The 10th World Xiangqi Championships

A very belated report on the Macau tournament (by Alain Dekker)

2007-11-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a very belated report on the Macau tournament. Firstly, I want to thank UK Chinese Chess and the World Xiangqi Federation for giving me the opportunity to play in Macau. The tournament was very well organized.

Getting to Macau proved to be fairly easy. The trick was to travel to Hong Kong and then to catch the jetfoil ferry across the bay to Macau. The ferry was pleasant but the 13-hr journey from London wasn't that great!

The hotel was situated on a hill next to the Ta Shi Stadium. The stadium was decked in a huge banner advertising the 2nd Asian Indoor games, and specifically the soccer tournament. I saw some adverts on TV for these games, which had the headline "Asian Power". The hotel itself was very nice, but I personally did not find the food that great since I prefer to eat vegetarian. There is something interesting about the hotel which I thought I would mention here: There were 3 very good lifts which serviced all the floors. Usually, you were able to get from floor to floor quite easily, but at peak times, such as just before a round of Xiangqi, there might be a wait of several minutes. Being the adventurous sort, I investigated the back stairs and found the contrast between the plush and spotless foyer of the hotel and the run-down and dirty back stairs quite surprising! One set of stairs led to the kitchens (where the staff were at a loss as to how I had even arrived there!) and the other passed several abandoned bits of cleaning equipment, unfinished woodworking and even (on the 3rd floor) a whole room with holes in the floor and piles of junk everywhere! Clearly using the back stairs was not expected of the guests :o)

The playing venue was inside the Ta Shi stadium across the road. In front of the stadium are some gardens named after the famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. The hall was well lit and the seats comfortable. All in all, we were very well looked after.

There were a few big improvements in this tournament compared with Paris, 2005. The major improvement was in the use of clocks. Let me first recap on the situation in Paris. In Paris the clocks were started at 3:01 and they slowly ran down to 00:00. You had to meet certain move requirements at various stages along the timeline. There were at least half-a-dozen disputes regarding the time that I noticed, most due to the clocks starting at 3:01 (instead of the more normal 3:00). In Macau, the situation was much clearer. We had 80 minutes for the game, but an extra 30 seconds was added for each move. There were no time controls to reach and no move number requirements, only that if you ran out of time, you lost. Simple! As far as I know, there were no disputes over time and I congratulate the organizers for doing so well in this regard.

On the other hand, I would say there were a few things that were not so good. As the tournament was generally very well run, I do no wish to dwell on these, but merely mention the issue of mobile (or cell) phones. * Mobile phones: I noticed on several occasions, the arbiters (the helpers at each table) speaking (sometimes very loudly!) into their mobile phones while the players were still playing. While I would not be in favour of an outright ban, I certainly think that the arbiters and players should not use mobile phones during the game. If the phone does go off, they should immediately vacate the playing area.

Then there are a few small issues that I feel would improve the tournament.
These are:
1) Number of rounds. More rounds are better, and Macau had only 9 which seem too few for a World Championship. The format in Paris allowed for 11 rounds, which is a more sensible number. If possible, fitting a day of rest somewhere in the middle of the tournament would also help.

2) Morning rounds. Given that players come from all over the globe, I feel that a 9am start was not a good idea. For players coming from Europe, for example, and suffering from jetlag (as happened to me), starting at 9am was very hard. If possible, the organizers should consider either playing the 1st round of the day starting at 14:00 and the second round at 20:30, or perhaps starting the 1st round at 10:30 or even 11:00. If you look at the final results, it is striking to note that the players from Europe generally did quite poorly. This is partly our own fault, of course: We needed to arrive in Macau earlier to give ourselves time to acclimatize, but a later morning start would have helped.

3) Female players. The WXF very kindly allows non-Chinese/Vietnamese players to compete on nearly equal footing with the strong Chinese players, and merely separates them out at the end for a separate category of prizes. The tournament would be improved if the female players were treated similarly.
My suggestion in this regard is as follows:

a) All players, male and female, play in one big tournament (requires
11 rounds);
b) At the end of the tournament, the non-Chinese and female players can be separated out from the main pool to decide which placing they have achieved;
c) For the team event, widen the scope so that the team consists not of 2 male players, but 2 male and 1 female. This will encourage every country that participates in the team competitions to bring a female player.

Finally, I want to thank the organizers for the lovely opening and closing ceremony dinners. It was difficult to find good vegetarian food, but that didn't detract from the vast array of foods on offer and the good time had by all.

