Playing Adjustment In International Chess Tournaments

30 December 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Lately, observing some of our Malaysians players that are playing in the Singapore Chess Festival 2011, some of our juniors including the newly crowned National Junior Champions, Lim Zhou Ren (top left) and Alia Bakri (top right) didn’t do so well. Lim collected 5.5/9 pts in the Singapore Open 2010 and Alia Bakri 4.5/9 points in the ASEAN Women Chess Championship 2010.

 

     

Have digged up some interesting facts about playing chess in international chess tournaments. In order to compete successfully in international chess tournaments instead of Swiss-system events requires several important adjustments:

1. The heightened level of competition – typically every player is strong and there are no easy rounds. Even after losing a game, the next pairing could be just as tough. In Swiss-system events, a loss or draw is usually ‘rewarded’ by being paired against a lower-rated opponent in the next round.
2. The scoring mentality is different – any result that adds to your score is a desirable outcome. In Swiss-system events a draw can often be as devastating as a loss, so the higher-rated players are more inclined to take real risks to try to win in the later rounds, especially against lower-rated opposition.
3. The time-limit is often slower – a classical game requires a different mind-set from a faster time-limit game. There is more time for calculation, so an impulsive move in the opening can be more easily punished by the opponent.

Despite those comments, Lim to his credit drew a game against a GM, a WFM and an FM rated players and Alia Bakri to her credit also won a game against a WIM and drew a game against a WIM, WFM and a WCM rated players.

So do not be disheartened. As they say, Practice Makes Perfect! You need to make baby steps and improve every day. Keep on trying guys.