A new chapter...

I just came back a few days ago from KL. I shall not delve into details in this particular entry. All I can say is that I have found a partner who will join me in my journey... I will love my silly Sui Ching with all my heart.

A win over an International chess master (WIM/IM)...

This morning, my teammates and I attended our usual chess training conducted by GM Bong, who is a chess grandmaster from Philipines. However, I saw a new face today. Initially, I thought she is a newcomer to the session and she is just there to join us. Later, it turned out that she is an International chess master! Same as GM Bong, she comes from Philipines. After 2.5 hrs of chess coaching, Christine (the new face that I mentioned earlier)proceed to have a few causal ganes with us. Both CW and SK lost to her. SK blundered away her queen by playing RC7,because Bg5 would cause black to lose her queenie. In CW's game, Christine played a typical Ruy Lopez and exerted her 'spanish torture' on her poor victim. I don't think CW played to the best of his capability because he did miss a few moves which thus caused him to end up with a very difficult position. In the end, Christine made use of her superior technique to achieve a beautiful win with Bxg6, forcing mate a few moves later. Perhaps, both of them were intimidated by her title???
After they had completed their games, I proceeded to challenge her. I always have an undescribable defiance towards titled players. I am not intimated by strong players at all. Instead I feel excited when I play strong opponents esp titled players because I have a very strong will and determination of beating them. A strong fighting spirit. However, there is a flip side to this. I lose my interest very quickly when I know that the player sitting opposite me is 'supposed' weaker. Very often I achieved better results aginst stronger opponets than against weaker ones. Perhaps I was too over-confident, or maybe I just could not bother with him or her??? Christine fell for an opening trap, causing her to lose a piece for a pawn. The opening was Sicilian Grand prix Attack and I was having black. During the game, she tried to create tactics and counterplay, but I managed to stop them all. After that she set a trap for me. She thought that if I were to play Bc6, she could reply Bxe6. However, I have seen further than that. As it turned out, I was the one setting the trap for her.I tempted her to play Bxe6, which she did. I replied Bxe4. A few moves later, both her queen and bishop on e6 were simulataneously attacked and I managed to grab one more piece. After the game she said she didn't anticipate Bxe4. I guess fatigue for her must have set in and I was just lucky enough to capitalize on that. Despite having 2 physical pieces up, my kingside was tied up and I could not bring my extra forces into play. In other words, I was effectively playing with 'equal' material. The rest of the game was mainly tactics. ( I have always been very confident of my tactical power. I know that my tactical skill is no less inferior than titled players, at least that's what I firmly believe in) Both her center pawns actually reached d7 and e7 and my king was on f7! However, I managed to calculate 7 moves ahead(everything is forced, thus making my calculation a lot easier)and knew that the game would be winning for me. I played Qxg2, sacrificing a rook. It prevented her from checking me with a gain of tempo. Actually I would not really considered it as a sacrifice, because I knew that I could regain the material back, Mind you, my pawns were on a2 and b2, vs hers on e7 and e7. A wild game, I must say. Finally I managed to checkmate her in 48 moves. Upon reaching home, I immediately recorded the entire game based on my memory. Perhaps, I can show you the entire game the next time we meet. I was very pleased with my performance. Nevertheless, I know that I must not be complacent. I still have a very long way to go.. I have to work harder if I were to achieve my aims.. Today's victory serves a tremendous confidence booster for me. It gives me a firm belief in my capcability, that I can achieve my aims after all...

