Duncan Chiu came home from the Shenzhen Hong Kong Chess Exchange with the trophy for Best Player of the Event. He won nearly every game he played. Brilliant work, Duncan.
He had company. Six more TCA players and three of our coaches crossed the border for this youth chess tournament, organised by the Hong Kong Chess Federation and the Shenzhen Chess Association.
The Chess Academy squad:
- Jonathan Tsin (Under 8)
- Ethan Honrui Tu (Under 8)
- Max Hongbo Tu (Under 10)
- Jamie Li (Under 10)
- Kanay Verma (Under 12)
- Duncan Chiu (Under 14)
- Hei Lam Wong (Under 14)
A venue full of grandmasters
At Shenzhen Talent Park, we shared the venue with the Nanshan Shenzhen Rapid Masters, where some of China’s strongest grandmasters were playing, including former World Champion Ding Liren. If you’re nine years old, walking past a world champion on the way to your own board stays with you.
Five rounds, one long Sunday
We arrived on Saturday and explored the city. Sunday was for chess: five rounds of rapid play at 20 minutes plus a 10-second increment.
The opposition was strong. Our players fought anyway.
Some families left Hong Kong at dawn on Sunday and went straight into round one. Not easy. Nobody complained.
A delivery from the sky
Honestly, the drone nearly stole the show.
Shenzhen Talent Park delivers food and drinks by drone, so after lunch a few of us ordered drinks. When we heard it was close, everyone rushed outside. Down it came with our order. A first for all of us. Hong Kong, take notes!
Takeaways for young players and parents
- Seek out stronger opponents. A tough game shows you your weak spots faster than any lesson, so every loss in Shenzhen is now a study plan.
- Rapid chess trains the clock. At 20+10, time management decides results. Practise rapid at home, not only long games.
- Treat travel as part of the preparation. Early starts drain focus. Good sleep and arriving early matter as much as your opening.
- Watch the best up close. Ding Liren was playing in the same building.
Thank you
Thank you to the Hong Kong Chess Federation and the Shenzhen Chess Association for a punctual, well-run event, with certificates, medals and gifts for every player and a closing ceremony attended by local officials. Thanks also to the parents, including families from other clubs, for their kind words about our coaches.
If there’s another Shenzhen Hong Kong Chess Exchange, we’ll be there. Duncan has a trophy to defend.
The Chess Academy: Developing young minds through chess.