Justin Tan 3 at the Start of This Year

3rd September 2011 Volume 1, Issue 4 Noble Park Chess

Paddy O'Donoghue Centre, 18-32 Buckley Street, Noble Park, Victoria 3174 President: Club S p e c i a l J u n i o r E d i t i o n Kai Tan Secretary/Treasurer: Domagoj Dragicevic (0421 896 365) ([email protected])

Publicity: FM Dusan Stojic Any returning visitor to the club these days would be Webmaster: struck immediately by the transformation in the Mehmedalija Dizdarevic number of juniors playing chess in our club. The sight of a multitude of young children playing chess Committee Members: is one which is more usually associated with one of Mike Loh (Editor) Melbourne's more established junior clubs. Svetozar Stojic Unfortunately, junior numbers in our club had been steadily declining over the past few years. Reginald Chong This year, the club was determined to redress this Website: decline. The club's goal was two-fold: firstly, to http://www.nobleparkchess. maintain its program of strong FIDE-rated org.au/ tournaments to attract strong junior players but equally-important, at the other end of the spectrum,

Inside: to introduce chess to children who are brand-new to Special Junior Edition 1 the game. Noble Park Junior Coaching 2 Our proudest achievement has been the Profiles: establishment of the new junior coaching program Justin Tan 3 at the start of this year. Word is spreading fast Karl Zelesco 4 among parents in our local community about our Zachary Loh 5 free coaching program. New plans are afoot to Kyle Gibson 6 Enoch Fan & Savithri 7 target local schools and we will be introducing a new Narenthran membership structure for graduates of this program. Jimmy Ying & Sam Gluzman 8 As a club, we have much more to do, but with a solid Baris and Ege Girgin 9 foundation of young newcomers and strong juniors Bonita & Mingus Gu-Yang 10 in our club, supported by our coaching team, the 2011 Victorian Juniors 11 2011 Noble Park Grades 12 club can look forward to a bright and exciting future! Kai Tan (NPCC President) Proudly supported by

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Noble Park Junior Coaching Program

The Noble Park Junior Chess Program has been going from strength to strength since its inception Best of all, it is a free program! in April. The group has grown from 4 children to 22 in August. This program has benefitted immensely with the addition of Reginald Chong (Junior Program Coordinator), FIDE Trainer NY Wong (Coach) and Peter Morris.

Our goal is to get kids interested in the wonderful game of chess and provide a pathway from learning about how chess pieces move through to playing club-level chess at Noble Park Chess Club. After that, who knows where that might lead them.

NY’s coaching philosophy is that it is important to instil a strong foundation in the kids so that they understand why it is important to: 1. Put a pawn in the centre 2. Develop your pieces 3. Make sure your King is safe 4. Look at the placement of your pieces, your opponent’s unprotected pieces, etc.

