HKCF 1st National Rapid 2015 held at the very disitinctive Po Kok Primary School
After the very successful participation in the National Blitz last week Saturday, which resulted in 4 National Champion titles for our club (!!!), the official 1st National Rapid (25 minutes per person) held by HKCF last Sunday was equally successful for our Caissa players.
In the U8 category our Caissa kids Nathan, Noah and Mahir gradually warmed up towards the end of the event. Especially Mahir with 3.5 points in only his 2nd tournament impressed a lot in this strongest players field of Hong Kong.
Noah looks with great interest at Nathan’s game and him pressing the clock …
On 2nd place came Allen Pang Bo with very strong 6 points but Bao Jinwen, our U7 world school champion 2015, scored 7 straight wins and became 1st National Rapid Champion U8. Well done boys! Good warming up also for the Dutch Open 3-8 August in which Jinwen will participate in the Caissa team.
Jinwen Hong Kong U8 Rapid Champion 2015 with Caissa and HKCF President David Garceran Nieuwenburg
2nd Prize for Allen Pang Bo with Principal of Po Kok School
In the U10 age category we had 6 players participating among which the recently crowned National U10 Blitz Champion 2015 Miguel Angel and National Best Blitz Girl Mei Jing…
Starting with Vivaan though, he did not get into his rhythm in this event, tired as he was from a very long activity the previous day – but he stayed bravely until the end. No worries Vivaan, your time of scoring points will come soon!
Mei Jing lost her last game which cost her her second Best Girl title which went to Caissa’s Anika with 4 points. Congratulations Anika!
Anika and Mei Jing – competitors and best chess friends!
Harold, also with 4 points, ended 10th, exactly in the middle of the group and Aaditya with a strong 5.5 points ended 4th and just out of reach of a prize like last week with the Blitz. Don’t forget, 3rd time lucky, Aaditya.
But it was Caissa’s Champion in U10, Miguel Angel, who played a magnificent tournament and won the tournament, on tie-break against Cai Yang, a strong player from China, and his second title in row. Well done Miguel, you are among a select group grossing National titles like this!
Miguel Angel and Cai Yang shaking hands before their game
Anika Best Girl U10 HKCF 1st National Rapid 2015
Miguel Angel National Champion U10 HKCF 1st National Rapid 2015
Miguel Angel, Mei Jing and Harold will also join the Dutch Open 3-8 August. Exciting!
In U12 age category we had 5 Caissa kids participating. Charles and Hilary, with 2 and 3 points respectively, can look back positively at their result among the strongest of Hong Kong. This was only their second tournament, their first being a year ago, and in this group tournament practice is really an advantage.
Oliver with 4 points and last week’s National Blitz Champion Richard with 4.5 points ended 6th and 4th respectively. Very good results.
Richard ready for the last round against Kannammai
But this time James, who had to miss last week’s Blitz, was the best player in this age group and was deservedly crowned National Rapid Champion with 6.5 points. Bravo Champ!
HKCF 1st National Rapid Champion U12 James Kwong
With Richard and James also joining the Dutch Open 3-8 August there is going to be firework on the boards in all age categories in unsuspecting Holland! Ssssssst.
In the U14, U16 and U18 we had no Caissa players but we had the usual suspects in the Open section.
Tejpal warned up well towards the end and ended with 3 points. James with 3.5 points ended 14th. Koji scored 4 points ending 12th and David, who started strong, until the after lunch dip, ended 9th also with 4 points. No prizes, but we had great fun.
Koji watching James’ and David’s games
