FIDE Rating List for February 2016: Malaysia Has a New No. 1 Player

Dilwen Ding has overtaken Yeoh Li Tian and Nicholas Chan to top the Malaysian Rating List and in doing so has broken 2400.

Dilwen's progress has been extraordinary in the last year or so, jumping from 1814 in December 2014 to 2274 in February 2015 with 40 games played in two months, and now one year later another huge jump to 2420 with 22 games played in one month. Together with an IM norm.

Seems That The Non Chessplayers Won In Singapore!

Dr Hsu Li Yang was in his time a strong International Master and national champion who still plays the occasional game for fun and attended the EOGM as a neutral but was so shocked at what transpired that he was moved to write about it in his blog (https://miphidic.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/scf-eogm-chess/?fb_action_ids=940994475986112&fb_action_types=news.publishes)

The link was posted on FaceBook and after reading it, I asked Li Yang for a clarification about a specific incident and the following is my cut and paste of our conversation in its entirety: 

I was surprised (but also unsurprised!) at this account of how the participants at the EOGM conducted themselves, and perhaps we should take the necessary lessons with the Malaysian Chess Federation Annual General Elections coming up (assuming that it is indeed held after almost two years of postponements (isn't that illegal?).

Malay Mail Online: Is Chess UnIslamic?

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/peter-long/article/is-chess-unislamic

D-Day for Singapore Chess!

Sadly it takes a scandal for chess to get into the mainstream media and it is no different with the Straits Times in Singapore! See http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-chess-fed-could-have-new-leaders

I put it on FaceBook and it was soon picked up by Anjela Khegay and as happens in social media, we soon had a conversation going which was at some points joined by another person I am not personally acquainted with. (Please excuse my poor cut and paste of the screenshots but it is the content that really matters and I think it is of interest!)

Malay Mail Online: Outstanding Chess Organising Worldwide

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/peter-long/article/outstanding-chess-organising-worldwide

EOGM at the Singapore Chess Federation!

Saw this posted on FaceBook and so went to the Singapore Chess Federation website for details (see http://www.singaporechess.org.sg/images/SCF__ACC_Matters/Notice_of_EOGM.pdf).

It's really quite an impressive list making up a huge majority of the local chess community there, both past and present, but no doubt the incumbents will now have organised fellow parents and their non chess playing friends to have a competitive vote bank!

Well, to my friends in Singapore (on both sides?), to each it's own!

For me it just shows what a pitiful lot those who want to take over the Malaysian Chess Federation are (and they have been trying for years now) because not only do they not have the courage to raise issues at EXCO meetings so as to cling on to positions and remain part of the problem, but they are not even able to even get organised to be able to requisition an EGM.

Looks like win or lose, at least those in Singapore chess, more "boleh"!

Malay Mail Online: Can We Have Better Arbiters, Please?

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/peter-long/article/can-we-have-better-arbiters-please

Chessdom on 17th ASEAN+ Age Group Championships 2016

http://www.chessdom.com/17th-asean-age-group-chess-championships-2016/

Getting Serious About My HPE Chess Training in 2016!

Well, I finally get to properly do the HPE Chess Training that I have been talking about - I start with my first group of students this coming Saturday in KL!

Last year it was really quite ad hoc, and done mainly through conducting some camps, having a few weekenders, consulting, etc., as my focus was still very much on travelling around the region to look see but I do plan to cut down quite a lot of travel even if I have already agreed to be at no less than four events already (Bangkok Open or Asian Youth, the ASEAN+ Age-Groups, World Chess Olympiad and the Asian Seniors),

For now I am only committed to do this on Saturdays, with one group 10 a.m. to 12 noon and another 1 to 3 p.m. followed by group analysis/practical work 4 to 6 p.m. and so I will have time to accept a number of students for one on one sessions.

I hope to have time to get the Puchong premises up after Chinese New Year and that could be where I hang out Sundays.

Those interested are welcome to join my Saturday groups - feel free to contact me by email or even through FB, Twitter or WhatsApp - I can accommodate levels from as low as under 1500 to those as high as 2100 - but if stronger do note that most of those whom I work with above 2100 and under 2400 are from overseas and have a different motivation and so have required a more more personalised approach.

Malay Mail Online: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly At The JAPFA ASEAN Championships 2016

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/peter-long/article/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-at-the-japfa-asean-championships-2015

17th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships 2016 Prospectus Is Out!

http://aseanagegroupchess.com/17th-asean-age-group-chess-championships-2016-prospectus/

Dilwen Ding Wins Kecskemet Turn of Year IM Tournament... Makes IM Norm!

Selfies & Snapshots Taken With My Phone At The JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Championships