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Junior Profile: Justin Tan accomplishments include equal first in this year's Justin attends Year 9 with a Noble Park Club Championships and outright first scholarship from the in the Noble Park A-grade tournament (Editor: Victorian College of the see article on Noble Park Grades on page 12) Arts Secondary School. He has been a member of 6. Congratulations on winning the Victorian Noble Park Chess Club Gymnastics All Around title for your age group since 2008. and strong performance in the Australian National Championships as well. Which is your Currently ranked #2 in the favourite apparatus? Under-14 age group in My favourite and undoubtedly best apparatus is Australia, Justin has been the pommel horse – although I happened to stuff to many national and up really badly in the Nationals this year. But I overseas tournaments. He managed to win individual gold in the parallel will be in Brazil for the bars so I was happy about that. FIDE rating: 2154 World Youth Chess ACF rating: 2156 Championships in Nov. 7. How did you get started in gymnastics and how much training do you do? 1. How did you get started in chess? How many I started gymnastics in 2003 after my sister years ago was that? started – I thought it was a cool sport. I train I started playing chess when I joined my primary about 28 hours per week. (Editor: Holy cow! That school chess club in Year 3. But my first is on top of school work!) competitive tournament was at the beginning of 2007 – I was 10 years old. 8. Who is your favourite gymnast and why? Xiao Qin for his amazing pommel swings/circles. 2. Why should kids take up chess? He will always be the best on the pommel horse. I Chess is a good way to use your brain. It involves also admire Phillip Boy of Germany; he is problem solving, lateral thinking and memory. I unbelievably good at high bar. enjoy it because even though it is a simple concept, it is a very complicated game. 9. How do you balance between school, chess and gymnastics? 3. You have played in many chess tournaments. It is very difficult to balance them all out. I’m not Which is your favourite Australian and overseas sure which one of them comes first on my list of tournament? priorities because they’re all really important to My favourite tournaments in Australia have to be me. Doeberl Cup and ANU Open – it is just a coincidence that they’re both in Canberra! I 10. What do you do in the little spare time that you probably prefer the Doeberl Cup because it has a have? stronger field. My favourite overseas tournament Play and study chess! is definitely the Malaysian Open! Apart from the 11. Hopefully you don’t have to make this choice but tournament itself, I get to stay with my if you had to make a choice, which would you grandparents! pick – chess or gymnastics? 4. Who is your favourite chess player and why? Without hesitation, I would go with chess simply I have three favourite players: Karpov for his because you can’t really get injuries from it (apart subtlety, Fischer for his fluency and Aronian for from back/neck aches). his tactical genius (I also met and chatted to him last month!) 5. What is your best chess accomplishment? Coming equal first in the Melbourne Cup Weekender in 2010 (after winning against IM Stephen Solomon) was a highlight for me! Other

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Junior Profile: Karl Zelesco and Malaysia. I have never played in a Karl is in Year 6 at tournament that had 10 GMs and 10 IMs before. Deepdene Primary School. It is certainly the toughest tournament I’ve ever He is ranked #2 in Australia played in. for the Under-12 age group and current Victorian 4. You have had a very successful 12 months in Under-12 champion. chess. What do you attribute that to? I guess playing a lot has helped me. I play at many Karl’s dream is to chess clubs in Melbourne and really enjoy the represent Australia for stronger FIDE rated tournaments with the 90/30 chess. He will fulfil his time controls. I found that my chess improved dream this November after I started playing longer time controls and when he represents against stronger people. At first I was losing every Australia at the World game, but I then started to make connections and Youth Chess improve. I also have a very good coach in Vanja FIDE rating: 2012 Championships in Brazil. ACF rating: 1894 Rozenblat. A good coach and regular play in strong tournaments seemed to help me improve. 1. How did you get started in chess? How many 5. You have been the "Most improved" player in the years ago was that? ACF ratings twice. What is that like? My Dad taught me the moves when I was about It was very exciting for me to be named “Most 7. I didn’t do much with my chess then. I started Improved Player” and I still remember Mum becoming interested when I had a chance to play waking me up to tell me that the rating list was in an interschool chess tournament at the end of out and that I had done it. I played in lots of Grade 3. Our school ended up 1 point short of tournaments in the quarter in order to try and qualifying to play in the State Final. So we formed achieve this and I also had to give up a Gym class a team and decided to try again the following (which I loved) to accommodate an additional year (2009). After that, I became more serious tournament. At the time, it was very hard to do about chess and started playing at chess clubs. In as my chess schedule required me to sacrifice lots Sep 2009, I obtained my first chess rating of 487. of free time with my friends. 2. Why should kids take up chess? 6. What do you enjoy most at school? Well, besides being fun, chess helps with I pretty much enjoy everything on offer at school, concentration, focus, resilience, and logical but especially maths and science subjects. We thinking. I find that it helps me with my ability to also have a Blog for our grade which I like to look ahead and plan which is a great life skill. You contribute to from time to time. Our class were learn to better manage your time too once you each involved in writing a chapter of a story for start playing with a clock. I don’t find there are our Blog and I enjoyed writing the final chapter any bad things associated with chess other than it and tying all the threads together. It was can become a bit addictive! challenging because some of the kids had written 3. Which is your favourite Australian and overseas some crazy stuff and it was hard to ‘pull it all tournament? together’ but it was fun and I really enjoyed it. I have lots of favourite tournaments such as the 7. What do you do in your spare time? Ballarat Begonia, Doeberl, SIO as well as my I like to read (novels not usually chess books). I regular weekly tournaments at Box Hill, Noble like to play on the trampoline, 2-square as well as Park and Melbourne Chess Clubs. I have just games on the iPad such as Angry Birds, Plants vs played in the Dato’ Arthur Tan Malaysian Open; Zombies & Legendary Wars. However, I don’t my first overseas tournament. I really enjoyed have too much time for these games (usually just that tournament and would like to play in it again enroute in the car or on a plane!!) next year, if possible. I was paired with players from Ukraine, Sri Lanka, England, Indonesia, Fiji

