2012 SKBJ Chess Selection

I am so tired today. Because it was a hectic weekend for me. On Saturday, my school had a chess selection. On Sunday, I took part in a rapid chess tournament where I had to play eight rounds of 20 minute per player.  I had to play against opponents much older than me. Oh no, less time for my computer games and no cycling activity on Sunday. hu hu hu ...

In the SKBJ chess selection, there were 28 players in the boys category. There were four of us who are in Year 4.

Why I was standing in front of class with seven others? No, no it was not a punishment as you might think. he he he ... Actually, all the eight of us are the Top 8 in the selection tournament where we played five rounds. We will be representing our school in the MSS chess championships this year.

L12 SKBJ team

The members for the Under 12 boys team are Muhammad Faqih, Afiq Jamil, me, Raja Bazil, Muhammad Ilham QayyumMuhammad Shafiq, Ardani Edian and Dzarif.

P12 SKBJ team

The members for the Under 12 girls team - Aminuddin siblings, Nur Faqihah & Nur Faiqah, Nurhannah Syafirin, Raja Bazilah, Nurul Ateqah, Sabrina Sofia, Yasmin and Alyssa Dania.

The final ranking for SKBJ chess selection can be viewed here.

My New SRA School

This year I am in Year 4. Starting 2012, my school session is different compared to the previous three years. My SK (Sekolah Kebangsaan) session will be in the morning while my SRA (Sekolah Rendah Agama) will be in the afternoon. My parent changed my SRA school from SRA TTDI Jaya to SRA Bukit Jelutong. It is much closer from home now. So, I am the only one in my family who have two SRA schools. Both my elder brother and sister had only one.

Ready for my class on Thursday, 5th January

Actually, SRA Bukit Jelutong (below picture) started to operate last year. So, this year will be its second year of establishment.

SRA Bukit Jelutong, my new SRA school in its 2nd year of establishment

NJCC Update

I played in one chess tournament only last month. It is a classic chess tournament. A classic or also known as standard chess tournament has a time control of 90 minutes. The 4th NJCC that I only updated on the first day was the tournament that I took part. Let me continue the update.

How many points I got at the end? How many wins, draws or lose? 

I won two games, drew four and lost three. Below is the detail of my opponents and game results. Out of nine opponents, two of them are not FIDE rated like myself. Fortunately, the other seven are rated players. My dad is happy because I had played against many FIDE-rated opponents. I managed to win one and drew three scoring 2.5/7 points. 

source : here

Below are several pictures of me playing against my opponents in the tournament taken by my dad.

Round 4 playing black against Arif (left), I drew with him

Round 6 winning over my schoolmate, Faqih (right)

I was very happy when drew with Kah Heng (left) in Round 7

And also drew against Danial Iskandar (right), my brother's chess buddy in Round 8

I was so tired on the third day that I decided to skip the sixth round. But luckily I kept playing and I won. I will take part on this coming Saturday in a chess tournament held in Seremban. I can't wait to have a commuter ride to Seremban as planned and told by my dad. Wish me luck in that tournament, okay! 

NJCC - Day 1

Monday, 19/12/2011

Today I went to DATCC located at the fourth floor of Wilayah Shopping Complex with all my family members. I take part in the National Junior Chess Championship or its famous abbreviation NJCC. With my elder brother, Fikri, I play in the Boys category. About fifty Malaysian chess junior players take part in the championship.

The First Round

I was paired against my schoolmate, Afiq Mohd Jamil whose Elo ratings is 1756, at table 10. I played white. I lost the game after 54 moves.

Round 1 

The Second Round

In the afternoon at 3 o'clock, I faced Amierullah Iqram Ismail at table 23 in the second round. I won this game with black pieces.

Round 2

So, I won one and lost one in the first day of the tournament. My brother won one and drew another while my sister won her first round but lose the second one.

Horse Riding In Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Wednesday, 7th December 2011

I am in Penang at the moment. My family and I arrived in Penang two days ago. We came by air plane. We are in Penang because my brother and sister are taking part in a chess tournament known as the 3rd Penang Heritage City International Open held from 6th to 10th December.

Today is the second day. Both my brother and sister have played four rounds each. After they finished playing, we came back to our hotel located in Batu Ferringhi. After having dinner, my dad brought me to the beach nearby our hotel as he promised earlier. 

We walked on the beach and took pictures. It was dark in the sea, so I could not enjoy the sea scenery. Suddenly, a man with a horse came to us. I was given a chance to ride a horse. Yes, I was riding a horse like a cowboy. Both my brother and sister would surely be jealous of me ... LOL ...

What a wonderful experience to have a horse ride along the beach. Check out below pictures.

yeah yeah I am on a horse back
"come on horsy, start walking"

Don't be jealous, I am riding a horse heeeyaaaah ....

the horse named "Rainbow" loves me

Me, at Batu Ferringhi beach 

The 1st Kompleks 3C MPSJ Chess Tournament

Today I took part in the 1st Kompleks MPSJ Chess tournament. The last tournament I played was Ole Ole Shah Alam about three weeks ago.

photo 1 - played white in Round 1

My dad and sis played too. My bro, Fikri, did not because the tournament is for 1600 national ratings and below only. My bro's national ratings is 1600 plus.

The tournament hall was packed because 155 participants took part. It was a big turn out. A record said Mr Stonemaster.

photo 2

We had to play eight (8) rounds. The time control was 20 minute per player. It had one category only meaning I had to play against adult opponents. But there were best categories.

photo 3

photo 4

photo 5 - yeah yeah I won I won ... :)-

I won five (5) and lost three (3). So, my score was 5/8. I won the first runner up in Best Primary School section. My sis did not perform so well in this tournament. She scored 4/8 points only. She did not win any prizes.

My dad? He also did win any prize. But I am very proud of my dad because he won 4, drew one (1) and lost three (3). He scored 4.5/8 points. He almost defeated the top seed of the tournament. In fact, he had a winning advantage, a Queen + two rooks versus a Queen + a rook and a knight. But that is my dad. Could not play well in time pressure.

the prize I won

When I First Learned Playing Chess?

When I first learned playing chess?

Mmmmm I don't really remember. But from my dad's photo collection file, I started to learn playing chess (officially?) when I was five years old.

I took part in the chess camp conducted by Mr Collin Madhavan in December 2007. According to dad, he did not want me to be in the chess camp in the first place because he thought that I was too young then. My big bro and sis were registered for the camp after participating in several chess tournaments.

My big bro had his first chess tournament in June 2007. Since he was so interested in chess, my dad enrolled him into the chess camp organized by Mr Collin to improve his chess skills and knowledge.

Mr Collin encouraged and persuaded dad to enrol me in the chess camp. Finally, I had my first chess lessons taught by several experienced chess coaches. It was about four years ago.

photo 1 - "peace y'all!"

photo 2 - Sssyyyyy focus, focus ....

photo 3 - I am jovial, ain't I?

I wasn't the youngest participant you know. My friend, Faqih, in the above photo 1 was one year younger than me. In fact, he is my school mate at SK Bukit Jelutong.

Fahim Al-Faqeh