NAG 2017

When GiLoCatur says NAG, do you know what it is? 

GiLoCatur was introduced to NAG in 2008 when Fikri began his chess journey a decade ago. NAG is an acronym for National Age Group. Most Malaysian chess parents are familiar when the Malaysian age-group chess tournament is being held. It is usually in the March school-break.

But for this year edition, NAG has changed name. If you ask GiLoCatur which name is preferred? The old name NAG or the new one which is NYJ20 which stands for National Youth and Junior U20 chess championship?  Honestly, GiLoCatur prefers NAG. Why? Keep the tradition going. Maintain the name. It has become a well known name. Why need to change? Oh, GiLoCatur just realized that there is another category which is U20 or Under 20. 

link

Only one of three GiLoCatur children is eligible to take part in the NAG 2017. Both Fikri and Anis are over 18 years old. The former will be 21 years old in November while the latter will be 19 years old in less than two months. Anis is eligible to participate in the U20 category, GiLoCatur believes.

GiLoCatur believes there are many questions among you regarding the NAG especially the winners of the past editions. Even, GiLoCatur has own questions regarding the championship that need to be checked in this blog if there are the answers.

For example,

Did GiLoCatur's children took part in all editions?

Which editions that none of GiLoCatur participated?

Where was each edition being held?

Who were the winners for each age-group category for each edition?

OK, GiLoCatur will try to provide the answers for the above questions. 

Click below entry to find out the champions or winners for the past NAG chess championship.

NAG 2010, NAG 2011, NAG 2012 - U8, U10

GiLoCatur would like to wish GOOD LUCK and ALL THE BEST to all the participants in the NAG 2017, oopps, NYJ20. 

The Story of NAG2016 - Part 2

Monday, 14/3/2016

Today is the last day of the NAG2016 chess championship. Waiting Anis and Fahim playing against their respective opponents in the tournament hall, GiLoCatur enters the UTP's library located opposite the hall to write in this blog.

Entering the final two rounds is very crucial to all the participating players especially on the top boards. Winning these two rounds will provide better ranking and give better chance for being on the podium in the prize giving ceremony. 

The results for Boys U6, Boys U8, Girls U6 and Girls U8 categories have been out. Let's look at them.

Under 6 age group category

Boys category

Girls category

The total of five players take part in each Under 6 age group category. Thus, it is a round robin for this group category. In the Boys section, Megat Musa is the leader. He has won all his matches thus far. GiLoCatur believes Megat Musa shall emerge as the champion since he is leading 1.5 point with one more round to play.

In the Girls section, two players have same 3/4 points. They are Afiqah Zahra and Aghalya Tiaana. The former is leading for having better tie-break which is direct encounter. 

Under 8 age group category

Boys category

Girls category

Forty players take part in the Boys section. Up to Round 7, no one has the full point. Leading the pack after Round 7 is the 16th seed, Syed Firdaus Asyraaf. Trailing half-point are three players from Penang. Can Syed Firdaus win his final game and emerge as the champion? Or can Ferris Lim stop Syed Fidaus from winning the championship? 

What a final round game for both of them.

As typical it is the boys age group outnumber the girls age group, only eleven participants in the Girls section for U8 age group category. Farah Liana won all her games accumulating full point ie 7/7. She is leading by two points. Entering her final round, Farah Liana has a huge advantage to win the Girls Under 8 age group title.

Writing in 

Perpustakaan UTP

The Story of NAG 2016 - Part 1

Saturday, 12/3/2016

This morning around quarter to 8:00 AM, my family and I started our journey from home in Shah Alam to University Teknologi Petronas or its acronym UTP. The reason of going to UTP is two of my children - Anis and Fahim, are taking part in the National Age Group (NAG) chess championship.

The first round kicked of at 10:10 AM, ten minutes late that schedule. Due to many vehicles on the PLUS highway, we were a bit late to arrive at UTP. Luckily, we arrived before the 30-minute dateline for a forfeit game. 

Fikri (12-year-old) & Anis (10-year-old) in NAG 2008

How many times each of my children have taken part in the NAG? Mmmmm sorry, GiLoCatur cannot answer straight away. Which edition was the first time GiLoCatur's children took part? This question GiLoCatur can answer after checking on the photo album archive. GiLoCatur would also check the archive of this blog to recall the NAG editions that the three of GiLoCatur's children - Fikri, Anis & Fahim, have participated. This is one of the reasons why GiLoCatur create and write this blog. 

Fikri in Boys U12 age group category

In 2008 NAG edition, only Fikri and Anis were taking part. Aged 12-years old, Fikri was playing in Boys Under 12 age category with national ratings of 1460. He was seeded 8th out of 57 players.

Anis in Girls U10 age group category

Meanwhile, Anis was playing in Girls Under 10 age category. She was nine 10 years old and was seeded 21st out of total 26 players with national ratings of 887.  

How both fared in the NAG chess championship?

Both were not among the winners. In the NAG, the winners are only the Top 10. With 5/8 points, Fikri was ranked 17th. Several players have become Fikri's team mates in later years. Two of them were Fikri's team mates in 2011 MSSM chess championship. Three others were Fikri's team mates in 2013 MSSM chess championship. One other is Fikri's team mate in KARISMA last year.