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Junior Profile: Zachary Loh

Zachary attends Year 7 at 5. What is your best chess accomplishment(s)? Glen Waverley Secondary It was very exciting and an honour to represent College. He started playing Australia at the World Youth Chess competitive chess with Championships. I was very happy to win the classic time controls in unrated section in the 2008 Victorian Open. It 2008. He is now ranked #4 was my first win, and I won money! This year I in the Top Under-12 was equal first in the Under-16 Open section of juniors in Australia. the Victorian Juniors Under-18 tournament. Zach has been overseas to 6. How did you find playing at the World Youth compete in the World Chess Championships in Greece last year? Youth Chess It was very challenging and rewarding. Many of Championships and the players at World Youth are under-rated and

Malaysian Open. are very difficult to beat. It was also fun to play FIDE rating: 1769 against juniors from different countries and He started playing at Noble ACF rating: 1766 observe the different styles that they play. Park CC in May 2010. 7. You were a member of the Mount View Primary 1. How did you get started in chess? How many School team that won the Primary Open section years ago was that? in the Australian Schools Teams Championships in I started playing chess in 2005 when I was in 2009. Do you like playing inter-schools? Grade 1. I joined the lunchtime chess club at Inter-schools are great because you represent Mount View Primary school. I then started your school as a team instead of individually. playing long games in Jan 2008. Everyone supports each other to do their best. 2. Why should kids take up chess? 8. What would you like to accomplish in chess? Chess makes you use your brain to think better. One day I would like to become a super GM! It You visualise moves and learn to think ahead. I would be excellent if I could accomplish that! like chess because it is challenging but it is also loads of fun. I enjoy catching up with all my chess 9. Do you enjoy playing at Noble Park Chess club? friends. Why? Everyone at the club is really friendly and I like 3. You have played in a few chess tournaments. the venue. It’s good for me as I get to play Which is your favourite Australian and overseas experienced and high-rated players. This term I tournament? had the opportunity to play in the A division of My favourite Australian tournament is the the Noble Park Grades and I ended up winning Canterbury Summer Swiss at Box Hill Chess Club; the Under-2000 junior trophy. this was my very first long game tournament in 2008 and I hope I can keep playing in it. I also 10. What interests do you have outside of chess? enjoy playing the Victorian Juniors every year. I like all types of sports. I play club tennis and cricket on weekends. My favourite tennis players My favourite overseas tournament is the are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. My favourite Malaysian Open – it is a strong competition. The soccer teams are Manchester United and weather and food is great and I get to catch up Barcelona. Last year, I went to watch Barcelona with my grandparents and relatives. There are play when we were in Spain; it was awesome. also very cheap things to buy! And of course, go the Richmond Tigers! 4. Who is your favourite chess player and why? I like playing the piano. This year I started Mikhail Tal because he is an excellent attacking learning to play the cello in the Beginner Strings player. at school. I like to watch movies, listen to popular music and play computer games like Virtua Tennis, NBA and FIFA.

