NJCC 2009 - The Final Results

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship (NJCC) is over today. The winners had been identified. In the Open (boys) category, four players with the same score of 7/9 points had to battle in the play-offs of rapid games. Eventually, Yeap Eng Chiam is crowned the NJM or National Junior Master. Sumant is the first runner up while NM Evan Timothy Capel is the second runner up.

the winners list - the Open (boys) category

the winners list - the Girls category

In the Girls category, WFM Nur Nabila ( GiLoCatur : actually, Nur Najiha. Sorry for the error due to lack of sleep. LOL ... 20/12/2009, 11.50pm ) is the new NJWM or National Junior Woman Master. The first runner up went to Amira Shahmina and the second runner up goes to Latifah Kaiyisah Latib.

Tahniah or Congratulations to all the winners.

the final ranking - the Girls category

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - the Final Round

So, the championship will be over by tomorrow afternoon. Four players with 6.5/8 have the chance to be titled as the 2009 NJM. Who will emerge as the new NJM tomorrow? Let's wait and see!

WCM Nur Najiha has the edge to be the new NJWM to continue the Azman Hisham legacy. By winning the final round against Sarika, she will emerge champion. Three other players of three different MSS states - Selangor (Amira), WP (Latifah Kaiyisah) and Terengganu (Siti Aisyah), with 6/8 points are waiting any slip up from Najiha to earn the title.

( credit : MSSMKL blogspot )

GiLoCatur needs to go to bed now for the final day of NJCC tomorrow. It is 30 minutes past 3am now.

Some Photos of 2009 NJCC - Day 4

The very supportive chess parents watching over their kids during the tournament. GiLoCatur salutes them all!!!

GiLoCatur would like to advise the following :

"Kepada anak-anak yang sangat beruntung kerana ibubapa yang menyokong penglibatan dalam sukan catur ( not popular though (:- ) mereka, jangan hampakan ibubapa. Bermainlah dengan bersungguh-sungguh dan perbaiki permainan catur semaksima mungkin. Practice, study, analyze games dan buat chess puzzle. Ibubapa bukanlah mengharapkan kemenangan setiap masa tetapi fokus, komited dan hargai pengorbanan masa, wang dan tenaga mereka. Bayangkan ada mereka yang memandu dari Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu dan Kedah. Sila hargai jasa mereka."

Please spread the words to other friends. Chess is very good! So, let's play chess! Join the school chess club.

Visit below links to find out about the benefits of chess.

http://www.susanpolgar.com/susan-polgar-foundation-benefits.html

http://www.thechessacademy.org/Research_Chess.htm

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - Day 4

the Boys (Open) category

Round 7

After six rounds, leading all the players was Sumant with 5.5/6 points. Six players were 5/6 points. And three had 4.5/6 points. The pairings ?

Board 1 : Jianwen vs Sumant (1/2 - 1/2)

Board 2 : Jun Keat vs Justin Ong (0 - 1)

Board 3 : Evan vs Syakir (1/2 - 1/2)

Board 4 : Eng Chiam vs Kai Loong (1 - 0)

Board 5 : Aron vs Jun Jian (0 - 1)

Board 16 : Han Loong vs Fikri (0 - 1)

Round 8

Both Sumant and Justin had 6/7 points each. All players at the next two boards had 5.5/7. Another player with the same score was Jun Jian. Nabil, Sirajuddin and Afyfy all had 5/7 points.

Board 1 : Sumant vs Justin Ong (1/2 - 1/2)

Board 2 : Syakir vs Eng Chiam (0 - 1)

Board 3 : Evan vs Jianwen (1 - 0)

Board 4 : Jun Jian vs Nabil (0 - 1)

Board 5 : Sirajuddin vs Afyfy (1/2 - 1/2)

Board 9 : Fikri vs WCM Nur Nabila (0 -1)

the Girls category

Round 7

WFM Nur Najiha is leading the pack with 5.5/6 points. She and five other MSS Selangor state players are playing in the top three tables / boards. Nabila played against Kedah player, Fairuz Hamizah. Amira Shahmina played white versus Winnie while her sister, Vickie, had Nur Farihah Aminuddin as her opponent. The results ? Nabila and Fairuz drew, Both Amira and Vickie won their respective tournaments.

So, Nabila - 6/7, Fairuz - 5/7, Amira - 6/7, Vickie - 5/7. Siti Aisyah and Latifah Kaiyisah were another players with 5/7 points.

