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Frequently Asked Chesslife Academy Questions


What is Chesslife Academy?

Chesslife Academy is an evolution from Chesslife.

  • It showcases our focus on education and the systematic approach to learning chess
  • It provides the basis to ensure 100% of students reap rewards from the benefits that come from learning chess
  • Chesslife Academy will have dedicated programs for schools, individuals and groups, catering to their unique needs and wishes
  • Bringing quality coaching through the Steps Method, Thinkers Publishing books and the Chesslife Academy designed programs.

 

What will be different?

Chesslife Academy will continue to develop and create a chess community and culture that enriches lives around Australia, and we have made some changes:

  • Students, schools and parents enroll in one of the Chesslife Academy programs
  • Students will receive a Chesslife Academy wristband when joining one of our programs
  • Student will join in a graduation when completing the program or progress to the next level in the Steps Method
  • Students will receive discount on Thinkers Publishing books
  • Students will receive support during tournaments

 

What is this wristband all about?

This unique gift is a token of our dedication to your chess learning when you sign up for the Chesslife Academy.

  • The wristband makes you part of a community that has seen 100% of students reap rewards from the benefits that come from learning chess!
  • The wristband makes you part of a community that includes all current South Australian State Champions!
  • The wristband makes you part of a community that has seen thousands of students learn chess in Adelaide and across Australia!

 

What is the Steps Method and how do I qualify for a graduation?

Widely used throughout schools and chess clubs in Europe and increasingly the world, the Steps Method provides trainers and students with a logical way to introduce chess concepts at exactly the right level for their experience with the game. Steps Method is praised as one of the most innovative chess instructional programs in the world.

Presented in a series of six steps, each with an accompanying series of workbooks, the Step Method introduces chess material in increasing complexity, all the way from beginner’s chess in Step One to master level play in Step Six.

Each Step consists of a Starting book, then an Extra book, followed by a Plus and then lastly Mix. So for example there is Step 1, Step 1 Extra, Step 1 Plus and Step 1 Mix. Not every student will complete each book within each step, some may skip Step 1 Plus for example.

Students qualify for a graduation when they have completed all their required books within a Step and are ready to move on to the next Step. For example after completing Step 1 Mix, students will move to Step 2 and will qualify for a graduation ceremony that year.

 

What are the Thinkers Publishing books and why would I want them as part of my learning?

Chesslife Academy is the Australian distributor for Thinkers Publishing chess books. A publishing house based in Belgian, which has some of the world’s greatest young chess minds write, like Australian’s own Grandmaster Justin Tan!

In the past, books were supposed the place where to find information. We did not have the Internet, so books were the place where all information was saved, in case we needed it. Things have changed dramatically along the years. Every year, there is more and more information available, but books are still shown to be the best tool to learn new skills. This is why we strongly encourage chess books as part of the journey of a competitive player.

 

Orange, Orange, Orange!

By now you would have seen the great orange wrist bands that all Chesslife Academy students receive when they sign up for our programs. This unique gift is a token of our dedication to your chess learning when you sign up for the Chesslife Academy.

The wristband makes you part of a community that has seen 100% of students reap rewards from the benefits that come from learning chess!

The wristband makes you part of a community that includes all current South Australian State Champions!

The wristband makes you part of a community that has seen thousands of students learn chess in Adelaide and across Australia!

So why an orange wristband you may ask? Good question! We felt it was the perfect colour for the Chesslife Academy considering its strong association to the King of Orange, our Dutch heritage and the majestic royal game of chess.

The color orange refers to the family name of the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange-Nassau. Their ancestor, William of Orange, is the founding father of the Netherlands. Orange symbolizes national unity, and the Dutch signify national pride by wearing orange.

On royal birthdays, the Dutch tricolor is flown with an orange pennant above it. Each year on April 27, Amsterdam — and indeed the entire county — turns orange. Why is the Dutch flag not orange? The flag was actually originally orange, white and blue, designed by William of Orange himself. The first theory is that the dye used to stain the flags orange was prone to changing to a red colour over time, and so to avoid confusion the flag was officially changed to red.

The Netherlands also has a very strong chess history, which includes a world champion! Machgielis “Max” Euwe was a Dutch chess player, mathematician, author, and chess administrator. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion, a title he held from 1935 until 1937. Euwe served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.

