SEEDLINGS IN 2014

It is time to grow new seedlings for the next training cycle, so here are the new seedlings.

Among the new students this year, like Peng Zheng and Chloe Soh (who have not played yet), the others took part in the New Generation Tournament at the Serangoon this year. I wanted to get a feel of their mannerisms at the board and so encouraged them to sign up.

Isaiah was usually quiet and sometimes very passive in making his moves. He started the tournament without recording his moves and soon got checkmated. After advising him to take his time to slow down, writing his moves and using the thought process he learnt, he soon settled down and started his wins. I was impressed when he ended his last game downing Hoo Jun Ming by winning his Queen early in the game and converted the game promptly after that. He managed to win a pawn endgame by Queening his pawn - a sign he's understood his lessons. The future holds bright for this student if he's able to grow in time by more diligent practice and learning to be a little more aggressive.

Nash Lim started not too long ago and has the temperament of a fighter. As we've started working not too long ago, I do not expect immediate results yet but I'm sure that in time he too will progress. Nash finished with 5 pts on 10th place, not bad at all. He has been playing games online and practicing so it will be a matter of time before we hear more of his efforts.

Naython though has not quite reached the maturity we'd all expect of, so more patience is required. He has got a single-mindedness about him that's good especially in the execution of a winning plan, but bad when he loses his caution in looking out for his opponent's threats. However, more game practice should remedy this temporal weakness. He has developed the concentration required and that augurs well for future tournaments.

Other students shall be featured in time to come, not to worry. As it's going to be a busy year ahead in grooming them, I ask humbly the parents for patience and faith in staying the course and not be too anxious in expecting results. They are after all 8 to 9 year olds and require time to discern the teachings and internalise them. At this point in time, playing more games consistently over chess.com will be good in honing their board vision and visualisation skills.

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