Play online chess at chessworld.net

Kasparov simultaneous exhibition

Documentary Fischer VS Spassky Part 1

Documentary Fischer VS Spassky Part 4

Documentary Fischer VS Spassky Part 3

Documentary Fischer VS Spassky Part 2

Friday the 20th

Yesterday was the last Friday chess session of this semester. Time really flies I supposed. As a result, most of us stayed longer than usual. As per usual, my team-mates and I went for our sports session from 6-7.15pm. Yesterday's sports was basketball. After that we made our way back to MPSH4 for our training session. The session starts at 7.30pm. I must admit that basketball is a very strenuous sport. I was so tired that I could hardly pushed the woods, not to mention play the game.I left at 11.45pm, thinking that I would be able to catch the last train in Jurong East station in the nick of time. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I don't know what happened yesterday but the bus came much later than usual. There are 5-6 buses that I could take to get to Jurong East interchange. It is not as though I have only 1 single pathetic bus to take. Naturally, my probability of reaching back home is increased dramatically. However, this was not the case. Within a 'long' span of 15-20 mins, I only saw 1 bus-198 and that was the bus I took.
It was close, but not close enough. I was about to enter that gate, but the gate shut itself. I supposed the system was set in such a way that the gate will automatically shut itself once the last train has left the platform. As a result, I felt like the modern Robinson Crusoe, stranded on the island called Jurong East. Furthermore, there was no more bus available. I had to contemplate my next move. I have 3 options... 1) Sleep in Jurong East station 2)Take cab home 3) Go back to NUS. I chose the 3rd option. I decided to walk back... Hahaha.. But I lost my way in the end. Left with no choice, I took a cab back to NUS. I called my team mates asking where they were, because they always go for supper after normal training session. They were at West Coast Park. I took a cab to West Coast McDonald and it cost me $8 and that was all I had. Had our supper there and WS treated me to a 'sumptious' McDonald feast. After that, we went to 'play' in the West Coast Park.I didn't know my teammates are so childish. Hahaha... Esp my team manager, WS. We made our way back to NUS campus ard 3.30am. I supposed we need to have a 'good' rest because the following morning we have chess coachings by a GM in Newton. 'Good' rest, huh? Ya, right. Hahha, courtesy of our team manager.... hahaha
This morning we had chess coaching by a GM. A very amiable person, very conversational with his language which is good because he can relate his ideas to us better. After that, we went for lunch in Orchard. Left for home ard 2pm...

Irritating lab partner

As you know, I am a chemistry major student and that means I have to attend lab sessions and do lab reports. For CM 2142, I have a lab partner and her name is XXX. She is a boisterous and irritating lab partner. Whenever I speak softly to her, she will recipocate with her loud voice and such gesture always attract unwanted attention. And you know what's the worse part? We are supposed to do the experiment together. If she does anything incorrect, I must signal to her the error, right? Very often, she conducts the experiment in the wrong fashion and I am always there to correct her. Unfortunately, she doesn't appreciate it. Hello... I am not doing this for you. I don't care about you. You are not pretty and you are rude and boisterous. Do you think I would like to waste my breath and time and saliva on you? The answer is a resounding 'NO'! I am doing this for myself. If you do it wrongly, we would get the wrong data. Consequently, we would (or rather, I would) be dragged down by you! When I pinpointed her error, she would talk back in a loud and rude manner. A gal, somemore....
A typical extract from our conversation..
Me: XXX, I think you did this part wrongly.
xxx: What....! You don't understand the experiment, is it?
Me: ( After that, I would explain to her why it is wrong )
XXX: No la. Your explanation is all wrong!
Ok. So I let her continue the experiment. Her retribution (ours rather, because we had to stay a little later due to her inability) came when she did the experiment wrongly. She tried to rush things. We were supposed to take the readings only after the sample's temperature reached 70 degrees. But she chose to take the easy way out. She took the readings at 50 degree. She wanted to do things fast! And we, I mean she, screwed up the experiment. The rest finished the experiement 1.5 hrs before us. We were the last to leave the lab... Felt like giving her a tight slap. I had her contact on my msn and I BLOCKED her. What a rude gal. I always feel very stressed when I go for this lab session. I always get 'scolded' by her. If she were a guy I would have retaliated. Unfortunately, she isn't. I felt like a wimp. Letting a gal scold me and not doing anything. She was the one doing all the wrong thing and I get all the scoldings (from her, mind you). I really don't get it... I expect girls to behave in a elegant fashion. Elegant is too strong a word. I mean, people of the opposite sex should at least behave in a civilized manner. Nv mind. I would only work with her for one more lab session. She really 'pissed' me off. Feel like giving her a tight slap. Oops. Not A tight slap. Multiple tight slaps.
And you know what happened next? I let her do the experiment all by herself since she is so 'smart' And she screwed it up. She did the experiment twice and it all went wrong. But I kept mum, to avoid another scolding. Hahah.. Finally she relented. She went to approach the staff for help. I told the staff there was no need for her to step in. I would carry on from there. And so I did. I did the experiment 'perfectly' .At least I got the desired data. So, what was it that she did wrong? Remember what I said earlier in this entry? She took the readings at 50 degree. That's where she went wrong. See? She is also an impatient girl. err.. Too rude to be a girl. But based on her anatomy, she is a girl. What an asshole. The worst part is, she told the bal assistant that I didn't help her with the experiment and that was why she did the experiement wrongly! What a liar! XXX, you sucks, gal!
Usually I won't say such thing on a girl. Up to date, I have nv done such a thing. And it's thanks to you that my 'record' is broken, you asshole!

The journey continues..