Currently the Netherlands has the following titled chess titles registered with FIDE;  39 Grandmasters, 4 Women Grandmasters, 98 International Masters, 14 Women International Masters, 185 FIDE Masters and 11 Women FIDE Masters.

So taking that all into consideration, we think Orange is the perfect colour for the Chesslife Academy wristband!

 

 

Change is Coming – Announcing Chesslife Academy!

Chesslife is very excited to be announcing some changes in the very near future!

Over the last decade we have built a thriving chess community where 100% of students have reaped the rewards from the many benefits that come with learning chess. Chesslife is passionate and has been teaching chess with a purpose. Our programs have enabled young people to become somebody they hadn’t imagined.

Chesslife’s Vision is to create a chess community and culture that enriches lives around Australia.

In schools and community groups, chess often serves as a bridge, bringing together children of different ages, races, and genders in an activity they can all enjoy. Chess helps build individual friendships and school spirit when children compete together as teams against other schools. Chess also teaches children about sportsmanship – how to win graciously and not give up when encountering defeat. For children with adjustment issues, there are many examples where chess has led to increased motivation, improved behaviour, better self-image, and even improved attendance. Chess provides a positive social outlet, a wholesome recreational activity that can be easily learned and enjoyed at any age.

We have developed programs for every skill level and ambition, which has resulted in some amazing outcomes over the years. When Chesslife started in South Australia, there were very few students participating in the local championships at that time. We are now proud to see the chess centre filled with 80+ students each school holiday and many of those students having learned through the Chesslife programs. Over the years, Chesslife has assisted over hundreds of school teams to participate in the Interschool championships, and we have seen Chesslife coached schools take out Primary C Grade, B Grade and A Grade championship titles as well as the Secondary 3rd and 2nd Division year after year.

We have encouraged hundreds of students to play in state championships and take out dozens of titles and awards every year. In fact, the current U18, (no U17 awarded), U16, U15, U14, U13, U12, U11 and U10 and U8 state champions are all students that have been part of Chesslife coaching programs.

Chesslife students are actively playing in interstate tournaments and are often the only South Australian juniors representing their state at these events. Chesslife students have often been the only South Australian junior students that have qualified for the Junior Elite Training Squad year after year and not only has the founder of Chesslife David Koetsier been the Australian coach for the U16 World Olympiad and U18 World youth, Chesslife students have also represented Australia at International events.

So, the time has come to bring that amazing community together; to showcase the programs and their results.

Therefore, we are proud to announce that Chesslife will soon become Chesslife Academy!

To recognise the first phase of this transition, we will start providing all Chesslife students with an orange Chesslife Academy wristband. You can wear it at the local state championships, wear it to the school chess or wear it when you go out and meet your friends for a game of chess!

We would like to see a sea of orange wristbands at the upcoming events in the chess centre!

And to celebrate, you can be in the running to win a FREE coaching session with David! Tag a photo of you wearing your wristband with #chesslifeacademy  and you will go in the draw to win some coaching time with Chesslife founder and head coach David!

Girl Power!

Imagine living in a dream location; tropical climate, delicious food and relaxed Caribbean atmosphere. Surely if that is your every day life, would you be competitive enough for a tournament like the Olympiad? Well you can bet your bottom dollar these girls are!

Today we meet with three fascinating ladies, 17-year-old WCM Polina, 15-year-old Trinity and 15-year-old Daijah. Just to give you an idea how tough these women are – Polina plays on board one in the Open team and Daijah plays on board one in the Women’s team.

Having a female play on board 1 in the Open category is quite rare. There are several female players in the Open category, but so far, we have not seen any of them appear on board 1. Polina speaks up: “It really should not matter whether I am male or female, I qualified at home for the Open team and I should therefore be allowed to play in the Open team”.

And we could not agree with her more! We need to consider this when we have girls play in tournaments; too often they are awarded the ‘girls prize’ in stead of the actual placement, whether it is 1st, 2nd or 3rd. We may be thinking that awarding a girl’s prize to the top scoring female will allow more children to be awarded a prize, but we are in fact telling this girl that her hard work does not matter too much. She could have ended up eg 9th in the tournament and still be awarded the same prize.

So, let’s all start taking Polina’s example and speak up for our girls!

But for the moment, we need to return to our interview. What are the Bahamas like? We all read about the relaxed atmosphere and the sub-tropical climate as a great tourist destination and the girls certainly agree that the Bahamas is the place to visit! Native dishes like crab & rice and corn fritters are a must try when you travel!

