The number of people getting involved in chess has certainly picked up. Chess in schools has grown by leaps and bounds compared to past years. Hence it’s only natural more people are seeking coaching and training in chess to improve their skills in the game. Even though surviving off chess as a professional player is still not possible in Malaysia but chess coaching is quite the opposite. More chess coaches are living off chess is definitely the income is getting better. At least it’s better than it’s ever been.
What I’m waiting for is with the increase in numbers, is to see increase in quality and discovery of new talents too. However we are still humbled by foreigners like Ian Udani and Tjin Hau in our local tournaments. But I’m confident that things will be changing soon. It could be a couple of months to a year or two.
Malaysia is currently at 73rd position according to the current FIDE rating charts. This is still mediocre by international standards. Still 
this is an improvement from last year’s 80-something position. Being at the bottom, there is only one direction and that is UP!
Exciting times, don’t you agree?
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Malaysian : 01 July 2008 at 11:14 am
Yes, exciting times. But there are still players who think the national rating list is not important. One even said Swiss pairing can be random and Malaysian parents of chess youngsters are money printers. Sigh!
Seriously, I think one of the problems with the low standard of Malaysian chess stems from what was done many years ago and is still currently being practised. About 2 decades ago, there started a flurry of age-group chess events. This was a good thing. However, there were at the same time very few events organised for adults and practically no FIDE rated events for umpteen years.
Now we are seeing the results of that “mistake”. Whereas our juniors benefited from the many events held for them, when they were no longer school boys, there was a sudden enforced lack of chess activities because there were simply no longer events held for them.
For many years now, the National Closed champions were mainly school-boys or those who had yet to join the work force. You can look at the list of past champions to verify that fact. I think this was not because they were the strongest but because the former champions and other strong players were no longer contesting for reasons ranging from further studies or they having joined the rat race or they simply lost interest.
I venture to say that the national closed champions for many years were not the best players of their times.Let us see how Edward Lee performs against Malaysia’s best in the coming selection tournament.
Comments are invited.
GilaChess : 02 July 2008 at 11:28 pm
Yes what you have highlighted has been on everybody’s mind. At least it’s the same topic discussed a lot of the time when I meet people.
How will things change? Who will take up the gauntlet and improve things?
Malaysian : 02 July 2008 at 11:50 pm
MCF is the governing body. Who else?
Malaysian : 02 July 2008 at 11:57 pm
You cannot have a governing body which doesn’t do anything, can you? Perhaps they should have a competitions committee to ensure there are sufficient FIDE-rated events in the country.The actual work can then be undertaken by the state associates and they can work hand-in-hand.
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 12:03 am
Publicity is all-important. Someone mentioned DATMO is mentioned on FIDE’s site. Ask you how many people knows about DATMO in Malaysia. Anyone knows who the current champion is ?? OR anyone knows we are sending a team to the Chess Olympiads which attracts over a hundred nations? I think many chess players do not know themselves. SAD.
Dinovsky : 03 July 2008 at 12:11 am
Aiyaa, typical Malaysian passing the buck attitude. Such an embarassement calling yourself ‘Malaysian’. At least Gilachess by your admission is Gila, and not pretending to be smart or hypocrite. You and you must change, stop being the armchair critic. Stand up and be counted,join existing clubs or form new ones and take leadership and stop supporting mediocre stuffs churned out by these over the hill officials. Peter Lung takes one step further by just brushing aside the MCF and doing things his way. So if you cannot lead, force change and shake up by supporting this fellow. Or are you all just hot air?
MCF : 03 July 2008 at 12:10 pm
To Malaysian, if you don’t think that the current and former national champions were not the best of their times. i suggest u do something about it? maybe you can sponsor the prize money. i’m sure that will attract a large number of stronger players.
But lastly, please give credit to our new national champion edward lee as he has been showing outstanding results so far. Lets wish him all the best in the coming selection
Comments are welcomed.
GilaChess : 03 July 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yes, let’s not take any credit away from Edward Lee. Is he the best Malaysian player at the moment? Arguably not!
But so what? If the best Malaysians choose not to compete, and Edward Lee proved himself to be the best in the NC, the he IS officially the Malaysian National Champ. All this discussion about so and so is better than Edward is a waste of time.
Malaysian, you are right about publicity. Not many Malaysians outside of the chess community know about Malaysian Chess. That’s the job of media, the chess federation and websites to go all out to promote chess in Malaysia. In Seremban for example, I’ve been asked who is the National Champ this year. And that’s coming from chess players!