This weekend marks the beginning of the mid-term break. Suddenly realized that time really flies. As the captain of the team, very often, I have to make tough choices. I don't like this player particularly because he is extremely childish. Guess what? He is aged 24 years old. 2 years ago, he was the captain of the team. However, this guy is damn arrogant and immature. In last year's GACC he created a lot of trouble in the foreign country. Indirectly, he affected the team' s morale. Last year, I was only a freshmen. As a newcomer to the team , I feel that I don't have the right to comment on the team issue. Previously, I have heard a lot of romours about him. And all of them are bad ones. Initially I didnt believe in them. But this immature creep proves them right. Due to the sensitivity of the issues, I will not elaborate too much on it. Yet, one thing is clear. This guy is a total asshole. I respect him as a player but not as a person. He doesn't have the basic chess etiquette-doesn't keep his pieces when the game is over, always look down on weaker players, always get impatient in explaining the concepts and principles to the juniors etc. Now comes the best part- he bit the hand that fed him. I am sure my team mates know what I mean. And I am not the only one having this sentiment. My club members have revealed to me how they felt about him as well. I have always emphasized team bonding, unity and spirit. Last Friday, I went out with my team mates for supper after our training sessions. I want to make use of such opportunity to know my team mates better. We had a great time together. All of a sudden, the juniors don't feel so distanced from the seniors anymore and I feel that this is a great sign. I like chess a lot and I would my team mates to share my sentiments as well... Of course, the results are important and we should always take our sessions seriously. What I am trying to say is that, result is not everything. I would rather choose weak players who care about the team interests than to select those strong players who are self sentered and conceited.
Maybe everything is pre-destined... I am very glad that I have WS, Esmond, MH, Dolphin, SK by my side when I need them the most. A friend in need is a friend indeed..

An unlucky week

Last Friday, I lost my ezlink card. As per usual, I was making my way back home after my chess session. The card was with me upon my exit from Admiralty station. I guessed I was in a daze then. 10 minutes later, I sensed something amiss. I can't find my card. I then walked back along the same path that I had just taken in an effort to find back my lost card, but to no avail. In a short span of 10 minutes, the card was lost for good. I went to the control station staff and told them my problem. The staff told me what to do and with that I made my 'long' walk home with a heavy heart. Of course I need to make a replacement card which would cost me $21. Since the lost card is a concession card, I can still claim back whatever amount that is left. And I can only do so 1 week after I made my 'report'. Thus for the time being I would have to use the adult ezlink card and it's not cheap. Haiz.. Blame on my bad luck.
Not only that, last week while I was on my way to school, I witnessed a horrible incident. I saw a guy being beaten by 2 masked guys, both armed with metal rod. And the beating was done in board daylight. In order for me to get to the station, I have to walk past them! In order to protect my own safety, I hid in the nearby carpark and hope that the beating would end soon. The beating lasted around 2 minutes before their allies came in a pick-up. The masked men then rushed to the pick-up and escaped. Several people were around when the incident happened. It took place around 8am. The shops were already opened. Fortunately, the injured guy was able to pick himself up and called the police (because he was using his handphone). However, that incident left a very deep impression on me. Consequently my mood was affected. A horrendous incident to witness. His entire body was covered with blood.
A few days later (same time) I saw a garung guni man peeing! He was peeing into the drain, I cannot believe my eyes, because he was doing his business in such an open and casual manner. I don't consider myself a superstitious person but to witness these incidents in a short span of 1 week, something must be wrong. Maybe that's the reason why I have been down on luck recently.
We are going to have a AUG trial conducted between players from different universities in Singapore. I wanted to play in it, however I chose not to. I have decided to give up my position to the seniors because they are going to graduate soon and this could well be their very last chance. In a way, I sacrificed myself for their benefit. I can always take part in the next event. I still have 2-3 more years in NUS, so I don't think it's a big problem for me. However, the year 1s were not very pleased to hear about this. Yesterday evening, I made an announcement and told them my view on this issue. I want to promote transparency. After that I wanted every player to voice their comment. All of them agreed that we should scrap away with the trials and give the positions to the seniors. I was very pleased to hear that. Note that, I don't consider myself a senior. And such decision doesn't benefit me, although I was the one who made this decision. Only year 3 students onward benefit from such decision. My mind and heart are at conflict. I want to play. At the same time, as the team captain, I have to make decisions that are difficult. It was a tough one to make but if I have the chance to turn back time, I will stick to my original decision. The seniors have done a lot for the team and it's high time that we show some respect and pay tributes to them. My good friend thought that such decision is only unfair to me because I am skillful enough to play in AUG. Yet I chose to give up my place. I must admit, it was a very, very difficult decision to make. Ironically, I am making a decision that doesn't benefit me. But I feel that we have to look at the big picture. MH just SMS me. She said that although I have 'lost' my place in AUG, I gained respect from my peers and thus enhanced my reputation in the club. Thank you, MH. Really appreciate it. WS said the same thing too after the end of the session. Thank you, WS. Thank you, Es who has been there for me all this while.