From left to right: Polina, Daijah and Trinity

So where did it all start for you?

Polina – I started playing chess when I was four years old. I saw a girl at church play chess and returned home excitedly, asking my mum about this strange looking game. I learned quickly, entered my first tournament when I was five and when I was six I won the U10 national title. At the age of 8, I won the U18 national title. I took a break from chess when I was 11 years old for health reason and returned when I was 14 years of age.

Trinity – I started when I was 10 years of age at my local school. I was fascinated by the game and when I discovered my grandad also played chess, I was completely hooked.

Daijah – I also started learning the game at the age of 10 at my local school. (different school) and in 2015 I came third in a Caribbean tournament in Costa Rica. This is where I obtained my WCM title.

Polina before the start of round 10

What has chess taught you about life?

Daijah – you need to think before you act. Every decision you make is important and will have consequences. You need to deal with your consequences as they always come back to you. Chess is the gift that keeps on giving – lets face it; I’m in Europe right now, who would have thought that!

Trinity – Chess is life. It will teach you right from wrong. A real eye opener for life.

Polina – What else can I add, they have said it all so well.

 

What is the junior chess league like in the Bahamas?

Polina – It is certainly improving, and the federation is started to bring in more players. Of course, these are mainly boys, but girls should not be scared to join. Girls may feel they don’t belong in this community, but they do!

 

What kind of chess player are you?

Polina – I am still trying to figure this out. My style has changed since I returned to chess. I like both tactical and positional play and find rook endgames very interesting. The Kings Indian Defence is my main opening, but I love to learn from everyone and every situation.

Trinity – I am a very attacking and aggressive player. I tend to play the Queens Gambit.

Daijah – I am more of a positional player, but also tend to play the Queens Gambit.

Daijah during round 9

Who is your favourite player and what is your favourite chess book?

Daijah – my favourite player is local legend Warren Seymour. He has established most of the school chess clubs and is a great local hero. My favourite book is ‘Think like a Grandmaster’ by Alexander Kotov. It is not only very informative, it is also written with a great sense of humour, making it easy to read.

Trinity – The Polgar sisters! My favourite book is the Queens Gambit Accepted written by Alex Raetsky and Maxim Chetveruk (published by Everyman chess). It really helped me understand the opening.

and Polina – The Polgar sisters! They have inspired generations and continue to do so. When I started playing chess, my favourite book was 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games written by Laszo Polgar (Father of the Polgar sisters). Nowadays I study more by combining books and online.

 

What is a game you will never forget?

Trinity – That would be my loss at this Olympiad in round 4. I was in time trouble and blundered. I have reviewed this game over and over again to make sure I never do that again!

Polina – In December 2017 I played (and won) in the Peruvian Cup a game against IM Orlando Husbands from Barbados. It was my first win against an IM and that is something I will never forget!

Daijah – In March 2018, I drew against our highest rated player, Ted Cross from the USA (rated 1998). This was a huge upset in the tournament and I could not believe I drew. Polina and Trinity pipe up at this stage and add ‘the worst part is that she could have won!’ I guess that is the psychological element of chess, it is sometimes hard to believe you could actually beat a much higher rated player.

Click on the board below to read David’s annotation on Trinity’s game in this Olympiad. This is a great opportunity where we review our games and make sure we learn!

What are some of your dreams and goals?

Polina – I am hoping to still improve, perhaps obtain the WGM title one day. I would love to play more internationally and develop a career that is related to chess through either computer sciences or psychology.

Trinity – I want to obtain a FIDE rating! I think I am sitting around 1200 and can’t wait to get my rating.  I want to become a lawyer and hopefully, one day, open my own firm.

Daijah – I would love to be an accountant and obtain a CPA. I believe chess will always be an asset and a part of my life.

Trinity deep in thought during round 7

Lastly, what advice do you have for Australian Junior players?

Trinity – Keep focussed and chase your dreams!

Polina – Don’t give up and don’t limit yourself!

Daijah – Don’t let people tell you that you don’t count, you do count!

 

Meet the next generation!

Throughout the Olympiad we have introduced you to young players up to 18 years of age and even though that is very young, the next generation of players is already on their way! Today we meet 10-year-old Samantha Edithso from Indonesia. Currently rated 1805, she is quickly on her way to become a new face of chess. She has been attracting a fair bit of publicity and you may have already watched the interview that Chessbase India published earlier this week, but we were delighted to have the opportunity to chat to Samantha after another win. We sat down with her and her coach Peter Long.