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Junior Profile: Kyle Gibson

FIDE rating: 6. What is your ambition? 1644 When I finally finish school I hope to be an ACF rating: Environmental Resource Engineer. I would really 1598 like to design environmentally friendly buildings, find alternate energy sources to stop global Kyle is 13 years warming and stop the polar ice caps from old and studies melting. at Box Hill High School. 7. What do you do in your spare time? He is currently in the last year of their Select Entry Wow - what spare time? I do homework - a little, Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program, which is play Magic the Gathering - a lot! I play the equivalent to Year 10. He starts Year 11 next year. Kyle trumpet both at school and for Croydon Citizens has been playing at Noble Park CC since 2008. Band so I practice that a bit. I read every night and I like watching movies. I like to cook and try 1. How did you get started in chess? How many out new recipes, I especially like pork ribs! And years ago was that? Mum insists that I squash a little bit of sleep in I started playing chess in 2004 when I was in most nights. (Editor: ) Grade 1. I had just moved to a new school that had a lunch time chess club and I thought it I have been playing Magic The Gathering for the would be a fun thing to do - that and I hadn't past 3 years. As with all my favourite games, it is made any friends yet so it was a good way to fill a strategy game where you try to outplay your up my lunch time. Even though the chess club opponent. Cards can be purchased at speciality was supposed to be for all levels of ability, the hobby shops that also hold the tournaments. chess coach at the time said I couldn't play Cards are rated as common, uncommon and rare because I had never played before and didn't and mythic rare - with the rares being collector's know how the pieces moved. This made me more items also and can be worth lots of money. The determined to learn how to play and by the end graphics on the cards are fantasy / mythical type of the year, I was the school's top chess player. pictures that I would someday like to design and submit one of my own. 2. Why should kids take up chess? Chess encourages kids to think logically and to 8. I hear you have invented a card game before. think ahead. It is competitive without having How does one go about designing a card game? physical contact and you get to meet a wide Yes, I have made 4 games that have won awards variety of people and personalities from young but my favourite is called Rescue Mission: Planet kids to young adults to young senior citizens. Earth. It was about reducing carbon levels by implementing alternative power sources such as 3. What is your best chess accomplishment? wind, solar, geo-thermal etc. Victorian Under-14 Junior Champion last year. To design your own card game you need to think 4. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park CC? of a concept first that you can base the game I have really enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess around and then implement it in an interesting Club over the past few years. The field is quite and fun way that players can understand. With strong and I enjoy the challenge of playing the my game you build your alternate power stations harder players. There haven't been many players to gain points whilst avoid disasters such as hail my own age until recently, but at Noble Park this storms causing damage to your solar panels all has never been an issue as all the players, young whilst reducing your CO2 greenhouse gas and not so young, have always treated me as just balloons by doing things like replacing your another chess player. petrol- run cars with a hybrid car instead or 5. What do you enjoy most at school? building a bio gas facility and turning your cow- MATHS!! I am doing VCE Maths Methods this poop into power. year. I also enjoy Mechatronics and Robotics.

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Junior Profile: Enoch Fan & Savithri Narenthran

Enoch is in Grade 5 and Savithri is 12, going on 13. attends Greythorn Primary She goes to Melbourne School. Girls' College. She is listed in the ACF Top Females He is the 2011 Victorian Under-20 category. Under-10 Junior Champion and is ranked #2 in Savithri has been to Subic, Australia for the Under-10 Philippines to compete in age group. 11th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships and Enoch started playing at Chennai, India for the 29th Noble Park CC this year. World Junior Girls Chess Championships.

FIDE rating: 1780 FIDE rating: 1706 She is also one of many ACF rating: 1605 ACF rating: 1510 juniors who started playing at Noble Park CC this year. 1. How did you get started in chess? How many 1. How did you get started in chess? years ago was that? Father taught me. It was about seven years ago. My Mum went to a board game shop and asked one of the store staff what they 2. Why should kids take up chess? recommended. They said chess. So my Mum Harry Potter plays it. bought a set, and I started learning chess from 3. Why do you like chess? there. That was about 4 and ½ years ago. I don't know why but it's quite fun for me at the 2. Why should kids take up chess? Why do you like moment. chess? 4. Who is your favourite chess player and why? It helps mature your brain mentally. It is a fun Capablanca because he likes to cook! game and I have learnt from it. 5. Your Dad and sister play chess as well. Does your 3. Who is your favourite chess player and why? family play together much? Does that help you? I don't have one. We play once a week on average. I don’t think it 4. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess helps but we enjoy playing together. Club? 6. What was it like to play overseas in Philippines Yes. It is a very calm environment and everyone is and India? Do you find the players play quite supportive of each other. "differently" i.e. tactical vs. positional? 5. I think you are competing in the district junior Hard! They are positional players but they never tennis as well. Do you enjoy it? miss any tactics. Yes, even though our team did not get into the 7. You are the Under-1600 champion in Noble Park semis. CC. Have you enjoyed playing at the club? 6. What do you enjoy most at school? Yes, because it is a good club with very strong Probably maths and sport. players. Everybody is higher rated than me, so I don't worry if I lose. 8. What do you do in your spare time? I watch TV and I read. 9. What do you enjoy most at school? Sport. No homework!

