First of all, these are the comments left by readers of this blog:
Anonymous (1):
Totally disagree with your analysis Mr. Quah. Initially I was thinking the same as you that LT had sold himself short by agreeing to 3 quick draws. However on further analysis you will actually see that this "gamble" actually worked out in his favour.
Going into the last round he faced the Thai CM. No disrespect to the Thai CM but it was clear from his previous 8 rounds that he was one of the weaker players amongst the 12 player field. In fact even Lye (who was performing poorly himself) had beaten him. And he came into the encounter with LT on the back of 3 consecutive defeats. http://chess-results.com/tnr635999.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=THA&flag=30&snr=12.
LT was odds on to win the game with both gold/silver and the long awaited GM norm in the bag.
In the actual game itself, LT was black, he started off the game solidly with his 2nd fav defence i.e the Caro Kann. Although White had an edge (engine wise), it was clear that White was merely waiting for things to happen. And had gone behind in the clock by quite a fair bit. I am not sure if LT had offered a draw here, but I believe if he did, White would have accepted. And finally in the closing stages in the game, White had gotten into serious time trouble with about a minute left and the position was still about equal. When I saw this, I was already thinking, this is a wrap, set and match for LT. For all his experience and ability, this would be kacang putih for him to put it in the bag. Out of 10 times he would have brought it home 9 times but alas perhaps because of the pressure and the occasion, the turn of events caused this to be probably the only time when he cracked. In just a few moves the position had totally changed in the Thai's favour and the Thai found some really good moves despite still being low on time.
This to me was the unlikeliest outcome that happened. It was a freak result if I may call it. LT employed the right strategy (although I doubted him at first as well) but as with all things in chess, even if we were correct, it doesn't mean it will work out every time. This is definitely a sad turn of things no doubt and Dato Tan probably can't rest as well. But we know right in the heavens that he is watching LT and he knows that LT did his best. I believe Dato Tan will continue to bless LT with another opportunity to end the nation's long wait for its first GM. LT will come back stronger no doubt. We all know he will. God bless LT.
Anonymous (2):
Hi SS, I respect your opinion but the choice of words are rather harsh. LT for the longest time has been our top performer and we rely too much on him to deliver the results. He is carrying the responsibility to deliver 2 missions in Hanoi. One to win the gold medal for us and two to attain his final GM norm. Pressure got better of him today, Sincerely hope that MCF can look into developing more LTs. For a start, we have Poh Yu Tian to look forward. Give him all the support and time to do well.
Samantha WK Wong:
It's not only more humiliating but a shame that our players are being trashed by a don't-know-who here. Who is SS Quah?
Second, here are the comments from my various facebook entries:
Junior Tay:
I don't think it's so clear cut about the 'collapse'. YLT was playing for two results...to either secure the GM title with a draw or to try to get the SEA games gold with a win (ultimately his tiebreak was better than NNTS). LLZ was playing the top seed rated 300+ pts higher. So they both went for broke and it didn't pay off. With hindsight, it would be easier for Li Tian to just play for a draw to secure the silver and the GM title but the dynamics of playing for a country's prestige is very different from individual stakes.
Junior Tay:
I thought Prin played marvellously throughout the whole game....the level of chess in SEA has risen considerably and no one can be taken for granted for sure.
Fn Ln:
I agree with both ur (re: GM & Silver) and SS's thinking (taking it too easy midway, and not preserving that wiser option towards the end).
However, what I was unsure is which is more important for LYT (or anyone in his posn), a GM or Gold bc this would obviously v much decide his tourney strategy.
I had assumed a GM title is more important but maybe his thinking was it will come eventually/incidentally, so why not instead focus on the Gold.
If I have to guess, he was advised to go for both, obviously the most ideal but also the most risky. Still even with that advice, I don't see how how fighting harder midway was not a good strategy. Perhaps has something to do with energy conservation, and to gauge his opponents state of mind/play. So this way, he might be thinking he has "options" and not commit to anything for the mmt. (Even as he's running out of options re: GM.)
However, to gain a GM norm, IMHO it's always better to go broke early on since u really need a good run to have a chance. The last thing you want is to miss the norm by 0.5 pt each tourney. IOW, better to be more erratic and get 2/9 in one and 7/9 in another.
Now, for the purpose of winning Gold, it's likely best to be more cautious, which may or may not explain his midway strategy.
One thing is clear tho', the 2 diff goals necessitate having 2 diff and somewhat incompatible strategies. I suspect, LYT task would be somehow (or maybe much easier) if he only had to focus on one goal.
Well, another learning experience for him, which can only be a good thing. I know he will eventually get his GM title, just not today.
Junior Tay:
The only game where he really forced a draw was vs NNTS who outrates him by 100+ pts and played a solid Petroff with a draw in mind. Ervan played into a drawish line against LT's Berlin and maybe he could have tried to play on against Gomez but that's all it is. The rest were all slugged out....The way his points stacked up proved to put him in contention for the gold. So strategy-wise, he was spot on.
Fn Ln:
Good point!
I shld also say that I/we can only speculate since don't know what his state of mind was, how he felt, etc. If a bit off, oftentimes it's just better to go for a draw against even a quite a bit weaker opponent.
I think in the end, the BIGGEST factor is just plain luck, so I/we may be making too much out of his strategy which actually appears to be quite sound. (I didn't go thru any of his games.)
Lest we not forget, the pressure must be enormous to realize either one of the goals, esp. if he had plans to gain both.
Peter Frost:
I think he quite reasonably made a decision pre game that the title was more important than a gold medal. Because he “seems” to hint in the early middle game that he would not be adverse to repeating moves…but Prin avoided it. Ok, Li Tian might have avoided a third repetition too, but I think he decided beforehand not to risk the title, and to accept a draw if one was in the air. Entirely understandable…indeed, correct choice I think, as Fn implies. But maybe this led him to not play in his usual way, and that’s what brought him undone. I can’t imagine the pressure of such a moment. It’s a shame…but he seems too good a player to not get his final norm soon anyway. Don’t worry, I’m sure your first GM is just around the corner! If not Li Tian, I know Muzz is working very hard on his game.
Paul Spiller:
Gutted for him 😢
And a final word: if you wish to leave a comment on the blog, please do not post anonymously. Be bold enough to tell me your name. I will appreciate it. Thank you.
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