While Anis was placed 16th. She scored 3.5/8 points. Two of the winners in Girls Under 10 age group category are the Top 3 seeded players this year. This year edition of NAG will be the last participation for Anis.

Who were the champions for each age group category in NAG 2008 edition?

Puteri Rifqah Fahada Mohd Azhar (Girls U8)

Nur Najiha Azman Hisham (Girls U10)

Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (Girls U12)

Renitha Narayanan  (Girls U16)

Tan Yong Zhao (Boys U8)

Yeoh Li Tian (Boys U10)

Tan Wei Hao (Boys U12)

Edward Lee Kim Han (Boys U16)

Surprisingly, GiLoCatur does not have the results for U14 age group categories.

#38 Nur Homestay

Seri Iskandar, Perak

NAG 2012 To Start Tomorrow

It is less than 24 hours before 2012 NAG will kick off.

Based on the participants list sent by Mr Hamid Majid, the number of Malaysian junior chess players who will take part in the NAG this year is 425 with 319 boys and 106 girls. It is an increase of 93 players compared to last year.

Such increase is a good news. BUT there is also bad news. GiLoCatur believes that the statistics for U16 and U18 in the girls age groups is the lowest in the last five years.  

GiLoCatur will try to write more on the NAG statistics later as well as publish the participants starting list. GiLoCatur will also try to update and cover the chess event as much as possible but no promise due to work commitment.

The coverage for the age group in which GiLoCatur's children take part will be updated in their respective blogs. While the other age groups will be covered in this blog.

Under 16 Boys category, please check out Fikri's blog here.

Under 14 Girls category, please check out Anis' blog here. [The starting list had been published!]

Under 10 Boys category, please check out Fahim's blog here.

NAG is Over, NC is Next!

The NAG is over today. All the participants had gone home. Surely, the winners are happy. While the rest are not. Don't give up, play again in next year edition. Where it would be eh?

GiLoCatur checked the chess-results.com and knew who become champions while on board of a ferry from Pulau Pangkor jetty to Lumut. Yes, you read it right. GiLoCatur went to Pulau Pangkor for a short trip. That's why, GiLoCatur could not write about the NAG updates.

So, below are the champions for all the categories of the NAG 2011.

U8 Boys - Tan Jun Yin (Penang) 7/8 points
U8 Girls - Goh Ji Yie (Penang) - 8/8 points

U10 Boys - Teh De Juan (Penang) 7.5/8 points

U10 Girls -  Teh De Zen (Penang) 8/8 points

U12 Boys - Ooi Zhi Yang (Penang) 7/8 points

U12 Girls - WFM Nur Najiha Azman (Selangor) 7/8 points

U14 Boys - Roshan Ajeet Singh (Selangor) 6.5/8 points

U14 Girls - NWM Tan Li Ting (KL) 7/8 points

U16 Boys - Wong Jian Wen (KL) 8/8 points

U16 Girls - Pavitranayagi (KL) 6.5/8 points

U18 Boys - Muhd Nabil Azman Hisham (Selangor) 7/8 points

U18 Girls - Latifah Kaiyisah Mohd Latib (KL) 5.5/7 points

How is the medal tally by state?

Only three states - Penang, Selangor and KL had won a golden medal in the NAG.Penang is so dominant in Under 8 and Under 10 categories. It won U8 and U10 for both sections - boys and girls. Penang won in total five Gold medals, followed by KL with 4 Gold medals and Selangor with three Gold medals. ONLY three GiLoCatur's predictions are correct. They  are U8 Girls and both U12 age groups.

Syabas and Tahniah to all NAG winners. 

NAG 2011 - (Part 3 : Additional Rules, Dress Code and Conduct Code)

Received an email from the NAG's Chief Arbiter, Mr Najib Wahab regarding DRESS CODE and CONDUCT CODE for both players and their parents as well as additional rules during the NAG.



Folks

Appreciate if you can advertise the following announcement for participants of the 2011 National Age Group Chess Championship.
Thanks much!



ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PLAYERS/CHAPERON PARTICIPATING IN THE 2011 NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

ADDITIONAL RULES and REGULATIONS including CONDUCT CODE for ALL PLAYERS/CHAPERONS for the 2011 NATIONAL AGE GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP are as detailed below. Additional Rules and Regulations and Conduct Code maybe added from time to time by the organizers (MCF), host (UTP) and/or Arbiters throughout the duration of the event. As the event is being hosted by the University Technology Petronas, Players/Chaperons are required to adhere to all the University rules and regulations while they are within the University’s compound. Failure to comply these rules and regulations may jeopardize the smooth running of this event, and any other future chess events.

Additional rules and regulations, and conduct code for the NAG participants are:


1)    Players are required to dress properly for the event. Young participants who wish to wear shorts are required to wear shoes with socks. Players wearing singlet, t-shirts/attires with offensive wordings, skimpy/revealing clothing, torn jeans/shirts, slippers and the likes will not be allowed to enter the playing area and will be requested to change into proper attire at the cost of their own time.


