Caissa Hong Kong Chess Club

chess in hong kong

Miguel Angel ends 2nd in the Dutch Closed Youth Championship U9

June 21st, 2014

The Dutch National closed championship U7, U8 and U9 (Nationale Pupillendag) is like the grande finale of Dutch youth chess in which only players are invited to participate who were qualified by winning or ending in the top 3 of their respective regional chess associations. One of Caissa’s star players, Miguel Angel, was qualified to participate in the U9 category when he became the National Open Champion U8 in 2013.

 

Miguel Angel Garceran Wang in Dutch National Chess Championship 2014 with proud father and trainer

 

Among the best of the best U9 players in Holland, Miguel Angel played a strong tournament ending with 6 out of 7 on the second place. An interesting game showing Miguel Angel’s attacking spirit, although not always 100 percent precise, is here below where Miguel Angel doesn’t take a free rook, nor the queen but nestles his white queen on d7 for the checkmate. Cool …

 

 

The tournament was perfectly well organized with lots of space for parents and guests to sit and wait, eat, talk and have a good cup of coffee while the children played their games in a comfortable and spacious setting.

Anish Giri, currently the strongest Dutch player, ranked 14 in the world (rating 2752), and given his age of only 20 years old likely a serious contender to Magnus Carlsen’s world title any time soon, had come over as a special guest at the end of the tournament to hand out the prizes. Good motivation for all players who know that Giri was only 14 years old when he turned Grandmaster. Go boys and girls – it can be done!

 

Anish Giri, top 15 Grandmaster in the world and the best Dutch chess player handed out the prizes.

Anish Giri, top Grandmaster in the world and the best Dutch chess player at the moment, handed out the prizes.

 

Anish Giri with all prize winners

All prize winners – tired but happy!

 

Caissa and Discovery Bay College win trophies in AK 5th Scholastic

June 15th, 2014

On 14 June over 110 youth players made their way to Bradbury School to participate in the Active Kids yearly scholastic. We recommend AK tournaments: well balancing both being relaxed and well organized. The recommendation we passed on to all our members/students and as such a group of 17 Caissa members/students went up the mountains behind Happy Valley to compete for both individual and school prizes (adding up points of the top 3 players of a school in an age category).

 

Joshua warms up with Wo Hang

Joshua warms up with Wo Hang while Jay watches and in the background Thomas and Louis do their warming up

James, Lucas, Wo Hang, Miguel Angel and Ritvik have other ideas about warming up ...

James, Lucas, Wo Hang, Miguel Angel and Ritvik have other ideas about warming up …

 

Our Caissa crew defended the honor of following schools:

  • Discovery College: Richard, Miguel Angel, Mei Jing, Saga and James
  • Quarry Bay School: Thomas, Howard and Louis
  • Bradbury: Samira and Jay
  • KJS: Pak Liu
  • Swiss German: Ritvik
  • DBIS: Joshua
  • St. Stephens: Ray
  • Kiangsu & Chekiang Primary: Wo Hang
  • French International: Lucas

In the Secondary Age Group, Lucas played his very first tournament and as a Secondary 1 player he found himself in tough competition from older students. Having gotten used a little bit to tournament play, Lucas played stronger towards the end and scored a win against a tough opponent. This was a good experience and the way Lucas has progressed at the club hints towards much more to expect from him in the near future.

 

Lucas is ready to start - let's shake hands!

Lucas is ready to start – let’s shake hands!

Cross Table Final Ranking Secondary

Cross Table Final Ranking Secondary

 

In the P5-P6 Age Group our club’s top seed Richard exceptionally had to concede two losses which pushed him just out of the prize zone. Of course that can happen to the very best – but Richie will be back!

Ray’s fast progress through Step 2 and (about to finish) Step 3 in less than 6 months translated into a solid 3 points in this strong field – perhaps a loss here and there could have been avoided too and we will work on that surely.

Jay, who hadn’t played a tournament for a long while, scored 2 points and his schoolmate Samira couldn’t find her rythm today – it happens to all of us. Great effort and no worries!

