Full house

It's not often that I get to attend a MSSM chess tournament, so the fact that this year's national schools chess tournament was held in Penang meant that, by hook or by crook, I had to go and see this competition of the best of the nation's schoolboys and schoolgirls.

I was surprised when I arrived at the beach hotel in Tanjung Bunga, where the MSSM chess was taking place. The hotel was practically overrun by youthful chess players. On the sixth floor where the competition was played, the crowd had spilled out of the tournament hall into the foyer.

Players, teachers, coaches and parents: they were sprawled all over the floor. The noise level was high as the chess players, those who had finished their games and were required to leave the tournament hall, were either talking chess or in the midst of playing still more chess. 

In a corner of the foyer, the organisers had thoughtfully set up a closed circuit television to beam one or two games from the tournament hall. People were standing around and casting glances at the screen every now and then.

I looked around the foyer and picked my way gingerly towards the door of the tournament hall. I knew that once inside, I would be able to find some peace and quiet, look at a few of the unfinished games and perhaps even catch up with some familiar faces.

Of course, this MSSM being held in Penang meant that it did not surprise me to see several of the Penang Chess Association's committee members present to help in the running of the event. But I was surprised to see the Malaysian Chess Federation's secretary, Gregory Lau, there too. It was certainly a good gesture of him to lend the MCF’s presence to this national tournament.

Lau grabbed hold of me and started introducing me around as one of the pioneers of the MSSM chess movement. “You know,” he was saying, “this chap was actually playing in the very first MSSM tournament here in Penang in 1972?”

I could see people's eyes lighting up. Boy, was I uncomfortable. The very first MSSM at the Dewan Sri Pinang was 40 years ago. That really showed up my age, hasn't it? Luckily, the moment quickly passed.

But I’d like to make a swift observation between 1972 and 2011. Way back then, there were only eight state teams participating in the inaugural MSSM chess competition. The number of chess players involved? A grand total of 32 players. Boy, were we lost in the vast expanse of the Dewan Sri Pinang’s big auditorium! 

Last week, however, there were no less than 540 participants divided into three age groups (under-18, under-15 and under-12) and separated into events for teams and individuals, and boys and girls. In fact, there weren’t enough space to seat all of the players together in the tournament hall – and they were sitting elbow to elbow – which meant that the organizers were forced to adopt a novel solution which reduced the number of rounds from seven to six, and resting each age group once during the tournament. 

For the record, this is the list of winners at this year’s MSSM chess competition: 

Individual section: boy’s under-18 champion – Muhd Nabil bin Azman Hisham (Selangor); girl’s under-18 champion – Alia Anin Azwa bt Bakri (Melaka); boy’s under-15 champion – Elgin Lee Kah Meng (Penang); girl’s under-15 champion – Nur Nabila bt Azman Hisham (Selangor); boy’s under-12 champion – Muhammad Sirajuddin Munawar (Kedah); girl’s under-12 champion – Puteri Rifqah Fahada bt Azhar (Selangor).

Team section: boy’s under-18 champion – Penang; girl’s under-18 champion – Wilayah Persekutuan; boy’s under-15 champion – Wilayah Persekutuan; girl’s under-15 champion – Wilayah Persekutuan; boy’s under-12 champion – Wilayah Persekutuan; girl’s under-12 champion – Penang.

Up next

Perak grand prix

The Perak International Chess Association will organize the fourth leg of this year’s Tan Sri Lee Loy Seng chess grand prix tournament at the Grand Kampar Hotel on Jun 19. Like the three previous tournaments, this leg in Kampar will be contested over seven rounds with a 25-minute time control. The grand final will be contested in Ipoh on July 10. Other than cash prizes, points are awarded to the top 10 winners of each leg and these would accumulate till the final leg. 

Entry fees for the Kampar tournament: RM25 (open section), RM15 (under 16 years old), RM10 (under 12 years old). For PICA members and Perak residents: RM20 (open section), RM10 (players under 16 years old). Closing date for entries is Jun 16. To register, call Yunus (013.3908129). Alternatively, visit the PICA blog at http://perakchess.blogspot.com for details. 

SJKC Jalan Davidson open

The Cheras Chess Academy and Percawi will assist the SJK(C) Jalan Davidson in Kuala Lumpur to organize an open chess tournament at the school hall on Jun 19. Entry fees: RM12 (students from the school and Percawi members) and RM15 (others). To register, contact Kids For Chess (03.91316474 or 016.2123578).

MBSSKL open

The Methodist Boys’ Secondary School (MBSSKL) in Kuala Lumpur will hold the sixth MBSSKL open tounament at their school on July 23. Six rounds, 25 minutes per game. Entry fees: RM5 (MBSSKL students) and RM15 (others). Closing date for entries is July 9. For more details, visit http://mbsskl.edu.my or contact Sanusi or Madam Yong LY (03.20782293).