From left to right: David, Samantha and coach Peter Long

When did you start playing chess and what does your chess career look like so far?

I started playing chess when I was 6 years old, so four years ago. I won the Asian Youth U10 Rapid and Blitz championships and I am the current World Cadets U10 Rapid Champion and working hard on my standard chess. When I first obtained my standard rating, it was 2031 (now sitting at 1805). I have lost a few points, but I am learning a lot.

We would like to add, that not only did Samantha win the Rapid U10 championships, she did so with a perfect score (7/7) a full 1.5 points ahead of the rest. She won the blitz with 7.5/9. Both scores are truly remarkable!

Samantha before the start of round 10

What is the junior chess league like in Indonesia?

There are not too many juniors playing chess.

Peter Long also explains that Indonesia is very large with different islands, making it difficult for juniors to come together. Chess is of course very popular in Indonesia, you will see it being played on the streets everywhere, but this is not very structured and serious.

 

What is your favourite chess book?

Jacob Aagaard’s book ‘Attacking Manual’.  It is fascinating and instructive as it is a treasure about attacking, which is what I like to do.

 

What are your goals and dreams?

I would like to increase my rating and get a title. Preferably as soon as possible, but a WGM before I am 16 would be great!

At this stage we can let you know that Samantha has qualified for a WFM norm during the Olympiad with a score of 5/7, so she is on her way to achieving her goals!

 

What other talents and hobbies do you have?

“I like drawing.” Samantha says. Peter speaks up again and confirms that not only does Samantha like drawing, she is also very good at it! When we ask her if she likes drawing more than chess, she confirms chess is her favourite. Peter thinks drawing is both an expression and an outlet for her creative side.

 

Who is your favourite chess player of all times?

‘Mikhail Tal’ she immediately replies. He is of course a tactical master and with Samantha’s game style following that same style, we understand why she is so drawn to that.

 

Samantha deep in thought during round 7

How are you going in this tournament and what do you think about the Olympiad?

This tournament has the longest time control I have ever played. My game in round 5 lasted for over five hours. I sleep in a lot to make sure I am fully rested.

The time control for this tournament is as follows:  the World Chess Federation FIDE has a single, classical time control for most of its major events, 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an addition of 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

 

Click on the board below to read David’s annotation on Samantha’s favourite game this Olympiad!

 

 

Lastly, what is your advice for Australian Junior players?

Enjoy the game!

 

David and Samantha

 

 

 

 

Playing at the top!

We can hear you thinking: “What would it be like to play against the top players of the world” and “Surely you have to be older and more experienced to be playing with the legends”.

Well, today we get to know one of the teams that has been playing at the top during this Olympiad. The Vietnamese Open team came in ranked 27th out of 185 teams and as expected was playing on board one by the time round 4 came around. On board four is 16-year-old IM Anh Khoi Nguyen, who has been playing every single round without a break. His coach confirms ‘He is young and fit and can handle playing continuously’.

Interview in the hotel lobby. Photo courtesy of Lam Minh Chau

Anh Khoi is a talented player, having been crowned the U10 and then U12 world champion. However, this tournament is not going the way he had hoped with four draws, a win and a loss by the time we meet. ‘I hate draws, I always try my hardest to get to a win’ Anh Khoi says. He also explains that he seems to be either playing a difficult opening and coming to a draw later or playing an easier opening and coming to a draw early.

Anh Khoi was taught how to play chess when he was 6 years old at a small local club and quickly started improving when he started private coaching. He gained quite a bit of popularity when he obtained the U16 Rapid and Blitz world titles.

Anh Khoi during round 9

The Women’s team was ranked 17th at the start out of 150 teams. After 10 rounds, they are placed 14th. That is an incredible feat, considering they have played the top Georgian team and Iran.

For the Women’s team we meet 15-year-old WFM Ngoc Thuy Duong Bach. She is very shy, but we can immediately tell, a very kind person. And with a rating of 2161, she is certainly a force to be reckoned with! In fact, after playing 7 rounds, she has a score of 6! This is her first time at an Olympiad representing her country. She was taught by her brother when she was 8 years old and obtained her WFM title in 2014. Her first international tournament was the 2013 Asean Youth Championships in Thailand.

