Friday, October 26, 2007

Pre-tournament Favourites for Kepong Juniors Chess Tournament

A total of 69 players have registered for the Under-08 category. For the first time in Malaysian history that girls have occupied the 3 highest seeding in an Open category. Pre-tournament favourites are:
1. Nur Najiha Azman Hisham (N.Rtg: 1445) --> 2007 Nat. U-08 Girl's 2nd
2. Puteri Rifqah Fahada Azhar (N.Rtg: 1328) --> 2007 Nat. U-08 Girl's Champion
3. Nurulhana Syuhada Mohd Sulkifly (N.Rtg: 1243)
4. Chong Wui Foong
5. Tan Yong Zhao

The Under-10 category has received the best response from parents where entries from 69 players have been accepted and the Organiser had closed the registration for this category on 2nd Oct. Several entries that arrived after 2nd Oct are pushed to U-12 category. Pre-tournament favourites are:

1. Tan Wei Hao (N.Rtg: 1519) --> 2007 Nat. U-10 Open Champion
2. Yeoh Li Yuan (N.Rtg: 1485) --> 2007 Nat. U-10 Open 2nd
3. Mohd Faizal Roslan (N.Rtg: 1438)
4. Derek Poon Guo Liong
5. Ee Sun-Xin

The Under-12 category has 56 players have registered. Pre-tournament favourites are:
1. Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (N.Rtg: 1561) --> 2007 Nat. U-10 Girl's Champion
2. Wong Jianwen (N.Rtg: 1526) --> 2007 Nat. U-12 Open 2nd
3. Low Jun Keat (N.Rtg: 1505)
4. Lim Chin Shen
5. Nicholas Lee Kim Hua

As for the Under-14 Category, there is a total of 41 players have registered. Pre-tournament favourites are:
1. Edward Lee Kim Han (N.Rtg: 1793) --> 2007 Nat. U-14 Open 2nd
2. Muhd Syakir Shazmeer Azhar (N.Rtg: 1632) --> 2007 Nat. U-14 Open Champion
3. Low Jun Jian (N.Rtg: 1629)
4. Muhd Nabil Azman Hisham
5. Winnie Hong Wee Ni

Lastly, the Under-16 Category has received a very dissapointing response with 21 players have registered. Pre-tournament favourites are:
1. Francis Tan (N.Rtg: 1800) --> National representative to 2005 Zonal 3.3
2. Lim Zhuo Ren (N.Rtg: 1757) --> 2007 Nat. U-16 Open Champion
3. Amir Hamzah Kamarul Zaman (N.Rtg: 1750)
4. Tan Ken Wei
5. Muhd Tariq Amru