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Junior Profile: Jimmy Ying and Sam Gluzman

Jimmy is 13 years old. He is Sam started playing at in Year 7 and is a recipient Noble Park Chess Club this of a scholarship from year. He’s 13 years old and Haileybury College. studies at the King David School. He started playing at Noble Park Chess Club this year. ACF rating: 1386 FIDE rating: 1656 ACF rating: 1376

1. How did you get started in chess? 1. How did you get started in chess? How many years I got started playing chess at primary school where ago was that? my friends and I just played for fun. Later on chess My father first taught me to play chess when I was became a hobby and I gradually improved. about six. I did not really start playing until last year. 2. Why should kids take up chess? Kids should take up chess because it is enjoyable 2. Why do you like chess? and can also help with your academic skills. I like solving logical problems. I enjoy attacking chess. 3. I hear you are playing competitive tennis. What grade do you play? Is that the highest you got to? 3. Who is your favourite chess player and why? I play Boys A Reserve 1 juniors as well as the Under Michael Tal because of his attacking style. 14 Boys Junior Pennant this season. 4. What is your best chess accomplishment? 4. What is the highest level in tennis that you got to? FIDE rating performance of 1833 in the Victorian The highest level I got to was the Victorian Primary Open. I had only six months of tournament chess Schools Sports Association (VPSSA) Tennis State experience. Championships. 5. You jumped from being unrated to ACF rating of 5. Is the competition harder than chess 1228 in 6 months. What changed? competitions? I practised a lot and I played as much tournament It is hard to compare chess and tennis. With tennis, chess from Dec 2010 to June 2011 as I could. it is both physically and mentally challenging and 6. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess requires you to have good stroke technique as well Club? Why? as the ability to think fast on the court. Fitness is a I really enjoy it because at Noble Park I get to play huge factor as you are constantly on the run. a lot of strong players. Chess is mentally challenging but most 7. Do you have a chess goal? competitions have time limits which allow me to My goal for chess is to have fun. If I can achieve a relax a bit and take my time. From these factors, I great result at the same time, that’s a bonus! would have to say that tennis is a much harder form of competition than chess. 8. What do you enjoy most at school? I enjoy doing maths problems. 6. What do you do in your free time? I don't have much free time but if I do, I mainly read books and play computer games or play other sports like soccer and basketball.

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Junior Profile: Baris and Ege Girgin