Round 8

Board 1 : Latifah Kaiyisah (KL) vs Amira Shahmina (SEL) [1 - 0]

Board 2 : Nur Najiha (SEL) vs Vickie (SEL) [1/2 - 1/2]

Board 3 : Siti Aisyah (TER) vs Fairuz Hamizah (KDH) [1 - 0]

Board 12 : Khirranya vs Anis Fariha (0 - 1)

TERIMA KASIH SEMUA PELAWAT GILOCATUR!

"THANK YOU" to all GiLoCatur's Blog visitors.

GiLoCatur starts today's blog entries with the above line. GiLoCatur is very sorry for not able to put the latest updates on NJCC as soon as possible. GiLoCatur is very tired and had hectic day. Furthermore, having slow internet connection at the tournament venue is the main reason why GiLoCatur can not update earlier and during the tournament itself. The tournament environment and watching over GiLoCatur's son and daughter during the tournament itself have big impact in doing the tournament coverage.

Looking at the below statistics of the visits, many are eager to know the tournament's update.

As early as 6.00pm, more visits are recorded hoping maybe to get the updates of the tournament. The same goes at 7.00pm. During 8.00pm hour, the statistics drop. It is dinner time and maghrib prayer for the muslims. During the 9.00pm hour, the number skyrockets again.

Looking at the above "this week's visits" chart, the visits pass over 100 mark even peak to nearly 150. It shows that people are hunger for updates and info when there is a chess tournament.

What GiLoCatur wants to higlight :

This aspect of publishing latest updates and results of a certain chess tournament is very important and crucial in putting chess into a better limelight. It is still lacking in Malaysia.

By having fast updates and results, chess can be alive and kicking in this country and in ASEAN as well.

Chess followers in this country can be bigger if proper info dissemination takes place.

So, GiLoCatur hopes Malaysian chess bloggers are very active and keep their blogs updated as often as possible. GiLoCatur knows it will take lots of efforts and time especially to full-time working bloggers.

GiLoCatur is determined to promote chess as a contribution for nation-building because by doing so GiLoCatur will be part of "pembangunan modal insan".

Once again, GiLoCatur says terima kasih or THANK YOU to all visitors.

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - R7 Pairings

Three more rounds to go, two tomorrow and the final round on Sunday. In the Boys category, Sumant Subramaniam is leading by half-point. In the seventh round, he will play black versus Jianwen. He is getting closer to the NJM title. The other top three tables will be on center stage tomorrow because their results will have impact on the overall result. If they draw, the winners of other lower seven boards will overtake those top positions.

Fikri will battle against Ng Han Loong, a fellow 3.5 pointers, at Table #16. Both of them are among the nine players with the same score.

( source : fireyrook.blogspot.com )

In the Girls section, WFM Nur Najiha is leading now with 5.5/6 points. Half-point behind is Amira followed by the Kedahan Fairuz and Winnie. Players at Table #3, #4 and #5 are waiting their chances to overtake the two 4.5-point players.

Anis Fariha will have an uphill battle to win against Sarika Subramaniam at Table #9. She will play white. While her SKBJ team mate, Nur Faqihah, will have a bye.

BEST OF LUCK! to all participants.

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - Day 3

The Open (Boys)

Top Table : Sumant (5/5) vs NM Evan Timothy Capel (4.5/5)

2nd Table : Low Jun Jian (4/5) vs Yeap Eng Chiam (4/5)

3rd Table : Justin Ong Way (4/5) vs WCM Nur Nabila AH (4/5)

4th Table : Syakir (4/5) vs Izz Saifuddin (4/5)

5th Table : See Kai Loong (4/5) vs Nabil AH (4/5)

Pairings Round 6

Round 5 Results

The perfect scorers - WCM Najiha and Sumant, met at the top table. Sumant showed his strength and wits to beat Nabila. Thus, Sumant is leading with 5/5 points. Will someone stop him cruising through to be the new National Junior Master (NJM)?

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - Day 2

Tomorrow, WCM Nur Nabila will play Sumant Subramaniam in the top board to determine the leader. Both scores the perfect 4/4 points. Sumant beats Jun Jian while Nabila won over Izz Saifuddin. Jianwen drew with Mark Siew, therefore they both have 3.5/4 points. Eng Chiam stopped the fine run of Roshan Singh.

No player has a perfect score in the Girls section. WFM Nur Najiha beats the top seed, Amira Shahmina. Puteri Rifqah managed to win against Pavitranayagi to have a matchup with Najiha. 12-year-old Fairuz Hamizah, the daughter of Cikgu Fuad, won over Winnie Hong Wee Ki from Shah Alam. She will play black against Amira in the fifth round tomorrow.

Below are some pictures of the 2nd NJCC players during the third round in this morning (17/12/2009). GiLoCatur did not take pictures in the afternoon session because had a meeting in Putrajaya.

