The traditional Lunar New Year invitational chess match between youth from Hong Kong and Guangzhou East Lake Chess Club organized by the Hong Kong Chess Federation in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Saturday 16 February was a noteworthy event.

In five different age categories (Under 8, 10, 13, 15 and 18 years) our youth competed from 2pm until 8pm in a round robin format (everybody in each age group plays against everybody) both against fellow Hong Kong players as well as our guest players from Guangzhou.

In the U8 group,Hong Kong’s pride was in good hands with our four talents Adrian Leung, Gerent Lee, (and Caissa’s!) Miguel Angel Garceran Wang and Mei Jing Garceran Wang: the top 5 boys and the highest ranked girl of the Hong Kong U8 Championship!

 

 

Mei Jing ended with 1.5 points somewhat below what could have been achieved … if all the other interesting things in the venue would had distracted her less … but as youngest player of this age group she is learning fast and her draw against the number 2 who had to cling to giving perpetual check, for example, was very convincing.

Gerent, playing fast as lightening, had some bad luck here and there but ended with 4 points well on 4th place. Adrian, another blitz mover, got 3rd prize with 5 points on tie-break.

 

 

It was Caissa’s home grown Miguel Angel though, who showed best form of the day and with 7 out of 7, the only 100 percent score of all age groups of the day, deservedly was crowned champion U8.

 

 

The U10 group was also well represented by our star players (all in the top 6 of the Hong Kong Championship in this age group): Richard Takasumi, Coleman Lee, Colin Wong and Peter Zhao. Colin and Peter ended 5^th and 4^th respectively with 3 points just out of the prize zone.

 

 

Richard and Coleman were the players in best form and ended with 6.5 points convincingly shared 1^st. As they had played a draw against each other earlier, a blitz game of 5 minutes per player was to be played to determine the winner. This attractive blitz game which was won by Richard.

 

 

 

The U13 group and up consisted of 6 players and a 5 games round robin. From Hong Kong we had Michael Yang (Hong Kong Champion in this age category), Humphrey Hui and Ngai Yeung (Hong Kong’s highest ranked girl in this age group) participating.

 

 

Michael Yang continued to be in great form and with 4 points was the undisputed number 1 in this group.

 

 

In the U15 age group Jeffrey Lam, Julian Lee and Saloni Anandpara, all Hong Kong top 10 players in their relevant age categories, had to stay very focused in a strong group.

 

 

Differences were so minimal that the top 3 in this group had to be decided by several blitz games between Jeffrey, Julian and the Guangzhou player who in the end managed to win first prize.

 

 

Also in the U18 age group Hong Kong had lined up some if its finest players in this category through Enoch Wong, Christopher Masters and Jonathan Ho.

 

 

Christopher played one of the most spectacular games of the day with a rook sacrifice in the early middle game forcing his opponent’s black king to walk out of its castled position into the middle of the board and the end of the game.

Enoch scored one more point though and ended to become champion  with 4 points.

 

 

Congratulations to all players from Hong Kong and our guests from Guangzhou, and not the least to the organizers, Jackson and Andrew, who all pulled off a very exciting chess afternoon.