The year 2023 is coming to an end and so are all the school chess competitions in Hong Kong. The Chess Academy (TCA) 15th annual End of Year Tournament took place on Sunday December 10th at the beautiful Zetland Hall in Mid-Levels. An enthusiastic 140 woodpushers from over 45 schools competed over 7 rounds to declare age divisions honors, U7 – U18.

The U18 section saw an unprecedented strong and large section, with some of the scholastic top juniors competing. A testament of the growth in Hong Kong’s scholastic chess scene, a whopping 16 out of the 28 contestants were internationally rated by FIDE, a rarity a couple years back but now more and more frequent. A couples of the TCA younger players were also encouraged by our coaches to participate in this rated section to test out their skills.

In the end, it was Lam Ying Long Michael (1516) who took top honors with 5.5/6pts, Michael has been one of the most active juniors in the few FIDE tournaments in Hong Kong. Second place was achieved by unrated player Wong Brendan Gwun Yin (unr), being his first FIDE rated tournament he had a performance of 1536. Third place was grabbed by scholastic veteran Hari Advay (1367) agreeing to a strategic draw in the last round to clinch a podium finish. Top Female was taken by Bu Zhiming, who has come out of “retirement” after being out of the chess scene since pandemic years. The TCA young players Patrick Wong (U9) and Jonathan Lundberg (U8) also had a remarkable results in the U18 rated section, they ranked 6th and 7th after the last round.

1st Place – Lam Ying Long Michael (Kellett School)
2nd Place – Wong Brendan Gwun Yin (La Salle Secondary School)
3rd Place –Advay Hari (GSIS)
Top Female – Bu Zhiming (ISF)*
Age 12 Winner – Yang Kwan Yui Jayden (Tin Ka Ping Secondary School)
Age 13 Winner –Nathaniel Zhu (CIS)*
Age 14 Winner – Qian Tsz Man Ryan (Island School)*
Age 15 Winner – Hugo Ip (ISF)*

Results – https://chess-results.com/tnr861721.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=6

The always competitive U11 section saw some fine chess played by TCA student Liu Ellie Yi Chan, who went on to win the section undefeated with 6.5/7pts, her draw came with the amazing resource of a desperado combination. Second and third place were earned by Tsang Aldrik Chun-yin and Yueh Kevin Hoi Fung respectively, both with 6/7pts but Aldrik coming on top due to better tie-breaks. Top Female was earned by TCA student and standout Lau Chloe Hailey.

1st Place – Liu Ellie Yi Chan (Dalton School)*
2nd Place – Tsang Aldrik Chun-yin (Nord Anglia International)
3rd Place – Yueh Kevin Hoi Fung (Ying Wa Primary School)
Top Female – Lau Chloe Hailey (Bradbury School)*
Age 10 Winner – Yuen Chun Tin Kaden (St. Joseph Anglo-Chinese Primary School)
Age 11 Winner – Wong Colin Gwun Yu (La Salle Primary School)

Results – https://chess-results.com/tnr861720.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7&fed=HKG

The U9 section was a run-away win for Wu Haowang who had a perfect score of 7/7pts, including a win against a FIDE rated opponent. Tong Zachary and Wong Hoi Cheung both achieved 6/7pts to place second and third place respectively. Top Female was earned by Maeva Oleron. This section is specially fun to spectate as most kids in this section picked up chess during the pandemic and are now putting their skills into real play.

1st Place – Wu Haoyang (Discovery Bay)
2nd Place – Zachary Tong (Kennedy School)
3rd Place – Wong Hoi Cheung (HHCKLA)
Top Female – Maeva Oleron (CIS)*
Age 8 Winner – DariusTan (Stamford American School)*
Age 9 Winner – CharlesChan (CIS)*

Results – https://chess-results.com/tnr861719.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7&fed=HKG

The U7 section had a great turn-out of 30 young first and experienced players competing. In another run-away performance with 7 out 7 points, Peng Lixia Sonia is quickly becoming one of the top juniors in her section. In second place was TCA student and reigning HKJCC U7 Junior Champion Lau Clayton Hunter. Third place and top female were snagged by TCA students Lu Bingyang and Marissa Pearce.

