Kota Kinabalu: The future looks bright for local chess talents as more than 100 participants took part in the Sabah Rapid Chess Masters and 31 teams competed in the 1 Malaysia KK City Inter Team tournament which was held at the Star City, Asia City Complex, Kota Kinabalu on Feb 4 and 5 in conjunction with the Kota Kinabalu City Celebration.President of the Sabah Chess Association Muamar Julkarnain said the chess scenario is indeed glowing especially among the young players here.
"The domestic tournaments have witnesses a healthy competition and there was definitely an improvement in the overall standard of the game.
Today, there is no one single individual who could comfortably rule the board as in the old days."
Masrin Erowan who won the Sabah Closed last week only managed to rank in ninth position while National Master Mohd Kamal Abdulah settled in sixth spot and the winner in the individual event was Faizal Andin with seven points.
Muamar said since the new committee took over the State body last year, they have been working hard to develop the sports and try to introduce it to the masses.
According to him the team event was revived after a lapse of 25 years since 1988 when the last one was held here in Sabah.
"It was heartening to see so many school children taking part in the competition. Some of them came as far as Lahad Datu and the youngest team came from SK St Peter, Kudat."
He said the increase in the number of young players taking to the sport is very encouraging and it is heading in the right direction to make Sabah one of the powerhouses in the country.
He also disclosed that there will be a Sabah Junior tournament to be held in early March and the venue is yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, Custom Chess Club clinched the team title with 16 Þ points from seven games. Second place went to Epickon with 16 points and third, Chess Apprentice with 14 points.
Individual champion Faizal Andin beat 101 others to take the winner medal with seven points. Nasser Sabturani came second with six and third place went to Charles Lucas.
Davis Chin, Abdul Sahim Wishing, Adam Ulamah and Charles Lucas were the winners in Board 1-4 respectively.
In the junior categories, Mohd Sazlee Hidayatullah won the Under-18 boys title.
Second place went to Mohd Danial Rashid followed by Akmal Anuar.
The girls 'winner was Nurfateen Helmy Abdellah. Second place went to Emmily Jennievie Roipin and Norfatimah Akhmat in third.
In the boys Under-15, Nestor K Esmade Jr was the winner followed by Awang Mohd Syafie and Calvin Ramidi. The winner for the girls was Nurfahmee Aiman Hakeem.
Atifah Muarifin came in second place and Hibriyatul Syakirah Abd Halil in third.
