Forward to the past

Way back in June this year, Lim Siang Jin and I had undertaken a photographic journey, dedicating ourselves to explore and capture the essence of Penang Free School with our cameras over three to four days. While my intent was simply to capture these memories for personal enjoyment, Siang Jin had a more pointed objective in mind. Armed with a borrowed Leica SL2-S, he aspired to showcase his work in an exhibition hosted by The Old Frees' Association, and what better time to do so than during the OFA's Centenary celebrations year.

Over the past three months, I have been assisting him in securing approval from the committee to hold this exhibition in the OFA hall. And now, at last, this is the culmination of his tireless effort—a remarkable exhibition featuring a collection of evocative black-and-white photographs. These images are meant to bring out nostalgic emotions in all who have walked the corridors of Penang Free School, unless, of course, one possesses a heart of ice.

I arrived at The Old Frees' Association this afternoon to find Siang Jin deep in preparing the multi-purpose hall for his photography exhibition. This exhibition showcases 31 black-and-white photographs that beautifully capture the essence of Penang Free School. These images are a poignant nod to the 1960s, a significant era in both our personal journeys of growth and transformation.

The exhibition will run from 28 September until 03 October and the hall will be opened daily from 10am until 5pm. The framed photographs will be on sale to the public at RM800 each, with 75 percent of the proceeds going to the PFS Student Leadership Workshops and Free School Guide, and 25 percent to the OFA Sesquicentenary Education Fund. Siang Jin and I hope that visitors to the exhibition will be generous enough to buy them and contribute to helping the students of Penang Free School grow. And I tell you this: they are worthy of your support!

Exhibition's website: https://www.limsiangjin.art/our-legacy-landmark-memories-of-penang-free-school/

OFA Centenary chess final standings

These are the final standings at the conclusion of the OFA Centenary chess tournament at the Pinhorn Hall, Penang Free School, on 24 September 2023. The details can be viewed from chess-results.com The prize-winners' list appears at the end of this post.

Centenary chess competition concludes

The OFA Centenary chess tournament was a very successful rapid competition by any standard, even if I, as the Tournament Director and organiser, have to say so myself. More so, this was a FIDE-rated event. Quite a rarity on Penang's shores, and we managed it successfully yesterday at Penang Free School's Pinhorn Hall. 

My thanks goes out to Jonathan Chuah, whom I had appointed as the Chief Arbiter, and his team which included Cheryl Ho and three volunteer tournament assistants. I also wish to thank Lim Li Yeong, the advisor of the PFS Chess Club. She stayed for the whole duration of the tournament and helped to look after the storage boxes. 

My sincerest appreciation is extended to See Swee Sie, the President of the Penang Chess Association, and her team who gave their assistance in every way. Special mention for Lim Poay Sim for his help during the FIDE ID approval process and the supply of chess equipment. On the Malaysian Chess Federation front, my appreciation to Steven Cheong for his role in the FIDE ID approvals too. Without Poay Sim and Steven, I'm sure our tournament would not have obtained so many new FIDE unrated players. Most importantly, my appreciation to my sub-committee members, Ung Tay Aik and Terry Ong. We pulled this off well, boys! 

IM Pavel Shkapenko drawing for his colour

While Saturday morning was spent setting up the hall, Sunday itself was the tournament. The players, many with their parents and relatives in tow, started showing up at 8.15am. Myself, I was already at the school hall before eight o'clock, saw the doors open and walked in to find the schoolboy helpers already present. Jonathan and his father turned up a bit later, and with both Tay Aik and Terry, we all laid out the equipment. We agreed to an early feedback from a participant and had the tables quickly rearranged by spacing them out in the hall. After all, there was ample space. 

We were all set by 8.30am and decided to begin proceedings at 8.40am. I gave a short opening remark, thanking all participants for their presence, blah blah blah, and then introduced the Chief Arbiter and his assistants to the participants. Jonathan then began his briefing session. A five-person Appeals Committee was nominated, and Russian international master Pavel Shkapenko was invited to draw for his colour in the first found. 

