3rd Singapore International Chess Convention 2006
By Olimpiu G. Urcan
At
the end of every year, the biggest chess celebration in South-East Asia takes
place in Singapore. Between 17th and 31st December 2006, the Singapore
Chess Federation and ASEAN
Chess Academy organised the Third Singapore International Chess Convention
2006. The mammoth event comprises: 2nd Asian Schools, Seminar for Coaches, Seminar
for Arbiters, and Masters & Challengers Open Tournaments. The two earlier
editions of this event attracted a good number of Grandmasters and International
Masters as well as a significant number of chess interested people. Thus the
organisers were optimistic for a good response this time round and they were
not disappointed.
2nd Asian Schools Chess Festival

The 2nd Asian Schools Chess Festival was on from 19th December and concluded
on 23rd December. It gathered 192 players from twelve territories: China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, South Korea, Malaysia, The Philippines, Qatar,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Among them there were five FIDE Masters,
three Women FIDE Masters and two Candidate-Masters.
The players competed in the following on age categories: Girls (U7, U9, U11,
U13, U15) and Open (U7, U9, U11, U13, U15). Singapore, the host country, had
the largest pool of players (101) and topped the medal standings table with
6 Golds, 5 Silvers, 8 Bronzes, a total of 19 medals. The Philippines followed
with 4 medals and India with 3:
Rank. |
FED |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
1 |
Singapore |
6 |
5 |
8 |
19 |
2 |
Philippines |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
India |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
Indonesia |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
Malaysia |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Seminars for Trainers and Arbiters
Between 18th and 24th December, ASEAN Chess Academy and Singapore Chess Federation
organised a Seminar for Chess Coaches and a Seminar for Arbiters, both under
the auspices of FIDE and Singapore Sports Council.

FIDE Senior Trainer and IM Michael Khodarkovsky, President of American Chess
University and President of the Kasparov
Chess Foundation, delivered the
lectures for the 14 chess trainers from Malaysia, Barbados, Russia, Uzbekistan
and The Philippines. There were two four-hour sessions daily. Among the topics
covered: basic methods of teaching, principles of opening strategy, tactics,
mating constructions, art of exchange, preparation for a game, endgame strategy
& studies, planning, positional sacrifices, game analysis, decision making,
critical moments. Candidates who wished to be assessed for the title of FIDE
Trainer were required to submit a written paper on a related topic of their
choice.

