After a few months without in person competitions given the current restrictions, yesterday (Nov 8) The Chess Academy Hong Kong organized the first of the rapid chess Open Tournaments scheduled for this month.
The safety of the chess players and our staff is on top priority. We have the hand sanitizers for players around the center and the arena, temperature check upon arrival, and most importantly there was 2 age groups playing in one time – Under 7 and Under 9 years old.
After the warm welcoming speech and the briefing of the tournament rules. Players were very excited to start their first game, instead of hand shaking, they had the head nodding before they start. Players tried their best in each round and giving us an intense day full of exciting chess games.
The Under 7 age group was dominated from start to finish by Nathaniel Chiu, who won all the games and looked calm and in control in every game.
The fight for second place was decided only in the last game, where Brayden Tsui and Claire Wang played face to face. In the end Brayden won this game and finished 2nd. Even after losing Claire completed a really good tournament finishing 3rd and also being the female Champion. Tied with Claire finished Bruce Qin, but a lower tie break score meant he came in 4th place.
For U7 section:
Champion – Chiu Nathaniel Silas (CIS)
2nd Place – Tsui Long Hei Brayden (DBS)
3rd Place – Wang Rosemarie Claire
The older group, Under 9, was very exciting and the use of the chess clock for all the games led to some nerve wracking moments. The rated players in this tournament, Julian Wang and Shun Him Leung were the favorites and they fulfilled the expectations finishing in the first 2 places.
Shun Him played a very solid tournament, winning 5 games (including a very convincing victory over Julian), and only drawing his game against David Chiu.
Julian Wang finished 2nd, only losing to Shun Him.
The 3rd place was for David Chiu, who played a really good tournament, losing only one game against Julian in a game where both players had only a few seconds on the clock and anything could have happened.
For U9 section:
Champion – Leung Shun Him (ICS)
2nd Place – Wang Julian Samuel (SIS)
3rd Place – Chiu David Zion (CIS)
Female Champion – Hari Anaisha (GSIS)
After the tournament all the players stayed for the award ceremony and the closing speech by TCA and Activekids CEO, Grace So.
We have uploaded all photos on The Chess Academy facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/thechessacademyhk
This is only the first event of many more to come in these last couple months of the year. Next Sunday, November 15, the second Chess Open, with the older categories, Under 11 and Under 18. There are still a few open spots for late registration.
Also, any participating family who has joined our TCA Opens can enjoy a 20% discount on all our exciting upcoming ActiveKids Christmas camps.
As you may know, our team of TCA coaches, with 2 GMs and highly experienced FIDE WIF, FI, CM and US Experts, is really the best in Hong Kong. So if you have interest in our Elite/Advance classes, please give us a call at 3480-4199.
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