I finish with my own recommendation for overcoming jetlag (this affected me very badly in Macau):
Do not go to sleep when you arrive and have a larger than normal dinner. Around about 8-9pm, get into some shorts and find some stairs (the back stairs of the hotel will perform this task admirably). Walk up and down these stairs as many times as you can manage to really physically tire yourself out. Go have a shower and go to bed...oh, and don't forget to ask the hotel reception to give you a wake-up call!

Thanks again to the organizers of Macau 2007. I look forward to seeing you all again in Vancouver, 2009.

Regards,
Alain Dekker

Final Ranking

2007-10-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Men's Individual Division

1 XU Yin Chuan (China)
2 HONG Zhi (China)
3 NGUYEN Thanh Bao (Vietnam)
4 NGUYEN Vu Quan (Vietnam)
5 CHONG Heung Ming (Philippines)
6 CHIU Yu Kuen (China Hong Kong)
7 Wu Kui Lin (Chinese Taipei)
8 WONG Zhi Keung (China Hong Kong)
9 V. JIRAPARKDEEPAN (Thailand)
10 ZHENG Xi Ming (Canada Central)
11 DANG Nicholas (France)
12 NG Jun Ming (Singapore

Non-Chinese/Vietnamese Individual

1 SHOSHI Kazuharu (Japan)
2 KON Island (China Hong Kong)
3 Michael NÄGLER (Germany)
4 Sour Samphy (Cambodia)
5 Jouni RÄMÖ(Finland)
6 Angus MACGREGOR (Australia)　
7 Chandran BOSE (Malaysia)
8 TANAKA Atsushi (Japan)

Women's Individual

1 WU Xia (China)
2 NGO Lan Huong
3 GAO Yi Ping (Chinese Taipei)
4 ANNA Yin (USA East)

Men's Team

1 China
2 Vietnam
3 China Hong Kong
4 Chinese Taipei
5 Philippines
6 Singapore
7 USA East
8 USA We

News updated (after round 3)

2007-10-20T06:55:00.000-07:00

The 10th World Xiangqi Championships began on 17 October 2007 at the Tap Saec Multisport Pavilion, Macau with 66 players competing in the men's division,and 13 in the women's Division. The competitions are run in Swiss system,9 rounds for men, and 7 rounds for women.

A little surprise at the start was the withdrawal of Lei Kam Fun of Macau from the championship. Lei was the runner-up at the 2005 championship in Paris. Two of the players from Myanmar could not make it at eleven hours because of visa problem. The laddy player of Australia and three Italian players were also absent.

At the end of the third round, three players are leading the race with straight wins.They are Ifan Minarta(Indonesia), Xu Yin Chuan(China), and Tan Wei Tat (East Malaysia). Following closely behind them in the 2.5 score bracket are: Hong Zhi(China), Ng Jun Ming(Singapore), Michael Lee(USA East), Look Kean Chor(Malaysia), Nguyen Vu Quan(Vietnam) and Chiang Chung Hao(Chinese Taipei). Taipei's Wu Kui Lin, the only player who had competed in all the past World Championships, did not seem to be in form at the start.He drew with Michael Lee in round 1, and lost to Nguyen in round 3.

In the women's camp, the leader after 3 rounds is, unexpectedly, Malaysia's Khoo Chin Chin. The GM of China Wu Xia, who won the national champion last year for the second time, conceded a draw to Vietnam's Ngo Lan Huong in Round 3.

Picture below: Two new comers to the women's division of the World Championship -- Nathalie Betts (left) from England, and Jennifer Lee
from Canada (west).

10th World Xiangqi Championships

2007-10-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Macau Xiangqi General Association is hosting this biennial WXF event from 17th to 22nd October 2007. There are two four categories: Men's Team, Men's Individual,Non-Chinese/ Vietnamese and Women's Individual. The first three categories are run as one tournament, using different criteria to determine the ranking for each category. All matches will be held at the Tap Saec Multi-sport Pavilion.