I enjoy their involvement in chess. In fact, it ignited an old flame and I started to play after 40 years. Baris is 14 years old and goes to Mordialloc College. Ege is 12 years old and goes to Patterson Lakes Primary School. They owe their improvement to Christian Bennet, Patterson Lakes Chess Coach, and Malcolm Pyke, the Frankston Chess Club Coach. I want them to enjoy chess & I will support them without pushing. Ibrahim Girgin (Dad) ACF rating 914 ACF rating 1322 1. How did you get started in chess? How many 1. How did you get started in chess? How many years years ago was that? ago was that? When I was in Year 3, I saw that a Chess Club at I started chess when my brother, Baris, said my school opened and I thought I might give something about joining a chess club at school. Chess a try. That was 6 years ago. Because we both knew how to play chess from our 2. Why should kids take up chess? dad we decided to join. That was in 2006; I was in I believe that children should learn to play chess Grade 1. because it helps improve brain function. It offers 2. Why should kids take up chess? lots of challenges for me and there is so much to I think kids should take up chess because it’s fun learn! and it helps the mind develop. It’s also nice to 3. Who is your favourite chess player and why? meet new opponents. I like chess because of the My favourite player is Christian Bennet because challenge it gives you. he was the one who taught me chess. 3. Who is your favourite chess player and why? 4. What is your best chess accomplishment? My favourite chess player is probably Tarrash My best chess accomplishment was when our because I play most of his openings including the school chess team came 4th at Chess Kids’ French and Queens Gambit. National Finals. 4. What is your best chess accomplishment? 5. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess My best chess accomplishment is probably coming Club? Why? equal third in the Australian Junior Chess Yes, I have enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess Championships U12. Club because of the hard players. 5. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess 6. What do you do in the spare time that you have? Club? Why? During my spare time I like to play shooter games Yes I do enjoy playing at Noble Park Chess Club like Halo or Call of Duty, play on my Flight because I like meeting new people and I like the Simulator (FSX) and play on my Tenor Saxophone. hard challenge. 7. I hear you are really excited about airplanes. Do 6. Do you have a chess goal? you hope to have a career in the industry? Yes, I want to have an IM title before age 16. Having a job in the aviation industry would be 7. What do you do in the spare time that you have? great, like becoming a pilot or an engineer for In my spare time, I usually play chess and play on either Airbus or Boeing. In the future, I hope to my Xbox. have a license to fly any type of aircraft including helicopters.

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Junior Profile: Bonita and Mingus Gu-Yang

Mingus and Bonita both study Taekwondo at the Melbourne Taekwondo Centre (Glen Waverley Branch). They have achieved their black belts and Bonita has one of their highest scores at the Centre. Cynthia (Mum)

ACF rating 976

1. How did you get started in chess? How many years ago was that? I started chess when I decided to join my friends in ACF rating 1057 school chess club. 1. How did you get started in chess? How many years 2. Why should kids take up chess? ago was that? Kids should take up chess because chess helps to I started chess when I saw many of the kids from train your brain and requires thinking and strategy my school playing. My parents thoroughly when you are playing. encouraged me to play. That's why I decided to take up chess as one of my life-learning skills. 3. Who is your favourite chess player and why? My favourite chess player is Garry Kasparov 2. Why should kids take up chess? because he has been world champion and is a From my perspective, kids should take up chess great man in the chess world. because this can develop their thinking skills. Chess can be played seriously or just for a bit of fun. 4. What is your best chess accomplishment? My best accomplishment was when I drew with 3. You were part of the Mount View Primary chess Karl Zelesco. team that won the national schools girls’ title last year? What was the experience like? 5. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess It was exciting because we flew by plane to Perth, Club? Why? Western Australia. I was especially proud that I I enjoy playing at Noble Park Chess Club because of was the only member of Mount View PS Girls' the friendly people and every person is a strong team to have won all 5 games. It was tough chess player and kind in their own way. though. 6. Do you have a chess goal? 4. Have you enjoyed playing at Noble Park Chess I want to be one of the most improved players in Club? Why? the ratings list. Playing at Noble Park is a good opportunity for me 7. What do you do in the spare time that you have? because being the only girl, at times, can be tough I play chess but I don't have a lot of spare time. but winning in that situation makes it even more 8. What do you enjoy most at school? rewarding. I enjoy sport and chess. 5. What do you do in the spare time that you have? 9. What is your ambition? In my spare time, I like to do Calisthenics or My ambition is to be a scientist or an engineer. drawing; that's only if I'm alone. If my brother or friends are with me, I like to practice Taekwondo and chess. I also enjoy the outdoors like going roller-skating with friends.