Fikri lost the third round to Mohd Syazwan Mohd Zin playing black at Table #23. GiLoCatur does not know Fikri's opponent. In the tournament, he is unrated. In the fourth round, he faced Faris Aminuddin, his former primary schoolmate. He won the game. Tomorrow, Fikri will play white against Mohamed Shabyyl Mohamed Ajmal.

While Anis Fariha started her second day with a win over Ainur Nadirah Zulkifli. But in the afternoon, she lost to Goh Xin Yen. So, after fourth round she scores 2/4 points. Tomorrow she will play against Joyce Tan Sue Lee.

For the complete Round 4 results, go to here.

The top two boards of the Girls section in Round 3.

Kaiyisah and Winnie (right-black shirt).

Eng Chiam (right-2009 MSSM U15 Individual champion) and, at his right, Syakir (2009 MSSM U15 Team champion.

Right in white shirt, Faizal Roslan vs Fadhil Aiman Zakaria.

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - R3 Pairings

Few interesting results in Round 2:

1) Roshan Singh (MCF 1493) won against Justin Ong (IRtg-2018)

2) Lucas Matthew Dutton (MCF 1324) won against Irfan Haqqim (MCF 1694)

3) Aron Teh Eu Wen (MCF 1477) won against Sirajuddin Munawwir (MCF 1557)

Table #5 - siblings matchup of the Latib sisters. would it be another siblings matchup later? the Hong sisters ...

Another battle tomorrow!!! HAVE NICE SLEEP!

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - Day 1

the Boys (Open) category - Round 2 Pairings

Not many upset results in the first round. Most higher-seeded players won their respective games. At Table #18, the unrated Lum Zhun Hoong defeated Sirajuddin Munawir, the son of Cikgu Fuad, from Kedah. The latter has MCF ratings of 1557.

Both Table #25 and #26 drew. At Table #25, Faris Aminuddin from Shah Alam, the former SKBJ chess player, managed to draw with Aron Teh Eu Wen (MCF 1477). In the pairings, he is not rated but actually his MCF ratings is 1217. While at Table #26, Daniel Iskandar, the elder brother of Aziz Farhan, (MCF 1443) also drew with his unrated opponent, Muhammad Hazim Bin Mohamad from Perak.

For Round 2, 8-year-old Amier Hamzah managed to beat 15-year-old and higher-rated Muhd Nabil. He is really happy with the win, his father as well. Such result surely makes the tournament more interesting.

As for Fikri, he won his first round. Then in the second round, he played white at Table #8 against Sarawakian fifth former, Ahmad Afiq Afyfy Rosli. He missed a possible draw with the 1938-FIDE-rated player.

the Girls category - Round 2 Pairings

Three interesting results in the first round for the Girls category.

1) The second seed, Sarika Subramaniam, lost to Puteri Nur Fariza Ahmad Darji

2) Camelia Johari (MCF 1468) managed to draw and escape a defeat at Table #8.

3) Ainur Nadirah Zulkifli (MCF 1169) won against Latifah Kaiyisah Latib (MCF 1465)

As for Anis Fariha, she won her first-round game. But she was stopped in the second round by Vickie Hong Wee Ki where both are studying in the neighboring schools in Bukit Jelutong. The former in the primary while the latter in the secondary.

Among the last games to finish in the first round is the game between Winnie Hong Wee Ki, the sister of Vickie, and Nur Farihah Aminuddin. Winnie managed to win at last.

Fikri (right with black shirt) vs Ariffuddin (left with green shirt)

The top seed, Amira Shahmina of Selangor, (left) vs Nur Munirah Mat Rahim (right), one of the Perak players in this tournament.

The top seed, Yeap Eng Chiam, (left) vs Tan Yong Zhao

Fikri vs Afyfy (right) in the 2nd round. On his right is Wong Jianwen.

The ever supportive father and chess parent from Perak, Mr Raymond Siew, who is the Perak team manager in this NJCC. He will have his own personal chess blog soon.

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship - R1 Pairings

R1 pairings - the Boys (Open) category

Yeap Eng Chiam who just defeated a 2400+ International Master few days ago in the Singapore Chess Festival is the top seed. Can he lives up to the expectation to cruise through the nine rounds to be the champion? Surely he needs to beat his tough and challenging opponents like Sumant, Justin Ong, Evan Timothy, Mark Siew, Izz, Jianwen, Nabil, and Syakir ... just name a few.

Fikri, GiLoCatur's eldest son will start his NJCC with black at Table #30 against Muhd Ariffuddin Junaidi.