A total of 86 players from 25 countries/regions (72 male, 14 female) will be competing in this championships. Here is the Contestants Lists

Felix Tan

All entries xiangqi clubs:Please note the following matters:

2007-09-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

All entries xiangqi clubs:

Welcome to Macau in the 10th World Chess Championship! Please note the following matters:

Flights itinerary will be requested as soon as possible and arrived departure date, time (or via Hong Kong airport), contact telephone number and fax number to the Council to arrange for access. Email address cbp_12345@yahoo.com.hk
The currency in circulation in Macao MOP, dollars and Hong Kong dollars.
Macau local time is eight hours earlier then GMT.
The temperature is about 22.3 --- 27.4 degrees Celsius, the average humidity is 73%.
Residential locations: Macau Hotel Royal, Address: Estrada da Vitoria 2-4
Macau,
telephone: 00853 - 28552222 Homepage
Contact ：
- CHEN BuPend 陳步鵬 66619567、
- CHEN ZHaoRong陳兆榮 66814680、
- 劉國光 66508730、
- YU JinYan余錦炎 66640585
- Fax :00853 - 28369159

Macao Xiangqi Federation

Supplementary Rules for the 10th World Xiangqi Championships

2007-09-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

Supplementary Rules for the 10th World Xiangqi Championships

A. About the Regulations:
1. Men’s Individual shall be a nine-(9) round one, using the Swiss System with one (1) game for each match. Women’s Individual shall be a seven-(7) round one, using also the Swiss System with one (1) game for each match.
2. For Women’s Individual, the competition time for Round 1-6 shall be the same as that of the first six rounds of Men’s Individual. The competition time for Round 7 shall be the same as that for Round 9 of Men’s Individual. All competitions shall end at the same time.
B. Grouping:
1. Participants who are present will first be confirmed. If the total number of players is an odd number, then the organization in charge will have to fill up the vacancy to make the total even.
2. Two (2) players will be determined by the groups participating in Men’s Team Event .
3. The first draw will determine players’ numbers. Players will match in consecutive numbers, e.g. No. 1 versus No. 2; No. 3 versus No. 4, etc. Players with a smaller number will take the first move at an odd number table, while those with a larger number will take the first move at an even number table.
4. A draw will determine the representative number; the competition will flow according to the groups listed on the schedule list.
5. In the first round of grouping, players will avoid matching with players within the same representative group. Players in all other rounds will not avoid matching with players within the same representative group.
6. The chief referee shall be in charge of the grouping and shall announce his grouping results in time. The competition committee and members of the judging group are authorized to participate and monitor the grouping process.
C. Timing:
1. Electronic timer will be used. Time regulations: The basic time usage for each player is 80 minutes, and 30 seconds will be added for each move. The number of moves is unlimited. If the player exceeds the time limit, he is deemed to lose the game.
2. Time (in seconds) can be added immediately after players press the clock. Players should not forget to press the clock.
3. Should the clock be out of order accidentally, the judging group will deal with it accordingly; players of both sides should obey the decision of the board of referees.
4. No game can be suspended and all must be completed.
D. Player’s Record:
1. Each player must record all of his and the opponent’s move. After the game, he/she must confirm the accuracy of the moves and report the result to the board of referees.
2. If a player forgets to record or wrongly records four (4) moves (two rounds) during the game, he/she will be subjected to one demerit. After four (4) demerits within a game, he/she will be announced defeated.
E. The Natural Move Limit:
1. If both sides have taken 100 moves (i.e. 50 rounds) without capturing a piece from the opponent, one side can suggest a draw. When proved to be true, it can be announced a drawn game; it can also be announced a drawn game by the board of referees after calculating the number of moves.
2. When calculating the number of moves, the side who proposes a “checkmate” should be completed in 10 moves, and after deducting the moves, if the remaining rounds are less than 50, the proposer will be penalized for one technical fault, and 5 minutes of remaining time will be deducted. If he/she exceeds the time limit because of these five minutes, he/she is deemed to lose the game. If he/she proposes again and still has less than 50 rounds, he/she will be judged as the loser immediately.
F. Placing:
1. Placing of Men’s Individual and Women’s Individual will be performed according to the “Official Rules of Xiangqi” (which are the same as the Rules of Asian Xiangqi Federation) approved by the World Xiangqi Federation.
2. Non-Asian players will be placed according to the above regulation.
3. Men’s Team Event will be placed according to the sum of the placings of the team members in Men’s Individual games. The higher one (i.e. with fewer points in hand) will be placed first. If two or more teams have the same sum of placings, then the one with higher individual placing will come first.
4. Men’s Team Event will not be placed if a representative group has less than two (2) players in Men’s Team Event.

