LOO Pin Xie of Penang and Siti Safura Jaafar of Negri Sembilan won the Open and Ladies titles respectively in the first Online Lions International Chess (for the differently abled community) 2021 yesterday.
Pin Xie, who captured the FIDE Online Junior Cup for Under-20 players with disabilities in June last year and bagged a silver at the Asian Junior Para Chess Championships 2021 in August this year, continued to show his winning form.
The 16-year-old Penangite pocketed RM500 for his Open category success. His victory did not come as a surprise as Pix Xie also emerged champion in the physical 2nd Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled (preliminary round – Northern Region) on Dec 29, 2019.
Muhammad Ikmal Faiz Ab Rahman finished runner-up in the Open category to claim RM300, while Wong Yi Heng took third spot to win RM200. The fourth spot went to Ahmad Nazmi Md Nizam, who received RM100.
Prizes were given to the top 12 players in the Open category, with the fifth to 10th finishers winning RM50 each while the 11th and 12th winners earned RM40 each.
Siti Safura took the top spot in the Ladies’ category and won RM300 prize money, ahead of second-placed winner Yee Jin Lim (RM200), Siaw Lan Thoo (RM100) and Cindy Yeo Siaw Hui (RM60).
There were prizes for the top eight players in the Ladies category, with the fifth to eighth winners receiving RM40 each.
The tournament, which was jointly organised by the Lions Clubs of Penang – Lions Club Penang Armenian, Lions Club Georgetown Island and Lions Club Tanjung Sri Pinang – drew participants from Sarawak, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Melaka, Kedah, Kelantan and Penang.
It was supported by the Kiwanis Club of Penang Central and managed by Penang Chess Association (PCA) with assistance from the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF).
Penang State Sports Council (PSSC) director Harry Chai thanked all the parties involved for making the event a success.
“This tourney is an opportunity for many of the youths to take part, stimulate their brain, and to enhance their concentration.
“In line with the Penang2030 vision to build a Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation, we hope this event will unearth talents that can be developed to become Grand Masters.
“In Penang, through the office of YB Soon Lip Chee, we have initiated a ‘Sports For All’ programme and chess is one of the sports that we are strongly promoting,” Chai said.
PCA president See Swee Sie expressed her gratitude to the new sponsors Bio Care Supplements Worldwide Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and her fellow Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) vice-president Abang Mohamed Reduan from Sarawak for helping to mobilise participation for the event. She added that she was also thankful to PSSC, state government, all the Lions clubs involved and MCF for their assistance in one way or another.
RESULTS (All Finals):
Open: 1. Loo Pin Xie, 2. Muhammad Ikmail Faiz Ab Rahman, 3. Wong Yi Heng, 4. Ahmad Nazmi Md Nizam, 5. Max Ng Tze Khai, 6. Amirul Shahmie Shahrulizam, 7. Hanson Ang Ping Ting, 8. Mohamad Ruzaini Mohd Rosli Putra, 9. Amirul Iman Amiruddin, 10. Tan Yin Kuang, 11. Hadisyam Ahmad, 12. Mohd Azanni Ahmad.
Ladies: 1. Siti Safura Jaafar, 2. Yee Jin Lim, 3. Siaw Lan Thoo, 4. Cindy Yeo Siaw Hui, 5. Aqilah Syahira Ahmad, 6. Seri Izdihar Mohd Shoberi, 7. Sanjeevani Elangkovan, 8. Andrea Kamil.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Penang Chess Association