Daniel Lam wins Caissa Winter Blitz Open and visiting GM Raymond Keene allows 2 draws in 20 games simul

December 10th, 2014

It was full house again last Sunday on a day fully packed with chess activities at our Sheung Wan center. Our Blitz Open started at 11am and lasted over 9 rounds until 4.15pm after which we had visiting GM Raymond Keene hand out the prizes and play a simul against 20 players until well after 7pm.

All 93 photos are here!

Nine players from Shenzhen, of whom eight U10 or U8, joined our tournament.

Ritvik remaining cool and focused in a hectic and packed environment

First things first: the Open Blitz. In the Open (adult group) our 2 Caissa members Koji and Long just missed out a prize scoring a respectable 6 out of 9.

Koji last minute preparation …

Spectators watch Cyril-Daniel game move close to time control

Spectators watch the Cyril-Daniel game move close to time control

Third prize went to Edgardo, last year’s winner. Cyril, again, managed to perform well and deservedly collected the 2nd prize. Top performer was Daniel Lam, with 9 straight wins the undisputed Caissa Open Blitz Champion 2014. Congratulations to all.

Daniel gets his Champion prize from GM Raymond Keene

In the B group, U12, we had 4 players with 5 points. On tie-break Ronald just fell out of prize range. Third prize went to James, 2nd to Richard but it was again Oliver who claimed the highest spot in this age group. Good job!

Suen Long contemplating his next move

Oliver Yau received champion prize in B group from GM Keene

In the C group, U10, Mei Jing won 3rd prize with a solid result of 5 points but Miguel Angel and especially Pak impressed most by scoring 5.5 and 6 points respectively, ending even above all B group players. Impressive!

Pak receives champion prize from GM Keene

In the D group, U8, Jiang Xin Ming from Shenzhen scored 4 points ending 3rd. From Caissa’s side we had Ritvik collect his first silverware at a Caissa tournament (way to go!) with 4.5 points. The Champion prize in this group went to Wu Yi Xing, also from Shenzhen, with 5 points. Congratulations boys!

Discovery Bay buddies Jay and Seth follow Noah’s game with interest

Wu Yi Xing Champion in D group

Around lunch time we had posted 8 trivia questions, varying anywhere between quotes from famous chess players to animal names of openings and, like last year, It was Aravind who scored most points, followed by Miguel Angel, Richie, Jay and Koji. Prizes ranged from a signed book by Raymond Keene to chocolate and chess boards.

Jay posing with GM Keene got chocolate in return for his chess trivia knowledge

We were very honored too that GM Raymond Keene was willing to hand out the prizes of the first Youth Grand Prix to the prize winners who were present: James Kwong 3rd prize in U12-14, Oliver Yau 2nd prize in U12-14 and Miguel Angel Garceran Wang Champion in U10.

Hurray from GM Keene to Miguel Angel U10 Champion of YGP 1

This event was also a qualifying event for Youth Grand Prix points and we can see below how the pool of points was distributed over the top 5 players
and what the current ranking is.

Finally, GM Keene took on 20 (mostly) youth players who fully enjoyed the oportunity to be able to play against a Grandmaster with an impressive track record in the world of chess at player level, as a writer, organizerer and so on.

Ronald and Miguel Angel curious: She had a draw!?!?

Ronald and Miguel Angel curious: Huang Zhi Yan had a draw!?!?

After over 2 hours Ray scored 19 points out of 20: 2 draws. We are very proud of James Kwong who was one of the two players with Zhi Yan to manage to get that draw

A very big thanks to Ray, for visiting us almost straight from the airport after a tiring intercontinental flight, and making this event very special and memorable. We hope to see you again!

GM Raymond Keene OBE Visits Caissa for Speech on Sochi and a Simul

November 20th, 2014

We have had the honor of some of the world’s chess best visiting our club already a couple of times. Women World Champion GM Hou Yifan held a simul earlier this year. Both Junior World Champion GM Alexander Ipatov and trainer GM Efstratios Grivas, Secretary of the FIDE Trainers Commission, visited us for simul and lectures as well. Another top trainer, GM Dimitri Komarov, visited us casually but unfortunately due to the visit of a Super Typhoon, there were very few left to meet him.

