With 24 countries and 358 players taking part in 6 age categories, Malaysia was the 5th largest Girls contingent to the Online event with 37 players playing in 5 different age groups. There was no representative for Malaysia in the U7 Girls age group as there was no players interested to take up the spot. India, Iran and Sri Lanka put up full teams in all the age category with 48 players playing followed by Philippines with 40 players. Some of the more surprising absences are that of Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar and UAE.
The first day of the Girls event was slightly delayed – starting the first round at 2:30pm, but after the technical matters was resolved, the event continued without any further glitches with the 3rd and final round of the day completed at around 6:40pm local time. Overall, the Malaysian team ended with mix performances with some players doing very well while some struggling to find their pace and form. For many first timers to an ASIAN level event, the pressure (and excitement) of donning the Malaysian colors maybe a bit daunting and will take sometime for the players to settle down.
In the U9 category, Malaysia is currently ranked 11th with Shakti Nathan the top scorer for the Malaysian team with 2 points out of three games. Currently, Iran B is at the top of the table with 8 points followed by Iran B – also with 8 points, and Mongolia A a point adrift from the top two teams.
In the U11 category, Malaysia A amassed 6.5 points from 3 rounds of play, and currently sharing the 4th sport with India A – also with same points collected, with Malaysia B in 7th place and a point behind. Individually, Malaysia’s Aqilah Husna Ainul Fikri had an excellent outing scoring 3 perfect points and currently ranked 3rd behind Aizhan Sezdbekova of Kyrgyzstan and Rosha Akbari of Iran. Another Malaysian – Nur Amirah Mohd Nasiruddin is at 14th place with 2 points followed by Huda Khairina Khairul Anwar in 25th place and Nur Azzalea Shahril Azahar in 29th place also with 2 points each. 
Saffiah Maisarah and Nur Azzalea
In the U13 category, Malaysia A is ranked 5th with 6.5 points but Malaysia B is a bit behind with 4 points in 11th placing. Saffiah Maisarah Mohd Fadzli is currently the leading Malaysia U13 player with a perfect score after 3 rounds, and currently in 5th place. The next Malaysian player on the score board is Lee Xia Sean in 18th spot and Farihah Nur Aisyah Mohd Azman in 26th place – both with 2 points each.
Malaysia’s best performing category is probably in the U15 age category with 7 points and currently tied in 2nd place with India A and India B – half a point adrift from Team Leader Philippines. WFM Agnes Chong Kai Ni is currently in 3rd place with a perfect 3 points with Nur Alya Batrisyia Armizi in 8th spot, Janice Lim in 17th place, Swetha Thamil Manni in 19th spot and Engku Aida Sofea Engku Mohd Hafiz in 24th spot – all with 2 points each. Malaysia Team B is in the 7th sport after amassing 5.5 points from 3 rounds.
In the U17 category, Malaysia B has a slightly better tie break to end the first day of competition in 9th place compared to Malaysia A in 10th place – both having earned 4.5 points from 3 rounds of play. Malaysia’s best performer is Ong Zhiwei in 21st place and Izzah Mohd Shahrul in 25th place after both players managed to secure 2 points out of 3 rounds.
With zoom technical issues facing the organizer at the start of todays round is out of the way, tomorrow’s round 4 should start as scheduled at 2:00pm local Malaysian time before the event proceed to its last 3 rounds on Sunday.
The Malaysian Chess Federation wishes all the players all the best and hope that tomorrow will be a better day for our players to shine. Keep it up and GOOD LUCK!
