63rd National School Individual Chess Championship

Today, we went for the annual National School Individual Chess competition. It was a very long day as usual which starts 8 a.m. in the morning till 5.30pm in the evening. We played a total of seven rounds altogether. Its also the first time we played in a 5 stars hotel - Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel! Its so clean, big and nice!

For the first round, I played on board 10 with this easy opponent called Vivien. With the 1 point from the first game, I was moved up to board 6 to face a strong opponent called Andrea. Though it was tough, I manged to win her! I was moved further up to board 3 to be paired with a much stronger opponent called Nicole. She won and I was down to board 7 for the next round which starts after lunch. Our lunch was fried rice, catered by the school from the hotel. During the long lunch break, we met up with the rest of Chesskidz's coaches and friends and took a group photo.

We took a school team photo too during the lunch break.

There were 4 of us playing the Under-9 category

I won the fourth round which then propelled me up to board 1 for the 5th round!!!! I was extremely nervous playing on board 1. My opponent is Krystal who happen to be from Chesskidz also and needless to say, she beats me. But my coach assured me that I had put up a very good "fight".

Losing to Krystal throw me back down to board 5 and I played with a girl from Northland Primary. She won. When I went out, I was disappointed but I did not gave up. I asked mummy if I still have a chance to win a medal and after some counting, she said I should be in the Top 10 if I can win the last game. She accompanied me into the ballroom and cheer me on and just before the game start, she gave me a Good Luck kiss! And the kiss works! I won the last game! This meant I had a total of 4 points in total but whether I was able to get the medal also depends on how others above me were doing.

So when my name was being called (although it was the last...I'm the 10th position), I was so excited and happy! I really don't know how to describe the feeling then, but I was at a lost of what to do! It was jiejie that jolted me back and hurry me off to the stage to get my medal.