Ngoc Thuy during round 7

Both players tell us that they don’t know too much about the current state of the Vietnamese Junior League as they are now in the national team. However, they know it is growing and the popularity of chess is increasing. New chess schools are opening, including a new school by their coach. Having Vietnam play at such high level nowadays, may very well be starting to influence parents to pick up chess for their children!

So what do you like best about being a chess player and what has it taught you about life?

Anh Khoi – I have been able to travel the world and getting to meet people. Chess has also taught me to remain calm when you are in trouble and to work on damage control – there is always an alternative solution.

Ngoc Thuy – To be more patient.

Click on the board below to read David’s annotations on this very exciting, first game Anh Khoi played at the Olympiad.

What are some of your personal and chess goals?

Anh Khoi – I would like to study medicine and make a greater contribution to the world. Of course, gaining my GM title would be one of my chess goals, but that will require a lot of hard work as I still have three norms to gain as well as increase my rating! Unfortunately, I have not been able to spend a whole lot of time on chess as I needed to focus on school. There is no opportunity of home schooling in Vietnam, so I either need to drop school completely or continue to go to school despite trying to maintain my chess career.

Ngoc Thuy – I love chess and would love to make it my profession. I would love to become a WGM and am working hard to obtain a norm here at the Olympiad.

When we asked both players what advice they had for Australian Juniors, we were given an answer that we immediately understand to reflect their kind and humble personalities; ‘I don’t think I am good enough to give advice’ says Anh Khoi.

We are convinced this is not the last we see of these junior legends!

Photo courtesy of Lam Minh Chau

 

Reignited passions for the ancient game

We all know about Syria, the country that has been in the news for the last few years. Unfortunately, not because it has been going so well, but rather because war has destroyed normality. Within the chess community we find comradery and friendship, and an Olympiad creates a perfect opportunity to find out more about the people from Syria and how chess is an integral part of their world.

Our interview comes a day after the round against Jordan, a country bordering with Syria and amazingly, on that exact same day, the border between Jordan and Syria is re-opened!

Click on the board below of David’s annotation of Malek’s game against his opponent from Jordan. In this game he shows his talents in both positional as well as tactical play!

Today we have a chat with the captain of the open team, Akeel Mahmoud about the two junior players, 18-year-old Malek Koniahl in the Open team and 17-year-old Fatema Murad who plays on board 1 for the Women’s team.

Akeel was a civil engineer from Aleppo before the war broke out and when he lost his job, he turned his office space into a place for students to come and learn chess. He was an active player himself when he was younger but had lost touch with the game while pursuing his career and family life. The war created space and time to reignite that passion and allowed him to pick up where he left it. Now a FIDE Trainer, Akeel has been coaching many students and assisting them with international tournaments, including Malek.

Coaches Akeel and David

The Junior Chess League in Syria is growing, with many local tournaments. ‘We need to be able to play more internationally to really give these juniors an opportunity’ Akeel explains. Local chess tournaments and basic training are often free, with the sports ministry covering most of the costs.

Malek has had a pretty amazing track record; he started playing when he was 7 years old and very quickly became the U10 and then U12 champion. In 2017 he became the Syrian National Champion. Akeel became his coach early 2018. In March 2018, he played in the Iraq Open, a tournament with 15 GM’s and many International Masters, and Malek won the tournament. This was a huge achievement, which gained him around 110 elo points!

Malek before the start of his round against Jordan

Fatema started as an 8-year-old in her home town up north and was the only girl playing chess. She comes from a relatively conservative township but found an accepting group in the chess community. A good example of this is the small township of Salamiah. The chess community is so strong and supportive, allowing for more freedom and a focus on education, that three of the five players from the Women’s team are from Salamiah.

Fatema before the start of round 7

In and around the country chess clubs have reopened their doors; in Damascus alone, the capital of Syria, there are over 20 clubs. Clubs often play coaches small fees to the coaches, which in turn comes from the federation and the ministry of sport. When preparing and studying chess, things are also a little different in Syria. With services like paypal not usable, new DVD’s and updates are difficult to be purchased, therefore students are often learning from books and CD-roms.

Malek is both a positional and tactical player, but Akeel explains that he is trying to push him towards more positional play as he grows. Fatema is more a tactical player but can provide solid positional ideas. This would all work towards the dream of Malek to become a GM and chase a professional chess career. This is of course not going to be easy for someone from Syria, but clubs are helping this young prodigy to achieve his dreams.

