The 13th Annual ISF Academy Chess Open Results

The TCA’s 13th ISF Academy Chess Open took place on Sunday March 5th in the spectacular facilities of ISF. With an attendance of well close to 230 enthusiastic participants, from 60+ schools, playing across 4 divisions. The day included with activities such as valuable live-experience interviews from our Top TCA coaches and exciting raffles to complement the energy-charged, well-attended tournament. We are happy to be back hosting one of the biggest interschool tournaments in Hong Kong, and we hope that everyone involved had a positive experience!

Based on the excellent results from our TCA students, we are extra pleased to note that our TCA program has really helped grow the chess community, as well as developed some strong chess players in Hong Kong.

(*)  Schools/Students from our TCA programs

Age Winners

Age 5 winner – Pang, Helena (The ISF Academy)*
Age 6 winner – Tsai, Aquinas (French International School)*
Age 7 winner – Kong, Adrian (Chinese International School)*
Age 8 winner – Wang, Kai Ming (Pui Ching Primary School)
Age 9 winner – Yeo, Declan Ren Kai (Singapore International School)*
Age 10 winner – Tsui, Long Hei Brayden (Diocesan Boys’ School)*
Age 11 winner – Wong, Kainos (CAIS)
Age 12 winner – Xia, Weijun (Kowloon Tong School PS)
Age 13 winner – Zhu, Nathaniel Adrian Yi-xing (CIS)*
Age 14 winner – Lo, Jason Jun-San (La Salle College)
Age 15 winner – So, Adrian Tsz Yui (Canadian International School HK)*
Age 16 winner – Hu, Roy (Hong Kong International School)
Age 17 winner – Lam, Ying Hong Gabriel (Kellett School)

U6 Section

In the smallest section Under 6, for age and number of players, Ao King Chee came on top with 6pts. This section is always exciting to watch as most times, it is the students’ first in-person tournament, and nerves come into play!  Moving several pieces in one go, using both hands, accumulating illegal moves, you will see them all in this section. More importantly, of course, it is the experience and learning opportunity gained.

Top 6 Individual Winners
1^st place – Ao, King Chee (HK Ling Liang Church Kindergarten)
2^nd place – Li, Nathaniel (The ISF Academy)*
3^rd place – Chiu, Yat Fan Jacob (The ISF Academy)*
4^th place – Tong, Zanye (Kennedy School)
5^th place – Lau, Sze Ching (St. Catherine’s International Kindergarten)*
6^th place – Lin, Micah (Chinese International School)*

Top 3 Female Winners
1^st place – Lau, Sze Ching (St. Catherine’s International Kindergarten)*
2^nd place – Pang, Helena (The ISF Academy)*
3^rd place – Wong, Reina (The ISF Academy)*

Lower Primary

The Lower Primary Section saw the only perfect score of the entire tournament performed by Jonathan Lundberg. It is an incredible achievement of concentration and endurance!

Top 6 Individual Winners
1^st place – Lundberg, Jonathan (International College HK)*
2^nd place – Tong, Zachary (Kennedy School)
3^rd place – Chen, Ryan (Canadian International of School HK)*
4^th place – Wong, Hoi Cheung (HHCKLA Buddhist Wisdom Primary School)
5^th place – Luk, Marcus Jasper (Singapore International School)
6^th place – Tan, Darius (Stamford American School)*

Top 3 Female Winners
1^st place – Huang, Karis (Kellett School)*
2^nd place – Sun, Vivian Youtian (Beacon Hill School)*
3^rd place – Srivastava, Twisha (Beacon Hill School)*

Upper Primary

The Upper Primary section was closely contested with 85 players fighting for top honors. Even after 7 rounds, there was a four way tie for first place at 6 pts.

This section is particularly interesting as many of the players started their chess journey during the pandemic years online. It will be a delight to see them progress now in in-person tournaments.