 

By the way: despite the late deliveray of McDonalds, lunch at the Caissa table was enjoyed in a nicely shaded area.

Despite the late deliveray of McDonalds, lunch at the Caissa table was enjoyed in a nicely shaded area.

 

Joshua, also at his first tournament, had 2 points among which a good win in the last round. Again, the “experience points” are what count on your first tournament, nothing else. We welcome Joshua to the world of tournament players and let’s gradually improve.

 

Cross Table Final Ranking P5-P6

Cross Table Final Ranking P5-P6

 

In the P3-P4 Age Group the club had the biggest representation.

Saga had an off-day, but still her 1.5 points mattered a lot. Together with the points of Mei Jing and Miguel Angel, the three of them managed to win the 3rd Prize for Discovery College in this age category. As there was another 3rd Prize winner they will receive their trophy soonest to put in the Discovery College trophy corner. Well done!

Thomas scored 2.5 points and Howard scored 3 points. The boys did their very best and it is somewhat unfortunate that these fine results yet still conceal their true strength – by the way they are progressing at the club we look forward to see more of their full potential unleashed in their next appearances!

Pak scored well over 50% with 3.5 points and Meijing with 4 points (winning the prize for Best Girl in P3-P4: congrats!), and even more so Wo Hang on his first tournament scoring 4 points as well, can all be proud of these results.

 

Mei Jing is ready and Pak makes sure he takes another sip of water.

Mei Jing is ready and Pak makes sure he takes another sip of water.

 

Miguel Angel, the club’s top seed in this age category, despite having slept little watching, and enjoying, his Dutch team trash the Spanish with 5-1 in the World Cup Football 2014 at 3am earlier in the morning, did good business and became Champion of P3-P4 by only allowing 1 (perpetual check) draw.

 

The top 4 players, Miguel Angel, vs. Adrian and Sabrina vs. Ben, in the last round.

The top 4 players, Miguel Angel, vs. Adrian and Sabrina vs. Ben, in the last round.

Cros Table Final Ranking P3-P4

Cros Table Final Ranking P3-P4

 

In the P1-P2 Age Category we had 3 players giving it their all. Louis, likely the youngest player in this group, managed to get 2.5 points and James scored 3 points. Well done boys.

Ritvik with 4 points, losing only to the numbers 2 and 3, did great heavy lifting and we expect a further break through any moment soon based on his solid performance during the lessons.

 

James, Louis and Ritvik getting reasdy in their won ways ...

James, Louis and Ritvik getting ready in their own ways …

Cross Table Final Ranking P1-P2

Cross Table Final Ranking P1-P2

 

Finally, a big thank you to AK for allowing us to still register players at late notice. That is the spirit – let the children play and enjoy!

 

Miguel Angel, Meijing, Samira and Saga leaving Bradbury School. Another trophy still to be received for Discovery College by courtesy of Miguel Angel, Mei Jing and Saga!

Miguel Angel, Mei Jing, Samira and Saga leaving Bradbury School. Another trophy still to be received for Discovery College by courtesy of Miguel Angel, Mei Jing and Saga!

 

Fu Hao Chess Club from Mainland Nan Chang to visit Caissa in Discovery Bay for Youth Match on 5 July

June 11th, 2014
Nanchang_Prefecture_within_Jiangxi_(China)

Nan Chang Prefecture is part of China’s southern Jiangxi province

After having played somewhat regularly against youth teams from Macao and Guangzhou, we will now receive 23 youth players from Nan Chang, Mainland China.

All players are under 12 and most players are around the age of 8 years old – but this time we do not divide the players in teams of age groups.

Instead, we will be dividing the players in teams based on their level estimated according to the Step Method as used at our club.

To underline the friendly dimension of the match players are asked to bring their favorite book and exchange that with their opponent as a personal souvenir.

This is a club against club event and the Hong Kong players are selected from Caissa members/students but we do invite some other guest players to join our team. If you are  not our member/student but are interested, let us know before 21 June at: [email protected]

 

invitation nan chang match july 2014