1st Place – Peng Lixia Sonia (Clearwater Bay School)
2nd Place – Lau Clayton Hunter (Bradbury School)*
3rd Place – Lu Bingyang (Singapore International)*
Top Female – Marissa Pearce (HKIS)*
Age 5 Winner – Tang Christopher Constantine (HKIS)
Age 6 Winner – Huang Yantao (Joyful World International Nursery & Kindergarten)*
Age 7 Winner – Wang Chun Kit Daniel (YCIS)

Results – https://chess-results.com/tnr861717.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7&fed=HKG

Students/ School with * are under TCA coaching

** Upcoming events**
The Chess Academy 3-Day Winter Camps 2023 (Dec 18 – Jan 5) From Beginner level camps up to Tournament training camps. Come for a Great Brain Workout during the Winter Holiday!

The Novice Tournaments took place over two Sundays, with the U7 and U9 sections played on Sunday the Nov 12th and U11 and U18 on Sunday the Nov 19th. The aim and goal of the Novice Tournament is to allow kids with no prior top 3 placement in a tournament to gain experience and compete in a tournament setting.

During the first weekend, a total of 52 players in two sections competed over 7 rounds of 10 minutes plus 5 second increment. For a lot of the kids, this was their first time using a chess clock, adding a bit more pressure to an already stressful game, part of the learning and improving experience. The second week, an additional 37 players showed up to test out their chess skills. 

The U7 section was dominated by Wong Yue Hei with an undefeated score of 7 out of 7. Rounding out the next two places were Wilson Yeung with 6/7 points and Jonathan Huang with a score of 5 points and better tie-breaks. Female Champion Sabrina Kim.

Age 5 Winner – Tang, Christopher Constantine
Age 6 Winner – Le Tu, Kiet
Age 7 Winner – Wong, Yue Chun
First Place – Wong, Yue Hei
Second Place – Wilson Yeung
Third Place – Jonathan Huang
Female Champion – Sabrina Kim
Final Results: https://chess-results.com/tnr846265.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

The U9 section was also won with an undefeated score by Wu Haoyang. Rounding out the trophy places were Kao Jing Chun with 5.5 points and Xiao Yanda with 5 points and better tie-breaks over 3 other players. The Female Champion was decided over tie-breaks with Sherina Yip claiming the title.

Age 8 Winner – Signorotti, Elia
Age 9 Winner – Clovis Lun
First Place – Wu, Haoyang
Second Place – Kao, Jing Chun
Third Place – Xiao, Yanda
Female Champion – Sherina Yip
Final Results: https://chess-results.com/tnr846263.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

The U11 and U18 sections were contested on Sunday the Nov 19th. A total of 26 players participated in the U11 with the top 5 players playing each other on the last round for top honors. Lu Cheng came on top by winning his last round and clinching first place outright with 6/7 points. Close behind were four other players with 5 points each, tie-breaks decided the next two places.

Age 10 Winner – Kei, Ishida
Age 11 Winner – Liu, Tak Hin Matthew
First Place – Lu, Cheng
Second Place – Andrew Zhuang
Third Place – Liu Tak Hin Matthew
Female Champion – Lee, Seo Yoon Marissa
Final Results: https://chess-results.com/tnr851550.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

The Upper section consisted of 11 players. The section was closely contested throughout and at the end it was Joshua Fung who claimed first place undefeated with 6/7 points. Behind were Wang Tsun Tang in second place with 5.5 points and Haruto Inoue with 5 points. Kim Yein claimed the best Female place.

Age 12 Winner – Marcus Chan
First Place – Joshua Fung
Second Place – Wang Tsun Tang
Third Place – Haruto Inoue
Female Champion – Kim Yein
Final results: https://chess-results.com/tnr851553.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

Next up, End of Year tournament 2023 on Dec 10 / Winter Camps 2023 (Dec 18 – Jan 6)