chess ahead. This is good for Malaysia so long as progress is about chess and not deal making. This is simply because there are really not enough places for the deals and also because with the deals we will be sending out a weak Team. Real chess players and real deal makers. And sometimes only deal makers.

ps: I am tied up with administrative work for the time being and so Part 2 of what is chess designed to teach us, will have to come out later.

This is the way to make our chess strong.

Ref: Here.

We keep learning and we keep trying. We keep fighting to improve ourselves. A few years ago I suggested to MCF that they do some competitor analysis by comparing what we know to what our neighbours know when they travel. Look at their training structure and training methods. Look at their organisational structure compared to ours.

Then we try to improve. A little better. Step by step.

This is not the way. Ref: Here.

And this is also not the way. Here.

They chose to bury their heads in the sand while our neighbours got better and better. That means they don't even have the confidence to take a measure. And then they take offence because FGM and some players do that and try to improve. And all they can do is fix the back doors.

I have travelled to Singapore to see how they train. I went to the Philippines to see how they train. Although my studies are not complete at least I can already see some ways to improve.

What is so offensive about that until they can sack me without grounds instead of allowing me to resign gracefully? And then attack both me and my son publicly by spreading lies and slander?

What is so offensive about healthy competition?

But of course they know this. If we take the measures, if we train hard and improve then we will want the right to compete for a place. We will not negotiate for a place and we will not pre-agree any results. And that may mean that they cannot allow their cronies free entry into the squad anymore. There may be an upset. Then they cannot cari makan and Malaysia may finally have a Team that can fight instead of embarrassing us overseas.

This is now 2014 MCF. It is now 5 years since I have spoken to you about this. Since 2009 right Greg? What have you learnt in that time? I hear you have now passed on Li Ting to Peter to coach. I think it's a big mistake but you are a big boy. And she is your student. So that is your prerogative.

But surely we can have clean selection by now don't you think? I hear you are going around saying that I don't play chess and so I don't know what I am talking about. That is fine. But you do right? So surely you must be able to see from here that the active list is flawed. Ref: Here. What is Eddy Fong's playing strength and what is his rating? What is Jimmy's playing strength? What does this say about the active list?

Don't wait another 5 years Greg. Do it for Malaysia now. Do you still remember what we talked about in 2009? In 2010 during and after Mal/Sing? I have gone on and done those things Greg. What have you done to improve things during this time?

The secret to learning anything by Albert Einstein.

Here.

That is how you become good at anything. Compare that to our methods and I think you will see why we fail. We cannot be a strong chess Nation so long as we allow for the back door boys, so long as we don't have the correct training. Very honestly and I kid you not; you cannot win in chess if you practice Chor Tai Ti. Here.

This is another take. Here.

Indonesian chess success stories.

Here.

If there is one thing that the FGM chess camp demonstrated to me it is that the training must be correct if you are to succeed. Here.

We have struggled for many years before the dots were finally joined. And for that we give our thanks to Norlito for finally opening our eyes.

In the Phillippines, if you are to play the drawish weapons that we teach our kids, they will laugh at you and ask why are you playing like a girl. (No offence meant, it's just a figure of speech). But indeed why are you playing like a girl in the man's world of chess?

On facebook I keep seeing our chess players moaning that they cannot find the discipline to train. If you really want to know the reason why then go here for the clue. Do you see what I tried to say? It may not seem much but it is all there in that one sentence. You must keep your fighting spirit alive or you will not last the race.

And that is what our chess officials and people like Jimmy, Mok and Peter try to take from you before they send you out to fight for Malaysia. Do you remember what they did to Zhuo Ren and Sumant? Do you remember what they tried to do to Mark?

But there is even more. You must be also taught how to win. Here.

We finally learnt the correct way in November of this year after exploring and trying different trainers and methods for years. GM's and IM's included. And by that I mean fighting GM's that are still competing, IM's that developed World class youth teams. But it was in Batangas that the final penny dropped.

That is why they succeed and we fail. That is what I have been trying to say to you for all these years. Not only are we not doing it the right way but our officials are actually working against our Country by giving the back doors BY knocking out more deserving players.

Not only do they NOT know about correct training and coaching. They try to hide their ignorance by fixing results.

That is why they succeed and we fail. We have the talent and we have the resources. But we need to correct what is ailing us by changing MCF for the better.

We need good strategy, good plans from the top. We need good thinkers at the top who actually care for our real chess players and not protect the deadbeats. We need chess leaders who actually care for the reputation of our great Country. That is all.

While everyone else has focussed on how to win in chess they have focussed on how to fix pairings, how to change results by fixing the tie breaks, how to ban players they cannot intimidate, how to do side deals. And you learn what you focus on don't you? How to get fat Fide ratings? How to avoid certain tournaments and selection so you are not caught out? Etc etc etc.

Question. Why did Li Tian stop playing at Asean age group? He is now 2300. Higher in rating then almost all his peers except for FM Paulo Bersamina. Look hard at that question and the answer will come.

Malaysia's chess success stories.

Here.

I have added some comments to that post.

