SINGAPORE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015

This year's National Championships from 20-27 December differs from the ones held before.

We see the return of some old faces with the rating cap of 2400 lifted. With the absence of (IM Goh Wei Ming who will be away at in Hungary), IMs Hsu Li Yang and Terry Toh, we get the participation of:

GM Wong Meng Kong
IM Ravindran Shammugam
IM Enrique Paciencia
IM Tin JingYao
FM Mark Ong Chong Ghee (after a long break!)
CM Tan Wei Liang
Benjamin Foo
William Woong
Urcan Olimpiu

We hope that this event with a total prize fund of $5000 can attract and compensate the top players of Singapore for their time and effort in maintaining the chess prowess whilst pursuing a career outside of chess. I hope that the following players (whose names are mentioned below) do see the significance of contributing back to the Singapore Chess scene now that there is positive vibes and vigour with the launch of the Nationals.

Terry Chua

IM-elect Timothy Chan

FM Dominic Lo

Kelvin Wee

Andre Eng

Jarred Neubronner

Wee Zhen Yang

Teo Wei Xing

Lau Keng Boon

Mark Chan

Tan Tzer En

Howard Chiu

Wong Meng Leong

IM Jason Goh

Alphonsus Chia

NM Koh Kum Hong

IM Tan Lian Ann

Alvin Ong

Tan Chin Hoe

IM Leslie Leow

IM Lim Seng Hoo

Quek Suan Shiau

Quek Suan Fuan

Tan Chor Chuan

FM Goh Cheng Hong

Dennis Tan

Derrick Heng

FM Lim Hoon Cheng
Low Pe Yeow
Mark Tan Keng Yew
Lee Wang Sheng
Wong Foong Yin

Should all of them (spanning 3 generations of national players) have participated, the Nationals will have been the strongest in Singapore chess history.

Comments

HOW TO PARK AND GET TO TAMPINES HUB THIS NSI

To get to Tampines Hub the best way from the Central and West, take the PIE and exit at 3B and drive towards Tampines Ave 2. You can go via Tampines Ave 7 and join Tampines Ave 4, then turn right at the junction of Ave 5. There is less traffic on this route than if you are to come from the Simei Exit and up Tampines Ave 5. The EW(2) line station is also quite close. DT32 is not ready yet. As for parking, there is an open car park just after the Hub. Drive past the Hub, turn round the corner and you'll see the entrance on the Ave 5 curve. This is a coupon parking carpark and open-air (60cts 1/2 hr) and has about 200+ lots. The other place to park is across from the Tampines Hub at Block 858-864 which is open to public 7am to 7pm coupon parking. You can enter this carpark from St 83 Block 864 and navigate towards Block 859. If you go round till you see a green sign on your left, the road leads to the Drop Off and North Plaza Carpark entrance. Proceed straight in to...

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

December draws to a close, ending 2023 and some of my students' journey with me as coach. I had the pleasure to be involved in training Daniel Chan, Er Wen Chen, Timothy Lam, Asher Neo, Wang Yuhan, Toby Herman, Magnus Lim, Eden Harris Yong, Leonard Loh, Emma Lo, Kevin Ng, Damian Tay and lastly Ho Ray Ee, my longest student to stay with me for 6 years. Yes, this may be the largest group of students that left in my years of teaching. Some decided to move on to other trainers (a good sign, as they are seeking other paths to chess improvement) while most I had to end the relationship as coach due to low interest in the game after some months. As for Ray Ee who joined me in 2017, I am of course saddened that he is graduating from my fold but yet proud of what he has achieved. His results were consistent, often finishing well (NAG 7th in 2022, 9th in 2019, 4th in NSI 2018). He has also played in the Selangor Open this year , gaining 77 rating points while getting another 31 ...

RIP DR WONG YIP CHONG

I don't really envy myself as a eulogist, but I had to say something for our ex SCF President who served the Federation in the years 1986-87. Among those who served were Choong Liong Onn, Tan Lian Ann, Giam Choo Kwee, George Wong, myself and Lim Chye Lye. Ignatius Leong was then Competitions Secretary. SCF meetings were usually held at Dr Wong's home at Chancery Lane. As a great host, Dr Wong will welcome us in person and before starting the session, he will treat us with the most appetising of tidbits. Afterward, he would insist that we go for supper at the Whitley Road hawker centre, then situated under the Whitley flyover. As a President, Dr Wong often listened to suggestions and gave his insights on the big picture, but left us to iron out the details. His biggest contribution at his time was his submission of a paper to the SNOC on why chess should be rightly labelled a sport rather than a game. He tried hard to impress upon the authorities that being Asian, Singapore shou...

THOUGHTS OF A CHESS ADDICT

Search This Blog