An Australian Connection…

You may be wondering how we decide which juniors to interview, as there are so many amazing players walking around? Well sometimes, they just catch our eye, sometimes we have heard or read good things about them and sometimes it is a chance introduction. That was the case in our next story. We met up with the players from Qatar, because they played against Australia in round one , a country we are all familiar with, but don’t know too much about. The very friendly players asked us to take some photos of them as well and the conversation commenced.

Click on the board below to read David’s annotation of the exciting game between Bobby Cheng and Al Hor in Round 1 at the Olympiad.

 

17-year-old Al Shamari and 18 year old Al Hor are playing at the Olympiad for Qatar and while Al Shamari also played in Baku two years ago, it is the first time for Al Hor.

Playing against Australia is not the only connection these guys have with Australia as Al Hor used to be coached IM Alexej Khamatgaleev. (Alexej is married to Julia Ryjanova, who is currently playing for the Australian Women’s team) Julia and Alexej worked as a chess coach in Qatar in 2003, and Julia was the captain of the Qatari women’s chess team from 2008 for a number of years.

Julia Ryjanova during the Olympiad

We always meet for our interviews in the morning, so the players have plenty of time for lunch and preparations. There are lots of hotels in and around Batumi, but some teams have been placed in hotels on some of the beach resorts outside the city boundaries. This is the case of the Qatar team and we must travel for an hour by taxi to reach their very luxurious hotel. They tell me this is very difficult for their team players as Qatar is very small and they are not used to long travel. It is a difficult situation to be in, would you prefer to stay in a basic hotel near the playing hall, or live in luxury for two weeks, but travel an hour each way?

 

The luxurious lobby of the resort an hour away from Batumi

When did you start playing chess?

Al Hor – When I was 13 years old. I accompanied by brother and father to the local chess club to watch my brother play. I was convinced to try chess for one week and got hooked. I am now the only one of my four siblings who still plays chess.

Al Shamari – I started also when I was 13 years of age at a school tournament. I watched You-Tube video’s and taught myself how the pieces move. I then moved from the school chess club to a city chess club as I improved.

Al Hor Salih before the start of round 1

What is the junior chess league like in Qatar?

The U12 categories are growing now that the federation is making a real effort to put some advertising in. At our level there are only 6 players, but you need to keep in mind that there are only 300.000 people in the entire country. We do have 2 GM’s, so we are pretty proud of that!

 

What are some of your goals?

Al Hor – I would like to come 2nd in the upcoming Arab championships. Of course, gaining the GM title would be my ultimate goal.

Al Shamari – I don’t have any chess goals at the moment, just play and win games.

Al Shamari Ghanem before the start of round 1

Who is your favourite player of all times?

Al Hor – Mikhael Tahl. I like the way he plays, very complicated and tactical

Al Shamari – Hichem Hamdouchi, a Moroccan-French chess grandmaster. He is a very positional player and I enjoy his games.

 

What kind of player are you?

Al Shamari – I like to think I am a positional player, until my opponent makes a mistake. I like to play the Sicilian with black and London with white.

Al Hor – I like to play sharp chess and what I play depends on my mood. I have relatively recently changed my opening repertoire to Pirc Defence and even though I don’t love the opening, I do seem to be getting good results, so I’ll stick with it a bit longer. I have now started to focus more on studying end games.

Team Qatar ready for Australia! (which ended up a 4:0 win for Ozz)

What kind of chess books do you read?

Al Shamari – I have been very busy with high school lately and have not been reading many chess books. However I do have a couple of strategy books in Arabic that I like.

Al Hor – I was given ‘Imagination in chess’ by Paata Gaprindashvili, but at the time I was too weak of a player. I hope to be able to work with it very soon. [editorial note – this is David’s favourite book as it discusses thinking processes]

 

What has chess taught you about life?

Al Hor – It has given me more patience

Al Shamari – How to solve problems. Sometimes it is better to wait and think.

 

What was your most memorable game?

Al Shamari – In 2015 in Morocco where I played against an Algerian champion with a rating of 1900. At this time I only had a rating of 1500. I played the London and a very sharp game followed. Nearing the end I took 30 minutes to consider a move after which my opponent resigned.  Ivan Sokolov was very impressed with my game and shook my hand to congratulate me!

Al Hor – My most memorable game was at the Biel chess festival where I played against Jan Fricke. He played an opening I was unfamiliar with and was under pressure. Then I played a very rare gambit, unknown by my coach, and was able to continue with confidence. Peter Sviedler was behind me us during this gambit and he smiled when I made the move. He even tweeted about it and responded to my tweet!

