CONGRATULATIONS WFM Agnes Chong Kai Ni for a sterling performance to qualify for the Knock Out Stage of the Girls U14 FIDE World Cadets and Youth Chess Championship 2021. WFM Agnes will now join Anderson Ang, Poh Yu Tian and WCM Sim Jia Ru who had earlier qualified for the same knockout stage in their respective age group.

Consistent in her performance, Agnes chalks up another accolades in her fine performance after bagging the Individual Bronze and Team medals at the Asian Girls U15 Chess Championship earlier last month. She is definitely making waves as an up and coming queen of the board that will definitely challenge WIM Munajjah, WFM Tan Li Ting and sister WFMs Nabilah and Najiha as the top women players in the country. CONGRATULATIONS again Agnes!

There was 155 players from 57 countries took part in the same Girls U14 age group category. Other Malaysians playing in the event was Saffiah Maisarah who did well to challenge for the top spot but suffered a heartbreak defeat in the final round which saw her tumbled down the ranking to 22nd spot. Had she been able to hold her game, it would have been another superb accomplishment by our young lass. Another Malaysian representative – Mirza Irdina Muzamil was in 55th spot, one point adrift behind Saffiah. At the end of the 10th round, Jersey Maricio of Philippines was declared the top winner with Russia’s Alexandra Shvedova in 2nd and Vietnam’s Nguyen Linh Dan rounding up the podium finishers.

For the Boys U14 category, it was a tough outing for our boys with Darshan Revinthran only managing to end his campaign in 49th spot, Shahar Uzair in 84th spot and Koay Yu Hang in 110th spot. A whopping 75 countries with 214 players took part in the event which was won by Turkish FM Ediz Gurel, silver to Olenik Campa Rudi of Slovenia and American FM Vidyarthi Vyom in 3rd.

In any event, CONGRATULATIONS to our Malaysian Juniors for their effort and determination in representing the country at one of the more prestigious online age group event organized by FIDE. Do not despair as there would be many more tournaments to look forward to, and a lot of support and assistance to be provided for our players to continue honing and improving their skills at the world stage.