The 17th Merdekka Chess Tournaments result:
Open Category
Champion : Abdullah Che Hassan - 6.5 points
Second :Jonathan Tan -5.5 points
Third :Michael Siong - 5.5 "
Fourth :Nor Azaman -5.0
Fifth :Ahmad Jais -5.0
Sixth :Rabani -5.0
Seventh :Zarul Nizam -5.0
Eighth :Akmal Salleh -4.0
Nineth :Herman -4.5
Tenth :Suhaib -4.0
Under 16
Champion : Ng Sau Chyun ; 5.5 points
Second :Chai Juan Zhe : 5.0
Third : Than Gen He : 5.0
Fourth : Renitha : 5.0
Fifth :Ng Sau Wei : 5.0
Sixth : Chong Yong Bing : 5.0
Seventh :Afdal Wiranata : 5.0
Eighth : Lim Zhi Xuan : 4.5
Nineth :Wong Guo Rui : 4.5
Tenth : Chong Yong Kai : 4.0
Under 12
Champion : Ng Xue Yi - 6.0
Second : Salman -5.0
Third :Ahmad Yusuf -5.0
Fourth :Ong Wei Du -5.0
Fifth :Nicolas Ferdendaz -5.0
Sixth :Chong Yong Soon -5.0
Seventh :Mohd Syafiq -5.0
Eighth :Fong Jun Liang -5.0
Nineth :Gan Ching Earn -4.5
Tenth :Nur Shafinaz -4.5
Our neighboring country, Malaysia, is quietly providing their players the necessary year round tournaments. Although I don't see any immediate threat in our status in the region from them, it is important that we, specially the NCFP, improve on the ways to develop chess in our country.
Vietnam has already made a headway against us and this should at least be enough to wake us all up. A call that has been made a lot of times by Sir Bob by Ang and MR. Manny Benitez.
Yes, we placed 3rd in the recent World Under 16 Championship, could have been 1st if not for the final 3 rounds of the tourney. This tournament showed us where we can be in the future as long as these young stars of the Philippines are given the proper support. The scary part here is, where will the other young stars of our opponents be after five years? Will our future suoerstars be left out and suffer with the ill effects of factionalism within the NCFP? Financial difficulties? A case of stunted growth? As what TCG blogged about some months ago? Hope not!
Let's hope and pray though these things do not happen... Wesley, 2 more GM norms within the next 2 months and you and the rest of the country will be in the record books!!!
I was surprised to see Malaysian chess results shown on a Pinoy blog!! :)
ReplyDeleteMalaysia is very far behind the Philippines but the chess culture is picking up. Lots of interest being shown at junior level with many chess coaches being very competitive to grab as many students as they can.
Wesley So is a great talent!