Click on the board below to read the annotation by David on this game by Al Hor. We have left Al Hor’s comments in the annotation to give you an inside look in what he was thinking!

 

We noticed there is no Women’s team this year playing for Qatar. Why is that?

They are currently preparing for their exams and were unable to make it this year. Hopefully in future years we will be able to submit a women’s team.

 

What do we not know about Qatar that we should all be aware off?

Al Hor – The people are really kind. Some might be reluctant to talk to locals, but you should really try as they are very kind and always willing to help! We also have a lot traditional food with rice.

Al Hor in thought during round 6

We wish the team all the best as their board 2 player had to leave and their board five player has flown in to assist. This means that there are only four players remaining for the final 6 rounds and all players will need to play all rounds. This will be incredible tough, but after having met the two young men, we are confident they will give it their all!

Making brave decisions for chess

When we do these interviews, we find out amazing stories. We hear about the players perspectives and are provided with a glimpse of what is like for a junior from another country.  

Imagine what you would do if attending the Olympiad would mean you get an ‘invalid’ on your report card and miss out on scholarships, because you miss the exams? Would you choose school or chess?

Imagine if you would go to school from 7am to 4-5pm and still need to do homework. Would you sacrifice time with your friends to study chess?

Imagine if you had to enlist to the army for two years after high school, would you chase a chess career early so you could hopefully return to chess when your service time is over?

These choices sound difficult and we are amazed by the commitment these young players have made. Even though Singapore is pretty close to Australia, it is clear that life as a chess player is very different.

So, lets introduce them:

From left to right; Emanuelle, Eunice, Qing Aun and Jun Wei

17-year-old FM Qing Aun. Some of you may already be familiar with Qing Aun as he played in the Lidums Young Masters IM norm event in 2017. In fact, he had such a great time, he is scheduled to return to Adelaide in 2018! 

We are also talking to 17-year-old CM Jun Wei who is keen to also chase an IM norm. He would like to obtain this before he turns 19 and needs to enrol for the army.  The two-year compulsory army service sees an end to most chess careers, so the best approach is to have yourself established before your duty starts.

Emmanuelle during round 5

And then there are 15-year-old Eunice and 17-year-old Emmanuelle. The two women are a little more reserved, but don’t be fooled as these two have some real determination. With only four women playing in the team this year, none of the players in the Women’s team get a day off, they need to play all rounds, which is an incredible tough thing to do. The team tells us they all try to stay physically fit by stretching in the rooms and making good use of the table tennis table in the hotel. 

Qing Aun deep in thought during round 5

So where did it all start for them?

Emmanuelle and Eunice both started playing around the age of 7 and while Eunice started getting more formal training when she was 8 or 9, Emmanuelle did not get formal coaching until she was 11 years old.

 FM Qing Aun started playing chess when he was about 6 years old and his father taught him the rules of the game. At the age of 9 he started receiving formal training at the chess academy.

Jun Wei started a little bit later than the other guys, with learning the basics at the age of 8 and formal training commencing at the age of 10. He immediately tells us that his major achievements are not those that we can find in his chess rating or scores against players, but in himself. His confidence has grown, and he is now living a life he could have never imagined.

Eunice during round 5

When we ask the young players what kind of chess player they are and what some of the openings they play, they fall quiet. They are reluctant to share this as this may give an opponent an unfair advantage. At first, we are a little surprised as games are played on DGT boards and downloadable at the end of each round. Surely, if their opponents want to do research, that would be a better place to look! However, during the interview it becomes clear why they are reluctant to talk about their playing styles. The kind of sacrifices these players have made are very different than what we go through in Australia. As we mentioned earlier, making very long school days and taking time away from friends to study chess is not something every teenager would do. Risking your scholarships and missing your exams is also a huge decision for these young players. To obtain the level of chess these youngsters are playing at takes some serious commitment and we totally understand!

They also tell us that to qualify for the Olympiad team, there are several tournaments, including the nationals held in December. The top players from this tournament are selected over a two-year period. The Open team for Singapore features WGM Qianyun Gong, which is also great to see!

 

WGM Qianyun Gong. Great to see a female in the Open team for Singapore!

When we asked what some of the most memorable game were they ever played, they were keen to share as this is exactly what brings that magic to chess – memorable games that make you proud of your achievements.

