Source from
CAS website,
A blast from the past, this "premier" Under-16 Category was won by
many national upcoming strong juniors in those days who eventually
become very strong players in later years (at least in Malaysia context)
e.g. Ooi Chern Ee from Penang (1992), Ng Ee Vern from Selangor (1995 -
1997), Lim Yee Weng from Selangor (1998), Nicholas Chan from Selangor
(2001 - 2002), Anas Nazreen Bakri from Malacca (2003 @ 12y.o., 2006 -
2007), and Abel Yap Jinwei from Selangor (2004). Other notable junior
players include Adrian Wong (1988), Mohd Hirmiadi Don (1989), Chen Tien
Yue (1990), Hoy Weng Keung (1991), Hafiz Shafruddin (1999 @ 13y.o.),
Muhd Johan Iskandar Foudzi (2000), and Low Jun Jian (2008). Then, this
tournament was discontinued after the 22nd edition for 3 years from 2009
until 2011.
So, who shall be crowned as Champion in this edition?
Will s/he become the next generation elite player for the country?
Now, the tournament highlights in Under-16:-
1. In Round 1, two players namely
Iskandar Danial
Adam and
Lee Guang Yang
from Klang, Selangor who are eligible as running candidates and to be
chosen into Selangor Generasi-10 team for upcoming Kasugi Team Chess
Championship had to forfeit their respective game as they reached after
the walk-over period of 25 minutes. Generally, no upsets among the top 8
board with the exception of Board 5 where
Bausch Koh Sian
Kuan lost his Round 1 encounter after failing in his attempt to
claim a draw using Article 10.2. The Chief Arbiter, Lim Tse Pin, had
applied Article 10.2.c in the given situation and his opponent,
Ho Eu Sheng, was awarded 2 extra minutes and
the game continued as per normal play.
[Take note, do not be mistaken for the 2 extra minutes given to
opponent under Article 10.2.b. The game actually has ended and waiting
for Arbiter to made a decision at a later stage of the game if Article 10.2.b was applied.]
2. In Round 2, 9th seed
Daryl Wong Cheng
Lim created an upset by defeating 2nd seed
Subramanian
Sivanesan. While, 16th seed
Viknesh
Viajantheran continued to rub salt into 11 y.o. Bausch lousy start
to the event. While, 6th seed Sun-Xin had practically killed off 17th
seed Guang Yang chance of qualifying into the Selangor Generasi-10 team
in this round.
Vinton Wong Hsien
Loong (was ranked last on the field by accident due to his National
Rating was not updated into the rating column. This act has benefited
him since he will be paired against lower seeded player on the top-half
of the pairing card. His actual ranking should be 9th seed.). He won his
encounter against 10th seed
Kughan Ravindran.
3. In Round 3,
Cheong Jie Yao had created a major upset by defeating MSSM player,
Low Jun Keat on Board 2. Both
Tharoun Sharma
Ravindran and Vinton who had split point in Round 1 had managed to
draw against much higher rated players in this round. While, Iskandar
and
Dawson Tan Soon
Wei had won their respective encounter against giant-killer Viknesh and Eu Sheng. Elsewhere, Bausch picked up his first point.
Can
he clawed back like what he did in Under-14 one week ago from 1 point
from 3 games to 5 points from 7 games? Lets wait and see.
4. In Round 4, the battle of supremacy and the right to the U-16 title
just started. Whoever wins on Board 1 is likely to be crowned as
Champion. 11+ (not yet 12 y.o.)
Tan Yong Zhao had emerged as the clear leader after disposing-off Jie Yao. Other players like Jun Keat,
Ethan Wong Hsien
Aun,Vinton and Tharoun had won their respective games to be tied on points with Jie Yao.Elsewhere,
Natasha Kavina
Sundra Rajoo and
Lee Zhi Wei had lost unexpected to lower ranked opponents.
5. In Round 5, Ethan and Jie Yao had consolidated their position among
the front runners going after top prizes. While, Subramanian got back
within a striking distance to compete against the front runners after
winning his game against unrated
Muhd Adam Fauzan.
Elsewhere, Bausch managed to scramble for a win from an inferior
position under time pressure after a blunder made by Zhi Wei who had
more time on his clock.
What about the top board action? Yong
Zhao with a 1 point advantage over the field was paired against 3rd seed
Jun Keat. The latter attacked furiously on former King located on
Queenside and managed to expose the former King for an easy win since
the former had to give up at least a pawn or two. Alas, the latter
suddenly fell into a simple chess tactic and lost his own Queen instead.
Looks like Yong Zhao will join Anas as the youngest player to win
Selangor Junior Open (Under-16).
Will it happens? Lets wait and see.
6. In Round 6, Yong Zhao should be cruising on the lap for victory since
two players who were 1 point lower had lost their games to Yong Zhao in
early rounds. He was paired against his nemesis, Subramaniam, who he
had not win at all previous encounter.
Can he breaks the jinx? Too bad, No. Elsewhere,
Jie Yao and Ethan had decided to split the point. Iskandar up the tempo
in his quest towards a place in the team by disposing off fellow
contender Jun Keat from the challenge and Dawson who did not have a good
outing last Sunday too had bounced back to trounce Bausch. Sun Xin and
Vinton too had kept up with the pace with respective win. While, Natasha
and Zhi Wei did not play up to their rating strength.
7. In Round 7, Yong Zhao was facing a similar situation like MBSSKL Open
Under-23 (yup you see it correctly, no typo error in Category) played a
day earlier where he was leading the field by half a point until the
last round. All he needs is to draw the game. However, he lost the last
round and the dream to become the youngest ever Champion in MBSSKL Open
was shattered.
So near yet so far. Will history repeat itself again?
He was paired against Sun Xin. As one by one ended their games, the
tension on Board 1 was rising exponentially. All players put their focus
on the last remaining board. Nevertheless, Yong Zhao had managed to
reach a position of 3 pawns vs. 3 pawns on same side with a slightly
favorable King's position before he claimed a draw under Article 10.2.
The CA had applied Article 10.2.b in this situation. The verdict, the
game ended in a draw shortly by players agreement after both players
reach a sensible non-winnable position despite Yong Zhao had sacked a
pawn to get into that position purposely. Elsewhere, players on top
boards had played their heart out to craft a win under "fairplay spirit"
(unlike the scene witnessed a week earlier where players end the game
after 1 move was made).
The final standing for top 15 prizewinners as below:-
Take note: Tan Yong Zhao was declared as the Champion due to P/E as first tie-break. |
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For the full result, please
click here.