R1 pairings - the Girls category

Amira Shahmina, Cikgu Zull's youngest daughter, is the top seed in the Girls category. She will be challenged by the likes of Sarika Subramaniam who is in top form GiLoCatur's believe, Puteri Rifqah, WFM Nur Najiha and the Hong sisters - Winnie and Vickie. Or would it be other player who will take center stage? Anis Fariha, GiLoCatur's daughter, will start as the 17th seed and with white play against the unrated Nurul Farhanum Md Rais.

Let's the game begin!!! Let's find out who will excel and who will stumble. Let's see who will smile and who will cry!!! Let's see the drama!!!

Source of the pairings : Mr Greg Lau of MCF, 15/12/2009, 9.00pm

The 2nd National Junior Chess Championship

Tomorrow is the day! The second NJCC or Malaysian National Junior Chess Championship will kick off tomorrow.

source : MCF blogsite

Below is the list of participants for the Boys section as of 14/12/2009, 9.30pm :

1. AFIQ B. MOHD. JAMIL
2. AHMAD AFIQ AFYFY B. ROSLI
3. AHMAD FIRDAUS B. MOHAMAD RODZI
4. AHMAD HAFIZA B. YUSOFF
5. AIMAN KAMAL FAKRULLAH B. LATIB
6. AMIER HAMZAH B. MOHD ZUHRI
7. AMIRUL RAHIMI B. SHAMSUDDIN
8. ARIF B. MOHD. JAMIL
9. ARON TEH EU WEN
10. AZARUL AZMIE B. AHMAD ZAINNIE
11. CHONG YAN MENG
12. DANISH HAMZAH AL – HADI
13. ETHAN WONG HSIEN AUN
14. EVAN TIMOTHY CAPEL
15. FADHIL AIMAN B. ZAKARIA
16. FIKRI B. SALEH
17. JOSHUA LIM WEN KWANG
18. JUSTIN ONG – WAY
19. KABIR SINGH
20. KEOK KAI EN
21. KUHAN A/L B.GANESAN
22. LEE KUANG WEI, DOMINIC
23. LOON MUN CHUN
24. LOW HONG JIN
25. LOW JUN JIAN
26. LOW JUN KEAT
27. LUCAS MATTHEW DUTTON
28. LUM ZHUN HOONG
29. MARK SIEW KIT – TZE
30. MAX WONG ZI QUAN
31. MOHAMED SHABYYL B. MOHAMED AJMAL
32. MOHD FAIZAL B. ROSLAN
33. MOHD MUHAIMIN B. MOHD TARIZI
34. MOHD SYAZWAN B. MOHD ZIN
35. MUHAMAD ALFIRDAUS BIN MD NAZIR
36. MUHAMAD FIRDAUS AFIQ B. ASMAN
37. MUHAMMAD FAISAL B. ROSLAN
38. MUHAMMAD FARIS B. AMINUDDIN
39. MUHAMMAD HAZIM B. MOHAMAD
40. MUHAMMAD IHSAN SYAHIRAN B. MUHAMMAD NAJIB
41. MUHAMMAD IRFAN RENDRAWAN B. MUHAMMAD NAJIB
42. MUHAMMAD IZZ SAIFUDDIN
43. MUHAMMAD NAJWAN B. AZMAN HISHAM
44. MUHAMMAD NURIHSAN B. YAHYA
45. MUHAMMAD NURIMAN B.YAHYA
46. MUHAMMAD NURISLAM B.YAHYA
47. MUHAMMAD SIRAJUDDIN MUNAWWIR
48. MUHAMMAD ZIKRI B. MAT ZAKI
49. MUHD ARIFFUDDIN B. JUNAIDI
50. MUHD HAFIDZUDDIN B. JUNAIDI
51. MUHD IRFAN HAQQIM B. AZHAR
52. MUHD KHAIRUL B.NASRIN
53. MUHD NABIL B. AZMAN HISHAM
54. MUHD SYAKIR SHAZMEER B. AZHAR
55. NEO XUE ERN
56. NEO XUE WEI
57. NEO XUE WEN
58. NG HAN LOONG
59. NG JEN SHENG
60. NIK MUHD. HAZIQ NAJMUDDIN
61. NIKK B. JOHARI
62. NOOR HISHAM B. AHAYAT
63. NOOR MUHAMMAD AZLAN SHAH B. ATAN
64. NUR NABILA BT. AZMAN HISHAM *
65. ROSHAN SINGH
66. SEE KAI JUN
67. SEE KAI LOONG
68. SHAUN QUAKE ZHUN ZIAN
69. SHREYES A/L SUBRAMANIAM
70. SUMANT A/L SUBRAMANIAM
71. SUNIL A/L KALIVANAN
72. TAN JUN FENG
73. TAN SOON KEAT
74. TAN SOON WEI
75. VINTON WONG HSIEN LOONG
76. WONG JIANWEN
77. YAP QIAN ZHENG , JONATHAN
78. YAT GUO JIE
79. YEAP ENG CHIAM