Eunice – Round 4 in the Bangkok Open in April. I played against a much higher rated player and I was a pawn down in the middle game. With about 20 minutes left on the clock, my opponent blundered, and I won. Was the best day of my life!

Qing Aun – In an IM norm event, I played against a GM. It was a great fight and we ended up drawing.

Emmanuelle – Also in Bangkok in round 1. I played against an IM, my first time playing against an IM and was able to threaten mate a few times.

Jun Wei – My most memorable game was in a simul against none other then Anand. We were fairly equal, but after 4 hours of play, Anand blundered, and I won the game.

Jun Wei before the start of round 1

What advice do you have for Australian Juniors?

Eunice – Enjoy, no Love the game!

Jun Wei – Do not let other things fight your game. It doesn’t matter what else is going on in life, focus on your current game. Remember, every player is only as strong as their last game.

Emmanuelle – Play the board, not the player. Be immersed in the game

Eunice – Love the game. Try your best and don’t measure yourself to others. Just take one step at the time.

 

So next time you don’t feel like studying for a tournament, keep in mind the amazing work of these guys. Let them inspire you to make your choices!

Click on the photo to see their message to Australia!

Dreams come true for Curacao!

Imagine starting to play chess at the age of 9 years old in 2011 and being crowned the National Junior Champion in 2016 at the age of 14! That incredible story is not only a dream come true, but also the real story of David Pietersz from Netherlands Antilles.

 

David and David having a chat

Now at the age of 16, he is representing his country, Curacao, which for legislative reasons is still classified as the Netherlands Antilles with FIDE. The list of tournaments won over the last 7 years is impressive and shows the amount of potential David has. For example, in his first international tournament in Aruba he came 3rd in the U12 category in 2013 and then 1st in the U18 category when he returned in 2015. He was 1st in U14 in a Caribbean tournament and came 2nd and 3rd in the National championships in Curacao in 2016 and 2017 respectively. (note this last tournament is not the junior event, but the general open tournament.)

 

Click on the photo to see David’s message to Australia!

In order to be selected to play at the Olympiad, chess players can play in 5 tournaments and score points (score is relative to final ranking in tournament). The five players that have the highest score are provided with a position in the national team at the Olympiad. David, coming fifth, is proud and keen to learn and grow from the experience. He has had his eyes on playing in the Olympiad for many years, so this trip is a dream come true!

 

He was taught chess by his dad, who had spotted a chess board at his grandma’s house and was really driven to take his chess to the next level when he finally beat one of his long-time rivals. He hasn’t looked back since and tries to get at least one hour of chess training in each day.

David eagerly awaiting his first game in Round 1

You have achieved quite a bit in your short career, so what are some of the goals you still have?

 

I definitely would like a chess title, increase my rating and represent Curacao at more international events.

David (Chesslife) has analysed David’s (Curacao) favourite game from last year. White crushes Black’s French pawn structure with the classical f4-f5. Click on the chessboard to open up the analysis.

 

Who is your favourite player of all times?

World Champion Magnus Carlsen. I like his dominant playing style. Although currently I am very much enjoying games by Dutch player Anish Giri, even though his playing style is very different from Magnus’ games.

 

Do you have any favourite chess books?

I don’t remember the exact title, but my first book was a general chess openings book and I remember that it made a huge impact having a book and learning from it.

 

David concentraing in his game against Surinam in round 4

What kind of chess player are you?

I like to think I am more of a positional player; with White I enjoy playing the Reti and the English, while with Black I play the Scandanavian and Queen’s Indian. Of course I think that I can play tactically when I have to!

 

What is the junior league like in Curacao?

Juniors in Curacao are definitely very competitive and there are several players who are very strong. The number of juniors playing has significantly increased over the last few years, with more publicity on Facebook, newspapers and tv. The three local clubs are doing a great job advertising their events and drawing in more players.

 

What has chess taught you about life?

Chess has really helped me with my schooling. I have learned to think things through and plan. Don’t rush, take your time and review all options.

 

What is your advice to Australian Juniors?

Continue to do your best and work towards your goals. Your hard work will pay off if you keep at it.

 

 

 

Country Facts!

The country was formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles and is now formally called the Country of Curaçao it includes the main island of Curaçao and the uninhabited island of “Little Curaçao”. Curaçao has a population over 160,000 in an area of 444 km2 and its capital is Willemstad.