The Judging Committee
29th August, 2007

Beautiful Macau

2007-09-08T16:15:00.001-07:00

Click the photo to see the slide show

Schedule for the 10th World Xiangqi Championships

2007-09-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

16th Oct.Tuesday
10:00 –18:00 Arrival
18:00-19:30 Team Leaders Meeting
20:00 - Welcoming Dinner

17th Oct. Wednesday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 WXF Executive Committee Conference and 1st round
11:30-14:30 Lunch
15:00-17:00 Opening Ceremony
17:30-19:00 Dinner
19:00-24:00 2nd round

18th Oct.Thursday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 WXF Executive Committee Conference and 3rd Round
11:30-14:30 Lunch
18:00-19:00 Dinner
19:00-24:00 4th Round

19th Oct.Friday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 5th Round
11:30-14:30 Lunch
17:30-19:00 Dinner
19:00-24:00 6th Round

20th Oct. Saturday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 7th Round
11:30-14:30 Lunch
17:30-19:00 Dinner
19:00-24:00 8th Round

21st Oct.Sunday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 9th Round
11:30-14:30 Lunch
17:30-19:00 Dinner
19:00-24:00 Sequential Competition

22nd Oct. Monday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 Sightseeing
13:00 -14:30 Lunch
19:00-21:00 Closing Ceremony & Farewell Feast

23rd Oct.Tuesday
07:30-08:30 Breakfast
09:30 - Departure

Regulations of the Competition of the 10th World Xiangqi Championship

2007-09-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

1. Organized by: The World Xiangqi Federation (WXF)
2. Host Organization: The Macau Xiangqi General Association
3. Time and Venue of the Competition: 17th – 22th October, 2007.
Ta Shi Stadium, Macau
4. Competition Events:

1. Men’s Team Event
2. Men’s Individual
3. Women’s Individual
4. non-Chinese/Vietnamese Individual

5. Competition Methods:

1. The Official Rules of the Xiangqi as approved by the WXF will be used in the competition
(Note: same as the Rules of Asian Xiangqi Federation).
2. Men’s Individual shall be a nine (9) round competition, using the Swiss System with one (1) game for each match.
3. For Women’s Individual, the competition system and number of rounds of the matches will be determined in accordance with the number of the players registered.
4. For Men’s Team Event, the result of a team will be based on the individual places of the two (2) players from the same team.
5. For Non-Asian Individual, the results shall be calculated separately.

6. Entry:

1. Each association may enter one (1) team leader, two (2) male players and one (1) female player. However, this quota does not apply to non-Chinese/Vietnamese players, i.e. the number of entry is not limited.
2. Completed entry forms, together with two (2) recent photos of each member, must be mailed or faxed to the Macao Chess Association not later than 15th July 2007.
Person to contact: Mr. Van Kuan Lok, Mr. Chen Bu Peng
Address: Rua de Monte, No. 4-6, Macao
Telephone No.: 853-28369192 853-28369195
Fax No.: 853-28369159

7.Prize Award:

The first eight (8) places in Men’s Team event, the first twelve (12) places in Men’s Individual, the first eight (8) places in Non-Chinese/Vietnamese Individual and the first four (4) places in Women’s Individual will be awarded. The prize (in Macao Patacas) for each event is as follows:

8. Prize Award List (Macao Patacas)

Places
Men’s Team
Men’s Individual non-Chinese/
Vietnamese Individual Women’s Individual
1st 20,000 40,000 15,000 15,000
2nd 15,000 30,000 10,000 10,000
3rd 10,000 20,000 8,000 6,000
4th 8,000 15,000 6,000 2,000
5th 5,000 10,000 5,000
6th 4,000 8,000 4,000
7th 3,000 7,000 3,000
8th 2,000 6,000 2,000
9th 5,000
10th 4,000
11th 3,000
12th 2,000

9. Accommodation and Transportation:

1. The expenses of international travelling will be borne by each team.
2. The organizing committee will cover the expenses of accommodation as well as local transportation for seven (7) people of each team (Team leader: 1; male players: 2; female player: 1; and non-Chinese/Vietnamese players: 3) for their stay in Macao during the period of the Championship.
3. Extra officials and extra non-Chinese/Vietnamese players (more than 3 players) of each team, have to cover all expenses by themselves at the charge of :
Twin-bed room: US$ 80 per day per person (including meals and lodging)
Single-bed room: US$ 130 per day per person (including meals and lodging)

10. Clothing: Neat and tidy uniform (dark color preferred)

11. Any unsettled matter not covered in this regulation will be notified later