Below is the list of participants for the Girls section as of 14/12/2009, 9.30pm :

1. AINUR NADIRAH BT. ZULKIFLI
2. AMIRA SHAHMINA BT. ZULLKAFLI
3. ANIS FARIHA BT. SALEH
4. CAMILIA BT. JOHARI
5. CHONG SUE SIN
6. FAIRUZ HAMIZAH BT. AHMAD FUAD
7. FATHIN SAKINAH BT. MOHD RADZI
8. FATIH NOR SAHARIAH
9. FATIN NUR NADHIRAH BT. MAT RAHIM
10. GOH XIN YEN
11. JANET CHAN CHOOI PO
12. JOYCE TAN SUE LEE
13. KHIRRANYA A/P B.GANESAN
14. LATIFAH KAIYISAH BT LATIB
15. LATIFAH SYAMIMI BT. LATIB
16. NABILATUL NADIA BT.JUNAIDI
17. NAZARIENE YUVON A/P SIMON
18. NIK NUR NAJMINA
19. NUR FAQIHAH BT. AMINUDDIN
20. NUR FARIHAH BT. AMINUDDIN
21. NUR MUNIRAH BT MAT RAHIM
22. NUR NAJIHAH BT. AZMAN HISHAM
23. NUR SABRINA ALIYA BT. ASMAN
24. NURISLAMURNI BT. YAHYA
25. NURUL BT. ABDULLAH
26. NURUL FARHANUM BT.MD RAIS
27. PAVITRANAYAGI A/P JAYAMURTHEY
28. PUTERI MUNAJJAH AZ-ZAHRAA BT. AZHAR
29. PUTERI RIFQAH FAHADA BT. AZHAR
30. PUTRI NURFARIZA BT. AHMAD DARJI
31. SARIKA A/P SUBRAMANIAM
32. SITI AISYAH BT. SABIRIN
33. SITI KHADIJAH BT. SABIRIN
34. SITI NORASIKIN BT. MAHMUD
35. SITI NUR AFIQAH
36. VICKIE HONG WEE KI
37. WINNIE HONG WEE NI

source : Mr Greg Lau, the secretary of MCF

Checking the above list of participants, GiLoCatur observes that :

• Both Yeoh Li Tian and NWM Tan Li Ting are not listed. If not mistaken, they both are still in Bejing for a six-week training stint.
• 
  
• NJM Tariq Amru and NJWM Nur Nabila are not defending their titles. Nabila is listed in the boys section. She wants to challenge herself among the boys. She needs tougher and more challenging opponents for her to propel in the world youth chess championship (wycc) in the future. She almost made it to the top of her age-group category if not she lost to the 2007 U10 Girls 1st runner up, Sarah Chiang from USA. Can she be the next NJM? Will the boys including his elder brother allow that to happen? Let's wait and see!
• 
  
• NM Edward Lee, who was participating in the recent Commonwealth Open in Singapore, is also missing from the list. GiLoCatur also notices that the Fong siblings as well as Lim Zhou Ren and Tan Ken Wei are also not in the list. They are among the top Malaysian juniors.
• A Sarawakian Afiq Afyfy is participating in the tournament. SPM is over and surely he will be having fun playing chess and to show his skills and wits before going serious with academic. GiLoCatur knew and met Afyfy while participating in the Sarawak Open last year with Fikri and Irfan Haqqim.
• 
  
• NWM Alia Aznin is also not in the list. The same goes to Olivia Madhavan and Renitha Narayanan who participated in the recent Singapore Chess Festival. Another notable players who are not in the list are the Sivanesan siblings - Subramaniam and his younger sister, Nithyalakshmi from Negeri Sembilan.
• 
  
• Another chess families that are missing - the Sulkifly's and Noor Akbar's. (GiLoCatur : Actually, the eldest son of Noor Akbar is participating. His name is Daniel Iskandar. Akbar told that his other children do not participate because the other two boys are recuperating from circumcision and his daughter got fever. 16/12/2009, 8.25pm)

Best of luck to all the participants. InsyaAllah, GiLoCatur will be there at the tournament venue since GiLoCatur's son and daughter will also participate. Fikri will play in the boys category while Anis Fariha are among the Girls players along with her school team mate, Nur Faqihah. GiLoCatur will try to do the coverage from the tournament site.