Answering tough questions makes smart chess players.

I was just following the postings of a Malaysian friend of mine in the UK. And when he says something his friends on FB will ask him to quote the source. Then they will investigate and then decide if they agree or not. And they can ask awkward questions.

That is one of the reasons why I like to work with our top chess kids. They ask insightful questions. They want me to prove the veracity of my thinking. And as a result I too grew.

So that is the way chess makes us smart. Chess openings are also statements. "This is my analysis. Prove me wrong. And if I am wrong then I lose". As simple as that.

But have you found that they do not like you to ask questions in Malaysian chess? They do not like to be challenged on the table to prove their thinking.

Instead they have all these ways to shut you up instead of looking at whether their thinking is correct or not.

Then they want to go out there and challenge people who are not afraid of tough questions; who are able to defend their reasoning on the table.

Do you think that may be a possible reason why we produce kangkung players? Just wondering.

The game only starts after you are elected.

Ref: Here.

Have you ever noticed that the election slogans for change almost always disappear after the election? Why is this so? Let me share from some of my experiences. Back in 2009, after the contest in the Perak AGM, we got a fairly balanced group of old and new in the committee. Those that got into PICA on my ticket were jubilant. But I adviced caution. You see, the game has just started. We haven't won anything yet. Nothing substantive except for the posts. We got good positions from which we were supposed to initiate the changes we campaigned on but nothing came of it.

I think part of the problem is that many who seek positions do not realise this. They think they have won at the AGM. No, my friends, nothing has been won yet. The game has just started. And to win, you need to know how to play the game.

So I have seen one by one seduced by the power of their position and then they forget why they were elected in the first place. Then some are attacked as I have mentioned in the link above. And then they become incapacitated or join the other agenda or removed.

And very quickly the game is lost. So the moral of this story is that you are only a player when you sit at the table. At the AGM you have merely won the right to play but you have not won yet.

To win, you must know your game plan. You need to know your opponents play book. And you need to have the wisdom and courage to form a good plan and then stick to it.

And what is the win?

For me it is when we can stop the agenda of certain officials that penalizes and attack our strong players who are not in their camp.

For our success in Malaysian chess will be measured by the number of strong players we can produce. When they can win medals etc. This agenda must not be hijacked by officials who use their position to only bring in their kangkungs that goes to their chess "universities" etc. And especially one that has not produced a single strong player but is very good at stealing or attacking the players developed by others by exploiting their position in the Associations.

Simply put. If the players are no good and cannot survive tough selection without back doors, they deserve to be knocked out. And officials that do not know how to play the game to bring success to Malaysian chess also deserve to be knocked out. Same difference.

For it is the results that finally matter.

Why are hidden agendas so dangerous?

By almost all accounts we know that MCF is in crisis. Almost daily we hear of some drama or another. And we know that these dramas sap our energy do we not? Where is the energy to develop if there are daily dramas created? Where are the new ideas for improvement when we are all kept busy fire fighting?

So let me try to explain that the source of all dramas are caused by hidden agendas.

Can you see that?

The daily dramas are caused by people wanting to subvert the National and State agendas for private gain or profit. So they are always scheming one thing or another to deprive someone of something that is rightfully theirs.

The simple fact is that they will not need to scheme and plot if they can earn the money legally, win their place on the squad legitimately.

So if we want to solve this we need to develop our Vision. That acts as the guide. It tells us if we are still heading in the right direction or if the agenda has been hijacked.

And for that to take place we need every remaining good official to stand up and do their job. Or we simply will not progress by default.

Can you see that? Do you now understand why hidden agendas are so dangerous? Is the example from KLCA obvious enough for you to see how it works? Once you can see that then you can also see it in operation wherever you are. It does not exist in KLCA alone. KLCA is just the most transparent example.

Just out of curiosity Peter?

Ref: Here.

Was there a selection? What is the criteria of becoming a KL player? Do you mean all of KL is reduced to just this under your watch?

Do you realise that almost every State has had a selection? Do you want to lay down bets that those that came through the tough challenge of selection will bungkus your players? And so it will be that mighty KL will be humbled because of your incompetence. Do you think I will be proved right?

See you at National Close Peter. Do show your face to cheer on your players. I am sure your presence will do much to inspire their fighting spirit. Can KL compete when they have an enemy from within taking it down?

Why MCF will never change unless you change.

Yesterday when I was in Kampar, a Perak State Official asked me about the cert from MCF for an arbiters course that he attended when I organised it in 2009 for about 20 Perakians. So I told him to write in to MCF. But he said he didn't know who to write to. I told him, I can supply the contacts of the relevant people but he has to write the letter himself.

Over the years I have heard this a lot. MCF must change. Then I ask them, what can you do in your position? You are the treasurer, the chair of this committee or the other; the President/Deputy President of this Association or the other. Why don't you ask what you can do in that position to change things?

Why do you want everybody else to change before you change? Isn't that an impossible thing? For instance, if I am to wait for Jimmy or Peter to change then I could be waiting forever no?

Do your job and fulfill your responsibility where you are. If you are a player and the rules have been infringed, call for an arbiter. If you think there is cheating in a tournament, inform the organiser. Then it is up to them. If you do not get satisfaction then follow the process and keep writing up. Somebody somewhere with the authority will act. Don't despair and don't give up hope. Just keep pushing the envelop.

I told that State official that I will help him to address his concerns to the right party. But it is up to him to write the letter. I cannot force MCF to issue the cert.

If each one of us fulfill our roles then we will see change. But don't wait for MCF to change before you change. It just doesn't work. Start with yourself from where you are. Then MCF will change. Why? Because MCF is you. MCF is MCF because you are you.