At nine o'clock, the event started. Three rounds before lunch and four rounds after. We finished on time and prize giving began at six-thirty. My thanks to Lee Eu Beng and See Swee Sie for giving away the prizes.

Getting ready for the tournament. Parents and relatives are already at the back of the hall.

Nope, they are not here to sing the School Rally. Only to listen to my opening remarks and the Chief Arbiter's briefing.

An interesting viewpoint from the back of the hall. Picture by Dr Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong

The games are in session. The hall is packed with 94 players. The top six boards are seated in the front rows while the remaining boards play in the background

FIDE Master Poh Yu Tian

International Master Pavel Shkapenko from Russia

National Master Tan Khai Boon

Liong Ing Kiat

Woman Candidate Master Chua Jia-Tien

FIDE Master and National Master Dr Ronnie Lim Chuin Hoong

Eshwant Singh

Lim Cheng Teik

Ung Tay Aik

Tan Eu Hong

Chong Kean Foong

Terry Ong

Lim Lih Fong

National Master Evan Timothy Capel

The Chief Arbiter, FIDE Master and National Master Jonathan Chuah, and Cheryl Ho who assisted as the Arbiter in this event

Pavel Shkapenko against Chua Jia-Tien in the final round

Poh Yu Tian against Dr Ronnie Lim in the final round

Pavel Shkapenko playing against Poh Yu Tian in the fifth round 

Martin Greenwood, the most senior participant in the tournament, is quite a familiar face in chess events in Penang 

The Tournament Director with the Chief Arbiter, Jonathan Chuah

There's something about the school arches that makes this tournament a special homecoming for the Old Boys of Penang Free School

An indescribable feeling when one sits beneath the arches of this august hall AND play chess

At the start of the third round. Picture by Barath Kumar

Picture by Barath Kumar

I had such great support from See Swee Sie, President of the Penang Chess Association

Tan Eu Hong, Dr Ronnie Lim, myself, Lee Ewe Ghee and Jonathan Chuah. Ewe Ghee, the former President of the Penang Chess Association, paid a surprise visit to the tournament 

Myself with Alex Tan (centre) and Lee Eu Beng (right), respectively the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the OFA Centenary Celebrations Committee

A gathering of some Old Boys in the Penang Free School Hall

Jonathan, Eu Beng, myself and Cheryl with the winners of the OFA Members category, Lim Cheng Teik, Terry Ong and Lim Lih Fong. 

Jonathan, myself, Swee Sie, Eu Beng and Cheryl with the top three winners of the Open section: Pavel Shkapenko (second), Poh Yu Tian (first) and Tan Khai Boon (third). The envelopes I held belonged to the players who were not there to collect their prizes. Arrangements will be made later.

Centenary chess

We are all ready for the OFA Centenary chess tournament tomorrow at the Pinhorn Hall, Penang Free School. This morning, my sub-committee members met up with the school's Chess Club members to arrange the tables in the school hall, and they were also coached on setting the digital chess clocks by Jonathan who is the Chief Arbiter. 

There are 93 players registered for the event which includes 10 ladies, seven from PFS, six from OFA and five veterans. Sixty-six of these players are aged 18 or younger. As expected, Malaysians comprise the vast majority of the participants, numbering 86, while the remaining are nationals of China, India, England, the United States, South Korea and Russia.

This field of 93 players include an International Master (Pavel Shkapenko), two Fide Masters (Ronnie Lim and Poh Yu Tian), one Woman Candidate Master (Chua Jia-Tien), one Arena Grandmaster (Eshwant Singh) and one Arena International Master (Manresh Singh). All these are titles awarded by the World Chess Federation, FIDE. Ronnie is also a former national champion, just like Evan Capel and Tan Khai Boon who are also competing tomorrow.