35 years on and CAS has deservedly emerge as one of the more successful chess associations in the country today producing both top ranked players as well as keeping chess alive and well in the Klang Valley. This is especially so when in the late 1990's the currency crisis and ensuing recession took its toll and chess was taken out of the MSSM calendar. CAS lingered on, in fact hastened the pace with even more competitions during the dark hours thus providing continuity and avenue for chess players in the country for a place to continue to sharpen their skill. When chess was reinstated in 2004 both Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with a sprinkling of players from other states such as Malacca and Pahang took centre-stage in MSSM. Virtually all these players were graduates of CAS
It was thus timely for CAS to celebrate her fine achievements over these 35 years today. It was befitting when the cake-cutting ceremony was also attended by past-President and one of the pioneers of CAS Dato' Tan Chin Nam.
The CAS AGM was also held in conjunction with the celebration. With the formality done the meeting had a lively dicussion on the structure for succession to bring CAS to the next higher level. CAS started slowly in the formative years and by late 1990's, with the injection of new blood doubled up on her chess activities. In addition CAS financials strenghtened, trippling its war-chest and resilient enough to face the current uncertainties, attributed mainly to astute adherence to good fund management practices. More importantly however is the tradition of integrity well ingrained amongst its Committee Members. Going forward the Committee appealed for a smooth handing over of the management of CAS.
In the meantime Puan Suffiah was co-opted into the Committee to provide better coverage into the Selangor schools.
The Tournament which started at about 09:30hr took a break for lunch and AGM, and resumed 4 more rounds in the afternoon. The eventual winner was NM Zarul Shazwan (above, seated second from the right), followed by Runner-up Kamaluddin Yusof ( seated fourth from the right) and third Fariz Shafruddin (seated in the far right).
In the left picture are the Under-12 winners led by Yeoh Li Tian (right). He was overall 7th in the Tournament.
Arbiters are not normally in the spotlight in chess tournaments unless when there are hard decisions to be made such as issues of ringing phone or claims of a win or draw in time-trouble scramble but CAS Committee Member and Tournament Arbiter En Kamaruzaman was ushered as prize winner too - bringing home a lucky draw hamper.
Even Malaysia's veteran chess blogger Andrew Ooi, disappointed with his 3 points performance was in the winner's list, albeit as one of the 5 lucky draw winners, seen here taking his haul from CAS Committee Member Puan Norhana Othman
The full Results
National Championship
National Women Championship
