Chess Flompetition

Well, I'm actually going to post 2 posts at one go because one post would be too long. So this one is a backlog.

I was late for the competition because I thought it was at Hougang CC, but it was actually at Hougang Sports Hall. I wasn't that late though - it hadn't started yet. But late enough so that everyone was seated at rows of tables a la Hogwarts with chessboards instead of bouillabaise.

Well, I panicked a bit. Doh. Then I was walking up and down the aisles wondering what to do since I wasn't familiar with the rules. Aha, I spotted this Armenian guy arbiter from the Singapore Chess Federation who'd given some coaching sessions to the school club before. He probably wouldn't recognise me but at least he was a friendly face to ask for help, because arbiters are generally like game ushers to sort out disputes.

Boy, was I wrong. I told him I was from Arrjay and was late and didn't know what to do. He listened and then told me in an expressionless voice, "I don't know why you even bothered to come."

Well. Gosh. Stunned. Thank you very much and I hope you have a nice day (damn you). Zomg. (Much as I detest that expression I think this warranted it.)

So I went off the the judge tables without thanking him to look for help. Luckily there was this teacher from my secondary school standing around who asked me whether I was late and told me to go find my name on a list and find my place so whew.

My first opponent didn't show up so it was a walkover for my first game. One nice point. So I sat down for fifteen minutes and talked to the person next to me because his opponent, which was Tamaleh, was stuck at Tiong Bahru since he took some stupid bus. He was from ACJC and it turned out that he knew Gwee and Mrs. Haha. W. Chee was around too because apparently he's some chess demon even though he seems like a rather mild and quiet person normally.

I didn't get any more points although I made a few new friends. Decided not to go the next day. End results:

1: Teo Wei Xing (RI Sec 3) Omgs 1. I was his peer support leader in sec 4 so I guess I can be somewhat proud about that? lol.

2: Phan Chuong

3: Jason Goh - Isn't he the guy who thrashed some grandmasters and his own teacher? What's he doing in 3rd?

4: Random Vietnamnese

5: Even Yeo

6: Liu Yang

7: Chan Weng Chee <- Omgs 2

Kids enjoying themselves playing chess. Eeyer lose never mind la. Guess it's the experience that counts. And I got some photos, so there! Haha.

Later on, on the way home:

Random greedy pedestrians. No, I did not take the free coke. There's weird sugar substitutes in it and anyway I don't like fizzy drinks without ice-cream.

A busker. Think he was blind.

On to the next post.