Top 6 Individual Winners
1st place – Chiu David Zion (Chinese International School)*
2^nd place – Chan Tsz Lik Nicholas (Chinese International School)*
3^rd place – Fang Brandon Jun Qiao (The ISF Academy)*
4^th place – Bhatewara Shaunak (PLK Lam Man Chan English Primary School)*
5^th place – Poon Pak Yu (PO LEUNG KUK CAMOES TAN SIU LIN PRIMARY SCHOOL)
6^th place – Wang Julian Samuel (Singapore International School)

Top 3 Female Winners
1^st place – Lau, Chloe (Bradbury School)*
2^nd place – Wang, Rosemarie (Singapore International School)
3^rd place – Chen, Renee (Canadian International of School HK)*

Secondary

Also a very interesting section in terms of growth, it has come to our attention that The Secondary Section has been growing steadily, and that simply means our younger players are growing up and continuing to play chess! This is of course very rewarding to see. One of the toughest sections, Cheng Tsz In managed to upset number one seed Justin Cheng. Justin has been on top of the brackets of scholastic chess for years. Another important note, 12 players of the 43 players were internationally rated.

Top 6 Individual Winners
1^st place – Cheng Tsz In (Wah Yan College, Hong Kong)
2^nd place – Cheng Justin Hong-Chen (The ISF Academy)*
3^rd place – Lam Ying Long Michael (Kellett School)*
4^th place – Lu Jacob (Singapore International School)
5^th place – Su Bo Ruei Marcus (Island School)
6^th place – Lee Chu Yuan, Felix (Shatin College)

Top 3 Female Winners
1^st place – Ah Chong Leonie (St. Paul’s co-educational college)
2^nd place – Chan Sze Wing (St. Mary’s Canossian College)
3^rd place – Lam Alyssa (Australian International School HK)*

While results were being calculated, the players were treated to a presentation by GM Gallego explaining his journey in chess, a true treat as it is very rare to have a chance to meet a person with that accolade. In the end, some lucky players went home with chess sets from raffles.

Overall Interschool Results

The results for the schools are calculated by cumulating the points from the top 4 players of each school.  Not only do students from 1^st to 6^th places were able proudly bring their trophies back to their schools for display, but the top four 1^st prize winners from each section also received a book voucher of $1,000.  Hope that all the awards would help encourage the players to continue to strive for excellence.    

Interschool Results

Age 6 & Under section
1^st place – The ISF Academy*
       ( Li Nathaniel, Chiu Yat Fan Jacob, Li Otto and Pang Helena)
2^nd place – HK LING LIANG CHURCH KINDERGARTEN
      (Ao King Chee)
3^rd place – Kennedy School
       (Tong Zayne)

Lower Primary section
1^st place – Chinese International School*
      (Sutton William, Chan Charles, Kong Adrian and Chen Glenn)
2^nd place – Beacon Hill School*
       (Shi Edward, Fu Jotham, Sun Vivian Youtian and Srivastava Twisha)
3^rd place – The ISF Academy*
       (Lau Clement, Chan Ying Shue, Chau Brandon and Sun Guang Alex)

Upper Primary section
1^st place – Chinese International School*
       (Chiu David Zion, Chan Tsz Lik Nicholas, Chiu Silas Nathaniel and Han Leon)
2^nd place – The ISF Academy*
       (Fang Brandon Jun Qiao, Tang Oliver, Yau Chase Xuanfu and Lai Jonas)
3^rd place – Singapore International School
       (Wang Julian Samuel, Wang Rosemarie, Chan Miles and Ouyang Shuhang Toby)

Secondary section
1^st place – The ISF Academy*
      (Cheng Justin Hong-Chen, Ip Hugo, Wong Kadyn and To Glenn)
2^nd place – Yew Chung International School of HK
       (Lam Ho Ching Carston, Lai Ching Hong Wilton, Gupta Hardik, and Telders Daniel)
3^rd place – Kellett School
      (Lam Ying Long Michael and Lam Ying Hong Gabriel)

Next on our chess calendar is:
TCA Road-to-Masters Rapid Tournament (Rated) on Mar 12
TCA Road-to-Masters Blitz Tournament (Rated) on Mar 19
The Beginners Tournament

Link for tournament schedule….