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 4:20 pm
I seldom attack people personally like some of the people here. I would like do keep it at that. I just state the facts as it is. If you don’t like it, just put forward your argument and don’t start calling names. That’s childish.
Firstly, can I as an individual do more than MCF, the national elected body? If you think I can, then it implies you are of the opinion that MCF is a useless body. There is no passing the bug here. If it is MCF’s job, MCF should do it and not depend on individuals outside the organisation to do it. I never even thought of that. Why do you, as an interested chess player want to defend a national body IF it is not doing its work? Beats me. Eg. if you find the streets are filthy, would you take a broom and sweep the streets? Naturally you blame it on Dewan Bandaraya. If you don’t like the government, you bring it to its attention and not start to try to govern yourself. Logical?
I find that there are not many people who give their opinions here even if the matters concern themselves directly as chess players. Then someone will come along and start talking nonsense like doing away with the rating system altogether and go back to the olden days using Swiss pairing cards.
Frankly, I enjoy Peter Long’s writings which, although stongly worded, are full of facts and draw attention to matters which need improving for the good of chess players in general.
By just keeping quiet, you are not doing justice to yourself and chess in Malaysia.
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 4:43 pm
I did not take any credit away from Edward Lee. He won this year’s National Closed fair and square. I only said lets see how he performs in the selection tournament where all the top players take part. Please don’t put words in my mouth.
As to my saying the national champions were not the best players of their times when they won, go check the ratings of recent champions and see for yourself.
Has anyone in recent years won in the presence of say 3 or 4 from the FIDE country top 10 list? This year only Leong Mun Wan at No. 7 was there and we nearly won the tournament.
I understand it was not the problem of the eventual winner, but then again it was a fact that few “strong” players were there. THAT is why we have to see Edward Lee’s performance in the coming tournament. I personally wish him the best BECAUSE I also do not like “strong” players who do not play and hence protect their ratings.
So, Edward, go and beat them all to show you are a worthy champion!
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 4:48 pm
Andrew, I am trying to boost your hit rate by drawing people into “arguments” with me
. If not, I see very few people commenting on your writings. So very dull.
Dinovsky : 03 July 2008 at 5:27 pm
Another stupid empty can comment from ‘Malaysian” – Seems to him that only MCF can do things, but must of course be guided by his views only. Since MCF is an elected body and the members are not complaining and I assume you are not a member what business do you have to complain. And if you are a member, bring up the complaint in the meeting then, period.Dont be an idiot to bring govt or Bandaraya example to justify your ‘argument’ – in both instances you have every right simply because you are a citizen, are you? And there are channels like your wakil rakyat etc. But in the case of MCF , who are you to pass remarks and for MCF to respond? As I said earlier join and establish a club to be a member and then talk. Alternatively fight or provide a better(hopefully) alternative like Peter from the outside.
As for you, you are still hot air. Great ideas, so called that no others have ever thought of.
A word of warning from Gilachess to Dinovsky:
I’m happy to host healthy discussions here about improving chess in general. I’ve even allowed many to post without real names. Air your views and disagree on whatever but please refrain from calling anyone “stupid” or an “idiot” here. I really hate to edit out or even delete my readers comment so be civil and keep the discussion clean.
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 5:54 pm
You get hot under the collar easily. Not good for health.
What right have you got to bar me from posting my views in a public forum? If I am too hard on MCF, let MCF reply. Are you by any chance an MCF committee member? If not, why are you defending them? I was not talking about you, was I?
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 6:00 pm
Now we know why Malaysian chess is not progressing. People who propose that all chess players remain silent and not air their views. Otherwise take matters into their own hands and do whatever they fancy to “promote” chess. There may soon be chaos with chess in Malaysia. Also someone has become MCF’s publicity officer to shut up all complaints.
In reality MCF is not like that lah!
GilaChess : 03 July 2008 at 6:14 pm
Thanks you, Malaysian for trying to improve my hit rate and getting more comments. Though I want more comments, I’m really afraid of getting more traffic as I’m dangerously reaching my webhost bandwidth and/or CPU monthly allocation.
Funny because I used to dream of more traffic. Now I just want traffic to stay at current levels. 200-300 visits a day is plenty by my books.
I just post what’s on my mind (my brain fart
) and don’t really hope for a firestorm of comment.
