On the cusp

UPDATE at 11.40am: He's done it! Poh Yu Tian is no longer a FIDE Master but a full-fledged International Master. Malaysia's 10th and the youngest to date! He deservingly obtained the title by winning his final game against his Filipino opponent, John Dave Lavandero, and with ease too. No-one else in the Under-18 Open category event was able to match him on points. Yu Tian's performance in this Standard Chess event has been an exemplary display of targeted training, good preparation coupled with natural talent.

Earlier this morning, I had written that he was on the cusp of becoming an International Master. Playing in the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship at the CitiTel Hotel in George Town. At that time, he was leading the Under-18 Open category with seven points from his eight games, having only dropped two draws.

To secure an outright first place in his category and be awarded the title from the World Chess Federation, he needed to win his final game today. If he had drawn, he would likely have tied for first place in his category and collect his third and final IM norm, which would still grant him International Master status. However, why share first place when he could win it outright? I had hoped he achieve the title in style. This type of success warms my heart.

As an indication of his current playing strength, here is Yu Tian's win in the eighth round yesterday, where he took control of the game and converted it into a textbook attack with opposite-coloured bishops. This 15-year-old truly has remarkable vision! I tell you, he has eight eyes, not four!

[Event "8th Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship 2024"]
[Site "Cititel Penang Road"]
[Date "2024.07.14"]
[Group "U18"]
[Table "1"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Poh, Yu Tian"]
[Black "Tenuunbold, Battulga"]
[WhiteElo "2426"]
[BlackElo "2134"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 Ne7 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. O-O f5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Qe2 Be6 23. Rd1 Bf7 24. Ra2 Qe8 25. Rda1 Bd8 26. Rf1 Qc6 27. Rd2 Bg5 28. Rd3 a4 29. Nb4 Rxb4 30. Bxf7 Rf4 31. Bd5 Qa6 32. g3 R4f6 33. bxa4 Qxa4 34. Kg2 Qa7 35. Rf3 Qc5 36. Rxf6 Bxf6 37. c4 Bd8 38. Be4 Qd4 39. Rd1 Qb6 40. Rd2 Bg5 41. Rd5 Qc7 42. h4 Bh6 43. Qc2 g6 44. Rb5 Bg7 45. Rb1 Qc8 46. Qe2 Qe6 47. Rh1 Bh6 48. h5 Kg7 49. Rb1 Qf6 50. Rb6 Qd8 51. Ra6 Rf7 52. hxg6 hxg6 53. c5 Rf6 54. Ra7+ Rf7 55. Qa6 Bg5 56. Rxf7+ Kxf7 57. Qb7+ 1-0