This time, on December 7, after our Blitz Tournament (you can still enrol!), GM Raymond Keene will be visiting us in Sheung Wan for a short speech on his view of the 2014 World Championship Match in Sochi between Anand and Carlsen – after which he will give a simul too.

Raymond Keene Visit Caissa on 7 December 2014

GM Keene is a veteran in the chess world with an enormous track record.

As a player he was British Champion and European Gold Medalist and he represented his country in the Olympiads several years. Among his personal bests in chess displays, challenging multiple opponents at the same time, are the 107 simultaneous opponents at Oxford in 1973 where he won 101, drew 5 and lost one, and Leon, Mexico, 2013, defeating 17 opponents simultaneously without sight of the boards or pieces! Note that GM Keen is one of the co-founders of the World Memory Sports Council (HK Local branch is here: http://hongkongmemorysportscouncil.com/).

As an organizer he was involved in various world chess championships and as an author he has (co-)written many chess articles and over a hundred of chess books.

GM Keene will hand out the prizes of our Blitz tournament on 7 December and he will also hand out the prizes to the YGP1 prize winners.

Women World Champion GM Hou Yifan Visits Caissa for Simul

March 1st, 2014

Group Photo Simul Players and Women World Champion GM Hou Yifan visiting Caissa Chess Club Hong Kong

Women World Champion GM Hou Yifan turned just 20 years old last week while in Hong Kong. What Yifan achieved in chess in just 20 years is exceptional and we were truly honored with her presence. We all, youngsters and adults alike, by seeing this friendly, modest and likeable chess prodigy in action, surely were given a boost of motivation to try to excel ourselves too in whatever we do.

In her game against 21 players Yifan won 20 games and a noteworthy results was achieved by Stuart Holt, the only player who managed to draw. Well done Stuart!

Alexander Ipatov’s Chess Clinic and Simul Great Success

June 15th, 2013

Chess Clinic

Some people know and understand a lot about chess, others can play excellent chess, some others, again, can teach well and some know how to interact with and motivate children: with Alexander Ipatov this all comes uniquely together in one person.

From early morning today, six young players sheltered from the daylong rain at Caissa listening to and interacting with Alexander as he manoeuvred them through the chess opening, middle game and end game stages with real life examples from his own games.

Alexander Ipatov Addressing the Students

Front (left to right): Adrian, Gerent and back (left to right): Aaricia, Mei Jing, Max and Miguel Angel

The players followed the game Alexander presented on the demonstration board on their own boards and received points for answering questions like: “was black’s move important to fight for the centre?” or “does white, with the pair of bishops, benefit from opening up the game?”

Questions that consumed brain power to the degree lunch was welcomed very much, with the pizza pepperoni on the right being the clear favorite.

We get the message… next time only pizza pepperoni (on the right)

The last part of the chess clinic was doing puzzles, solving a puzzle within 1 minute would get you a point. Tough competition: Miguel Angel won the heavily appreciated prize of M&M’s by scoring just half a point more than Adrian, who preferred the chocolate egg anyway. Win-win: indeed, today we have had only winners, with a signed certificate from Alexander Ipatov what many years later hopefully turns out to be a beautiful memory.

Alexander Ipatov and David Garceran Nieuwenburg standing behind the students (left to right): Aaricia, Adrian, Gerent, Miguel Angel, Mei Jing and Max

Simul

After a break of just 10 minutes, Alexander tirelessly continued around 3.45pm with a simul against 16 players until 5.30pm. The large majority of the players had come from outside Discovery Bay and understanding the unique opportunity to play against a World Champion they did their ultimate best.

And one very noteworthy result need to be mentioned indeed: Daniel Lam saved the honor of all challengers by playing a draw. Well done Daniel.

Alexander Ipatov vs. 16 Players: 15.5-0.5

Alexander walking around 16 boards: half playing white, half black

Daniel Lam, observed by his student Issac Fung, the only player not to lose!

Alexander, thank you for helping Caissa to try to bring chess to life in Hong Kong. We wish you all the best in your future games, matches, tournaments and you have a standing invitation to visit us when you have time again.

Caissa Hong Kong Chess Club