IA Werner Stubenvoll (Austria), Chairman of the Technical Administration Panel
Olympiads, was the lecturer for the Seminar for Arbiters, which was in two three-hour
sessions daily. Fourteen participants from South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia
and The Philippines were given instructive insights in the laws of chess, tie-break
rules, Swiss pairings, the use of electronic clocks, title regulations, and
organising competitions.
Singapore Masters Open 2006
While young pupils’ games and intensive seminars might be boring for some,
the Singapore organisers are serving up a remarkable menu for chess playing:
from 26th to 31st December 2006, with ASEAN Chess Academy hosting the 3rd Singapore
Masters & Challengers International Tournaments with a prize fund of US
$18,000.
The strongest chess event in South-East Asia during this year is must-see event
with players from 15 countries (Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong
Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Russia,
Singapore, Uzbekistan and Vietnam): 14 GMs, 6 WGMs, 17 IMs, 3 WIMs, 14 FMs and
7 WFMs. Below is the starting rating list (top 50) for the Masters Open:
No. |
|
Name |
FED |
Rtg |
1 |
GM |
Zhang Pengxiang |
CHN |
2636 |
2 |
GM |
Wang Hao |
CHN |
2622 |
3 |
GM |
Ni Hua |
CHN |
2621 |
4 |
GM |
Zhang Zhong |
CHN |
2609 |
5 |
GM |
Dao Thien Hai |
VIE |
2557 |
6 |
GM |
Nguyen Anh Dung |
VIE |
2541 |
7 |
GM |
Zhao Jun |
CHN |
2539 |
8 |
GM |
Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son |
VIE |
2534 |
9 |
GM |
Li Shilong |
CHN |
2524 |
10 |
FM |
Ye Naung Win Myint |
MYA |
2524 |
11 |
GM |
Le Quang Liem |
VIE |
2519 |
12 |
|
Li Chao (b) |
CHN |
2508 |
13 |
GM |
Megaranto Susanto |
INA |
2492 |
14 |
IM |
Bui Vinh |
VIE |
2485 |
15 |
GM |
Wu Wenjin |
CHN |
2476 |
16 |
GM |
Wu Shaobin |
SIN |
2475 |
17 |
GM |
Wang Rui |
CHN |
2463 |
18 |
IM |
Nadanian Ashot |
ARM |
2436 |
19 |
|
Zhou Weiqi |
CHN |
2435 |
20 |
IM |
Paciencia Enrique |
PHI |
2432 |
21 |
IM |
Romanov Alexei |
RUS |
2430 |
22 |
IM |
Dableo Ronald |
PHI |
2425 |
23 |
IM |
Tirto |
INA |
2425 |
24 |
IM |
Vijayyalashmi Subbaraman |
IND |
2424 |
25 |
IM |
Sitanggang Salor |
INA |
2423 |
|
|
No. |
|
Name |
FED |
Rtg |
26 |
|
Wen Yang |
CHN |
2416 |
27 |
IM |
Garma Chito P |
PHI |
2415 |
28 |
IM |
Ranola Yves |
PHI |
2414 |
29 |
IM |
Tu Hoang Thai |
VIE |
2414 |
30 |
IM |
So Wesley |
PHI |
2411 |
31 |
IM |
Toh Chun-Eng Terry |
SIN |
2410 |
32 |
FM |
Goh Weiming |
SIN |
2408 |
33 |
FM |
Duong The Anh |
VIE |
2395 |
34 |
FM |
Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy |
VIE |
2395 |
35 |
IM |
Goh Koon-Jong Jason |
SIN |
2394 |
36 |
FM |
Wu Xibin |
CHN |
2394 |
37 |
WGM |
Li Ruofan |
CHN |
2391 |
38 |
WGM |
Wang Yu A. |
CHN |
2389 |
39 |
IM |
Situru Nathanael |
INA |
2388 |
40 |
|
Gomez John Paul |
PHI |
2387 |
41 |
IM |
Chandrashekhar Gokhale |
IND |
2375 |
42 |
FM |
Sadorra Julio Catalino |
PHI |
2374 |
43 |
IM |
Chiong Luis |
PHI |
2364 |
44 |
WGM |
Gu Xiaobing |
CHN |
2361 |
45 |
FM |
Nava Roderick |
PHI |
2348 |
46 |
WGM |
Meenakshi S |
IND |
2347 |
47 |
|
Makinano Anthony |
PHI |
2335 |
48 |
WGM |
Xu Yuanyuan |
CHN |
2329 |
49 |
WIM |
Le Kieu Thien Kim |
VIE |
2322 |
50 |
FM |
Lim Yee-Weng |
MAS |
2307 |
|
The Masters and Challengers Tournaments are in full progress and we will return
with a more comprehensive report. Meanwhile, details, results and games bulletins
can be obtained from the given website links below.
Chess Youth at the Singapore Chess Convention 2006
Singapore – A Unique Place to Visit

Singapore Business District

Fountain of Wealth – tThe largest fountain in the world! It is made
of 85 tons of cast bronze and is over 46 feet high. Its design is based on the
principles of Chinese geomancy of 'fengshui' (literally, ‘wind and water’).

Merlion Park, home to the half-lion, half-fish sculpture which is a
national icon. It stands facing the sea on a pedestal of glass sculptured waves
that are illuminated at night.

Singapore’s different races celebrating together

Raffles Hotel. Opened in 1887 and gazetted as a National Monument in 1987,
this grand Old Lady of the East is one of the world's last great 19th century
hotels. The hotel is a favourite retreat for writers and movie stars and home
of the Singapore sling, a celebrated cocktail.

Chinese Gardens. Built in the style of the Imperial Sung Dynasty and mirroring
the grandeur of the Beijing Summer Palace, the aesthetic Chinese Garden features
majestic bridges, pagodas, a stoneboat, a teahouse and a Suzhou-style Bonsai
Garden.
Photo Credits:
Chess Events: NM and FIDE Trainer Eric Gloria
Singapore Sights: All images courtesy of Singapore
Tourism Board
Links