2)    Only single score sheets are given for players to record their moves. Players who wish to get a copy of their score sheets are advised to use carbon paper, or copy their moves on a separate sheet AFTER their game has concluded. Photocopy or computer services maybe provided by the organizer but will be at a minimal cost for the players to use.


3)   Any player not able to record their moves will be penalized with severe playing time reduction penalty.


4)    Mobile phones and all electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the playing hall except with the permission from the Arbiters/Organizers. Any players caught using a mobile or electronic devices whilst his/her game is still ongoing, shall be declared to have lost his/her game and maybe barred from continuing in the event.


5)    Any players caught providing assistance to any other players, or discussing an ongoing game where one of the players is still playing, maybe barred from continuing in the event.


6)    All decisions made by the Arbiters are deemed to have been final.

NAG 2011 - (Part 2 : Under 8 Category)

Below are the list of players for Under 8 section both Boys and Girls.

No.	Name	NRtg	FED	Club
1	Abriale Goh Wenxin	0	MAS	Penang
2	Afrina Firzana Zainal Ariffin	0	MAS	Perak
3	Aisyah Faqihah	1014	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
4	Asma Umairah Amiluddin	1011	MAS	Perak
5	Chua Jia-Tien	1120	MAS	Penang
6	Goh Jie Yi	1275	MAS	Penang
7	Junoesque Phuah Ji Thien	0	MAS	Penang
8	Nik Nur Nadzirrah Azrihan	1127	MAS	Kelantan
9	Nur Faiqah Aminuddin	1186	MAS	Selangor
10	Nur Iman Hannah Amirruddin	0	MAS	Pahang
11	Raja Bazilah Bot Raja Badli	0	MAS	Selangor
12	Sara Liyana Mohd Nadzli	0	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
13	Tan Jia Jin	996	MAS	Penang
14	Zainoor Ikmal Munirah	1140	MAS	Selangor

Under 8 Girls

No.	Name	NRtg	FED	Club
1	Ahmad Faiz Ishak	0	MAS	Perak
2	Amirul Akktar Shaiful Anuar	0	MAS	Perak
3	Bryan Lee Ewe Chuen	1249	MAS	Penang
4	Cheong Ze Xiang	0	MAS	Penang
5	Chew Zhi Qi	1286	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
6	Ian Tong Yuan Jun	0	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
7	Lim Rui Yi	1185	MAS	Johor
8	Low Hou Jie	0	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
9	Lye Lik Zang	1384	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
10	Muhammad Syakir Mohd Zin	0	MAS	Kelantan
11	Muhd Afsar Mohd Nahu	1263	MAS	N. Sembilan
12	Muhd Faqih Aminuddin	1282	MAS	Selangor
13	Muhd Ilham Qayyum Muhd Najib	1118	MAS	Selangor
14	Ng Shi Yang	1375	MAS	Penang
15	Ryan Chan Yi Meng	1161	MAS	Penang
16	Tan Jun Ying	1347	MAS	Penang
17	Tan Yik Chean	0	MAS	Perak
18	Teh De Yong	1149	MAS	Penang
19	Teo Jun Sim	1117	MAS	Kuala Lumpur
20	Wong Hao Hien	0	MAS	Selangor
21	Yeoh Zi Yuan	0	MAS	Penang

Under 8 Boys

Who would emerge as the champion in this category? It is hard to predict since many of them just make the debut in the NAG. Honestly, just few of them that GiLoCatur is very familiar with.

In the Girls section, GiLoCatur is very familiar with Nik Nur Nadzirrah Azrihan (8), Nur Faiqah Aminuddin (9) and Zainoor Ikmal Munirah (14). All of their parents are teachers. Can their experience in chess tournaments help them to win the category? Or perhaps they have to bow down to the others especially the top seed, Goh Ji Yie, who has the highest rating among them. From the list, only two players were playing in last year edition. They are Ji Yie and Nur Faiqah from SK Bukit Jelutong. [GiLoCatur : Actually not TWO. THREE others also did participate. They are Asma Umairah Amiluddin (4), Chua Jia-Tien (5) and Tan Jia Jin (13). Thanx MR JJ for highlighting it. 10/3/2011, 6.00pm]

In the Boys section, few from the list were among last year participants. And they were among the top 10 winners. Both Tan Jun Ying (16) and Muhd Faqih Aminuddin (12) were third place and fourth place respectively. The latter even played in the World Youth Chess Championship (WYCC) last October held in Greece. Would one of them become the champion for this year edition? Or maybe the second seed from the list and last year 7th place winner, Ng Shi Yang (14) will emerge as the champion? Can the sole representative from Johor, Lim Rui Yi (7) make upset by winning the category? He was placed 8th last year. The top seed from Kuala Lumpur, Lye Lik Zang (9), should be considered also? Mmmm many players can emerge as the winner, right? Let's wait and see who will win.

Who were the past champions?

U8 Girls - Puteri Rifqah Fahada Azhar (2008), Puteri Munajjah AzZahra Azhar (2009), Nur Islamurni Haji Yahaya (2010)

U8 Boys - Tan Yong Zhao (2008), Wong Yin Long (2009, 2010)