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 6:20 pm
If I leave just a short comment here, I am certain no MCF committee member will pick it up and try to resolve mattters from the grassroots’ point of view.
Actually, it is good to have people like Dinovsky here MINUS the personal insults that come together. Then we can really have fruitful discussions.
I try to pinpoint faults with the way things are run ( as I think fit). Never did I insult people who are resposible for those faults.
EG. I said the national rating list is usually late and has fundamental faults. Perhaps there are reasons I am not aware of. If so, please let me know in a civil manner. Never have I said “Mr. so and so is good for nothing”, “stupid”, etc. That would not be proper for public forums.
So, please those who want to answer my posts, please keep to the proper rules of conduct on a publi forum.
Dinovsky : 03 July 2008 at 6:45 pm
Ok just delete the ’stupid’ and ‘idiot’ words from my post, but my views on this wannabe remains. But please dont use Malausian as your nick as it put me off real Malaysian. Btw calling him idiot or stupid is not insults but just a figure of speech and a good impression of people like him.! Correction too- I cannot be a MCF fan, I am actually asking all and sundry to change the people there by electing fresh i…s (there I go again. In fact I am even suggesting that we lend support to lone ranger Peter to effect change! Since this fella also have nice words on this character, why not give it a try – we’re already in the hole, what more can happen.And Gilachess no worries, you can bar me , after all its your site and can always choose to hear only music. Yeah its always painful to hear the truth. cheers!
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 9:23 pm
Public hate postings should not be allowed. He hates me, he hates MFC, he hates MFC officials…. the whole chess thing in Malaysia he also hates … Quite a character !
Dinovsky : 03 July 2008 at 9:36 pm
Dont put words in other people’s mouth, I just wonder who hates who now. I am just calling for change in MCF and giving waking up call to chess players? Calling fot change is not hate, but stopping other from having different views is hatred.Your so called views is out dated and doesnt work – who voted in the same MCF officials year in and year out? And you expect different result from it! Well they deserve the officials they get. Hats off to Peter who dares to move things even if he has to do it alone here. Hey, do I look like I hate this sort of character? Otoh why not I criticise hot air like this Malaysian, a nick simply to shame us. Truth hurts
Malaysian : 03 July 2008 at 10:48 pm
Do you know all the MCF committee members? They were newly elected/reelected. Can you name them? I am certain ALL of them are very decent and capable people and will listen to our calls if you bring matters to their attention.
You go to the extent to ask them to resign??? You starting a chess revolution??? Who will replace them? Surely you will take the lead as you advocate doing things yourself.
Peter Long : 08 July 2008 at 10:57 am
I don’t normally look up local websites/blogs on chess because with very few exceptions as there isn’t very much in terms of content other than some soundings off by annomous individuals, self publicity, or announcements of local quickplay tournaments and I have absolutely no interest in these.
But because my name was mentioned here many in the last week have asked me to take a look and I would also like to take this opportunity to clarify some perceptions:
1. I have declined any chess involvment for many years despite being asked often and what started as a favour to oversee the setup of a training business evolved into a role which requires coordination of activties in the ASEAN region and beyond.
2. Being a professional and taking pride in whatever I undertake, I have attended seminars, undergone training, etc. as required to confirm my knowledge and upgrade skills required to do this work effectively and that is why I have become in the last 18 months, a FIDE Trainer, a FIDE Arbiter and FIDE Master.
3. There is little point commenting on the failure of others – the lack of progress in the last 20 years speaks for itself and so it is not about doing “my way” – frankly, to change what has been the experience of the local chess community (if that is what is felt necessary) is really their challenge alone and not mine.
4. In ASEAN (and that include Malaysia), my focus is clearly in supporting grassroots and talent development and while these have many aspects and facets to it, what is most critical is for there to be local parties who can work together to make it happen and as my time is limited, today I go where I feel I can best contribute to making things happen.
5. My thoughts together with programs/activities and the results of these together with my track record is well known and for those who which to understand more, do start with wwww.thefidetrainer.blogspot.com (and I can always be contacted via my email peter@aseanchess.com.).
Dinovsky : 10 July 2008 at 12:52 am
My apologies that Peter long now thinks he is doing a great job – on the contrary he is showing his true colour of self-promotion and self interest that have nothing to do with Malaysian chess. He is not interested in “grassroot and talent development” except for money. What I am suggesting is to do better than MCF or any other body , for Malaysia and not for any self centred interest. Just that he is willing to do it alone, but a deviatist in Malaysia chess.