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2011 Victorian Junior Chess Championship The Victorian Juniors was held during the July school holidays at Box Hill Chess Club. The competition was intense among the 126 players in 2 separate tournaments. Congratulations to all the winners but in particular, we would like to celebrate the success of the “Noble Park kids”. Hopefully this is just the beginning …

Enoch Fan: Under-10 Open Champion Karl Zelesco: Under-12 Open Champion

Zachary Loh: Equal 1st Under-16 Open Savithri Narenthran: Under-18 Girls Kyle Gibson: 2nd Under-18 Open Champion

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Noble Park Chess Club Page 12 of 12

Noble Park Grades Tournament Noble Park Grades is a unique tournament in the club calendar because players of similar strength are grouped together to assure very competitive games. This year we had 26 players, which provided enough players for 2 tournaments: A-grade and B-grade. The A-grade was a round-robin competition amongst 8 players, with ratings ranging from 1728 to 2248. The winner was Justin Tan who successfully navigated through the tournament without a single loss and ended up with 6.5 points out of a possible 8. FM Dusan Stojic was 2nd with 5.5 points out of 8 from 5 wins and 1 draw. Third place was shared between Domagoj Dragicevic and Mehmedalija Dizdarevic with 5 points each. Zachary Loh won the Under- 2000 junior trophy because of a superior ratings performance among the juniors; he had 2 wins, one of which is shown below. In Round 4 of the A-grade tournament, we had a strange phenomenon where none of the higher-rated players (4) won their games. The probability of that happening is probably in the region of 1 in a thousand but please check the statistics! If there was one word to describe the B grade, it is “competitive”. There were 17 players in total with quite a few players in the 1400 to 1600 rating points range - competitive games were practically assured. And the players didn’t disappoint - the winners were only decided in the last round. In the end, Kevin Cron and Ege Girgin shared 1st place with 6.5 points out of 9. A great Stojic,Dusan (2248) - Loh,Zachary (1728) [A10] achievement for Ege in only his second tournament at the 2011 Noble Park Grades A Noble Park Chess Club (4.4), club. Franz Oswald, who led or shared the lead for most of rd 23.07.2011 the tournament lost to Ege in the last game. He shared 3 1.c4 e6 2.g3 f5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.d3 d6 place with Laszlo Nemeth. 7.Nc3 c6 8.e4 e5 9.h3 Na6 10.Be3 Nc7 11.Qe2 Qe8 In his statement on the cover of this newsletter, Kai Tan 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.d4 e4 14.Nh4 Be6 15.Bg5 d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Kh2 Ng4+ 18.hxg4 Bxg5 19.Nf5 h5 20.Nd6 Qc6 (NPCC Prez) expressed optimism that the club is heading 21.Ndxe4 dxe4 22.Bxe4 Qd7 23.f4 Be7 24.f5 Bf7 25.Rad1 towards a bright and exciting future. With young juniors h4 26.gxh4 Bxh4 27.Qf3 Rad8 28.Rh1 Nd5 29.Kg1 Bg5 like Ege, Bonita Gu-Yang and Jimmy Ying performing well in 30.Qh3 Be3+ 31.Kf1 Bh6 32.g5 Nxc3 33.gxh6 Bc4+ 34.Ke1 a tournament among adults, Kai’s prediction is virtually Nxe4 35.hxg7 Qxg7 36.Qh2 Rfe8 37.Rg1 Ng3+ 38.Kd2 assured. Bonita finished with 5.5 points and received the Re2+ 39.Qxe2 Bxe2 40.f6 Qg5+ 41.Kc2 Qf5+ 42.Kb3 best junior prize for B-grade. Jimmy finished with 5 points Bxd1+ 43.Rxd1 Qf3+ 44.Kb4 Qxd1 45.d5 Rxd5 46.f7+ Kf8 47.Kc3 Qd3+ 48.Kb4 Rd4+ 49.Kc5 Qc4# 0–1 and won the prize for the Under- 1300 rating group.

A-grade Results B-grade Results 1st Justin Tan 1st Kevin Cron 2nd FM Dusan Stojic Ege Girgin 3rd Domagoj Dragicevic 3rd Franz Oswald Mehmedalija Dizdarevic Laszlo Nemeth Under-2000 junior: Zachary Loh Under-1300 rating Jimmy Ying Best junior B-grade Bonita Gu-Yang All the photos in this newsletter can be downloaded via this link: http://s1108.photobucket.com/albums/h414/mloh28/NobleParkChessClub/Newsletter4/