Dead last in SEA games for Malaysian Chess.

Ref: Here.

Our one medal is in Myammar chess. And so now we come to the time of our traditional character assassinations again. And now we come to the time of cheap excuses again. And we also come to the time where some of the people who have attacked our players, who tried to ban them, who facilitated for the back doors will try to point fingers and then try to pretend to change sides. Or not.

You do not need a crystal ball to see why we got the results we got. Did I not try to warn us that this would happen? Have I not made suggestions to help us move forward? Here.

Did I not try to explain why we are in this rut? Ref: Here.

I see even Thailand and Myammar have overtaken us. Could this possibly be the bitter remedy? Here.

Question. Is chess seen as a measure of our intellectual prowess as a Nation?

No medals for real Chess in SEA games.

Ref: Here.

Note: Transfer chess is the official name for double chess.

Please allow me to make some suggestions here as to where MCF blundered. You can then compare this with what Jimmy has to say later.

The very first blunder is in the selection process. The best is we remove altogether from the selection criteria the biasness for the Fide active list players. This will ensure that our players will play fighting chess and not play tournaments for Fide ratings alone. I am sure this makes sense to you as Fide ratings alone do not bring medals. Agreed?

So if they are any good as a player, they will fight and win in selection. This will train our players to fight and win medals in tournaments. Period.

In the past I have suggested that we use National Close as the primary determinant for representation. Say top 15 and then they play round robin to select the 8 players for the Country. But if there is still a need to use the Fide active list, then the top 20 from NC vs the top 10 from the active list. The we select straight down the line. No contortions or distortions.

My second suggestion is that MCF sticks only to core business, since they don't even do that very well. Don't waste time and energy on the other forms since nobody who understands chess will ever remember those side events.

Third is to make sure that those who did not participate in selection does not ever show up again representing Malaysia in any event that resembles chess in any way, shape or form. Those side events are best given to the current squad for their further development. This will further galvanise the chess community to focus on real chess development since there are no more loop holes to representing the Country.

And fourth. Start them training from the moment they are selected. I am sure you know how to do that if you really sit down and think about it. If not you can consult with FGM for some ideas.

Our very loose "selection" process is the main reason why players like Jimmy, Mok, Peter and believe it or not even Greg has managed to play for Malaysia in recent years long past their due dates. Those are all deadwood as players. Get them to play selection if they want to represent Malaysia and if they cannot qualify then don't let them represent the Country. But DO NOT keep twisting the selection criteria to continue trying to fit them in.

And MCF, if you can do that, you have taken your first step towards winning medals. It's that simple. Congratulations.

Thank you for your consideration and for your time. Over to you Jimmy.

Players List for Malaysian Open.

Ref: Here.

Looking forward to this event. One of Malaysia's showcase event with good local and International participation. The other event that we are proud of is the Penang Open. Registration is now open for Penang Open so do sign up early. Here.

It takes a lot of effort and dedication to bring up events like this so let us show our support to the organisers.

Is this also what is happening in MCF?

Ref: Here.

The "chess clubs" elect the State Officials. And presumably the chess clubs represent the players as was intended by COS. But then the chess clubs are ignored. The State AGM is only on paper and the chess clubs not called up to vote as I am informed happens in at least one "State Affliliate".

So in at least one State Affiliate there is no voice at all from the players. And somehow that State Affiliate is able to vote at the MCF AGM.

And when they get into MCF, they try to bend MCF into following their private agenda.

Don't you think something is wrong? Don't you think only genuine State Affiliates should be able to vote? Otherwise where is the mandate to govern coming from?

I am very impressed by this man's thinking.

What do you think?  Here. Will Malaysian chess achieve this level of maturity?

Some games from the Malaysian Masters.

Here.

Results of Johore Open.

Ref: Here.

What do you think of the results? Our locals are lagging behind?

This is what I see. Progress. Our boys and girls are in the fight. It is only a question of time when they will improve. We have to pay a temporary price. But that price is much cheaper then going overseas to compete right? So we need more events like this that gives all our boys and girls top flight competition and exposure. More and more organisers are giving us that value.

Can you now see why I am also critical of what Peter is doing as an organiser? Where is the benefit to Malaysian chess in his events?

Very well done Johore. Keep it up.

Now all we need is a decent selection criteria and we will see Malaysia fly. Ref: Here.

Can you see that too?

New World Park Chess Tournament in Penang on July 7th.

Ref: Here.

Just signed up for Syuen in Ipoh on June 30th, here, and will also be going to Penang for New World event. See you guys there.

KL Masters- First round pairing.

Here.

Good luck IM Mas Hafizul. Dare to fight, dare to win.

Schedule here.

CAS Allegro on July 7th.

Details: Here.

Age group Team event in Kuala Selangor on 6th July.

Details here.

This event is organised by a parent of our National players. Do support.

Congratulations Syakir!

Here.

All my best young man.

Malaysian players going for Asean 2013.

Here.

Good luck boys and girls. You are our future. Train hard. Train smart. And go out with the will to win. Make us proud.