The strongest 8 players based on 2013 MM performance that have
formed the current cycle National Men Squad are listed below:-
1.
Lim Yee Weng [Ranked 4th in FIDE March 2014 release]
2.
Aron Teh Eu Wen [Ranked 8th in FIDE March 2014 release]
3.
Mas Hafizulhimi [Ranked 2nd in FIDE March 2014 release]
4.
Lim Zhuo Ren [Ranked 11th in FIDE March 2014 release]
5.
Wong Jianwen [Ranked 14th in FIDE March 2014 release]
6.
Ng Tze Han [Ranked 7th in FIDE March 2014 release]
7.
Fong Yit San [Ranked 12th in FIDE March 2014 release]
8.
Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong [Ranked 5th in FIDE March 2014 release]
All players listed above are eligible to take part in this
year MM. However, only a maximum of 5 players listed above will be able to
retain their places in National Squad 2014. Unless these players are willing to
take part in National Closed and able to finish top 3 to guarantee themselves a
place in National Squad just like Aron, Jianwen, and Yit San did last year.
The top 15 active players (besides players that are listed above)
based on FIDE March 2014 release are:-
1.
Nicholas Chan [Ranked 1st in FIDE March 2014 release]
2.
Yeoh Li Tian [Ranked 3rd in FIDE March 2014 release]
3.
Jonathan Chua Jin Hai [Ranked 5th in FIDE March 2014 release]
4.
Jimmy Liew Chee Meng [Ranked 9th in FIDE March 2014 release]
5.
Marcus Chan [Ranked 10th in FIDE March 2014 release]
6.
Leong Mun Wan [Ranked 13th in FIDE March 2014 release]
7.
Francis Chin [Ranked 15th in FIDE March 2014 release]
One player from the above list will be eligible to take part
in this year MM. Nicholas has the first right to accept, followed by Li Tian,
Jonathan and so on. This one player can only get his place in National Squad if he finishes among top 5 (excluding NC qualifiers). Of course, these players can also opt to play in the
National Closed and try to qualify automatically into the National Squad by
finishing top 3 in NC.
It will be interesting to see these fifteen players come
together in NC to pit their skill against one another and serve as prelude to the
MM 2014. However, it is only a dream scenario that is very unlikely to
happen in view several players are living overseas. If it happens, at least 60% among
them will finish in the top 10 i.e. 9 of them are inside top 10 based on historical data of Malaysian
elo ratings.