The other side of the coin.

There have been so many officials in MCF, past and present, who has told me that they have been attacked from the moment they enter the Federation. They will be accused of everything under the sun. I have told a number of them that this is normal. This is Malaysian chess. Now how do we look at this?

On the one hand it is bad, since the officials will leave, the good players become victims of the politics in favour of kangkung players etc etc. And there will be no progress.

BUT lets try to look at it another way today. 

That is also the way to separate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys. As the song says, if you can make it there (in MCF), then you can make it anywhere.....

If you don't quit, if you don't get bought, if you can stay with the game plan to improve and not get deflected, dejected etc etc.

So MCF is actually primed for us to find a true leader. For only under that type of leadership will our players find the example of what it takes for Malaysian chess to shine on the world stage.

U think?

Note: This also applies to the players. If you can withstand the mental assaults, trust in your own training and game plan. Then you too will become a strong player/leader. 

KL Open is closed for admission and the ramifications.

Peter's announcement. Here.

Have a look and see how many Malaysian players are there. I have written, spoken to State officials as well as talked to top organisers in Malaysia to try to increase the Malaysian participation. All to no avail. Some of the reasons given is that they want to boycott the event. Others say that they are worried that the President won't honour his word to me and so they don't want to go through the hassle of getting a bank draft. So this is a problem. But the question I want to ask today is how do we look at this?

The first thing we need to understand is that this is a KLCA event endorsed by MCF. So both parties has a say. Peter is just an organiser but he seems to have hijacked the event.

I think the problem lies here. The first thing we need is a Vision on the National level. Then the States need to buy into that vision and attempt to replicate it on the State level. Without doubt there will be difficulties with people like Peter. So we need strong and committed leadership who are willing to make difficult decisions with courage. Or nothing will change.

In the event above the President of KLCA himself has asked me to quote his name to bring in extra participation. Here. Not only is Dato Santhara the President but he is also the sponsor of the event. And in fact this offer also had the agreement of the Deputy President of KLCA.

That is one side of the coin. The question above is what does KL Open mean to KLCA and why was Peter allowed to hijack the event?

The other question I'm afraid has to be addressed to you. Why did you not take up the offer by the President to participate? Would you rather point the finger at Peter as a way to vent your anger? Isn't that cutting off your nose to spite yourself? You have a responsibility as a player to uplift your skills. You have a responsibility as a State Association to expose your players. In the past you were not given a door in. We have provided the door for you. Both the President and Deputy President. And me. I was willing to collect the bank draft on your behalf even though it would be a difficult process.

It takes 2 hand to clap. Ignore Peter. He is not relevant. But why don't you trust what Dato has said? Why don't you find out for yourself if he is a man of honour? Why didn't you give him a chance?

On my part, I will buy the bank draft for Mark and pass it on as agreed. I believe we should not prejudge anyone without giving them a chance. Do not rely on rumours. Make your own determination.

Am I making sense to you? Think about it. Is that not also a lesson from chess? You need a plan, you need to trust your own evaluation and then you need the mental strength and courage to go for the win.

Good article from google.

Here.

Teamwork and Team events.

Since the USM team event is going on today, this may be a good time to investigate this. Now depending whether the event is match point or game point the strategies will differ. But lets use match point today for an illustration. In match point play, depending on the goal of the team, sometimes players are asked to take a hit for the team. Sometimes a player is required to win above his class. So an accurate evaluation of team strength vis-a-vis the other teams is essential to establish realistic goals. Are you a Champion team or is the best you can hope for is a placement? And the Captain evaluate chances round by round.

But I am not going into the technical aspects today. For that you can consult with the many technical experts around us. Today I would rather explore the concept of teamwork.

Now for a team to work, every member of that team has to function. They need to fulfill their role or the team breaks down. A good model can be found in football. I see many comments on Man U on FB.

So the first prerequisite of a team is that you cannot pass the ball when it is your responsibility. When you have the best chances to affect outcome. Each must carry their own burden or the team fails. Agreed?

And now we come back to chess. Did you see from the last Olympiad that we didn't have a team? Everyone was either trying to achieve a norm for themselves or not playing for fear of losing rating. Nobody was playing for Malaysia in the team event. And the captain was totally useless. We can see this clearly when it is football yes? Now lets us try to see it where it matters to us. In chess.

In chess, the role of the players is to train and play good chess. The role of the managers, trainers and coaches is to assist and to prepare the players. The role of the officials is to facilitate this by carrying out their responsibility. The role of the State Associations is to develop their own players. The role of our Open Classical Fide events is to develop Malaysian players since MCF is involved. The role of the organisers is to keep their tournaments clean. 

But what are some of our officials doing instead? And then they finger point. So all I am saying is to fulfill your job responsibility wherever you are on the totem pole and then we become a team. Then we become a better team if we work at it. Then we become a Champion team. But it all starts with you. Pointing the finger and then not fulfilling your individual responsibility and role is what got us into this mess in the first place. Agree?

The point is each has a role. And your job is to perform your role well. That is being part of a team.

Do your job. And stop making excuses. Or worse, deflect from your own shortcomings by attacking the Fide President, attacking other players, trainers and coaches because you cannot develop even one strong player yourself or play strong chess anymore etc etc etc.

A team is created and bound by a common vision and brought to success by a strong and commited leadership.

Note: It may become more obvious when we use the football analogy to see that the role of the manager/coach is also to protest when the rules have been infringed and their players have been unfairly dealt with.

Contemplation.

The darkest hour in any man's life is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it.

   --  Horace Greeley (1811-1872)