Student takes nation’s first world chess title
Angus Hohenboken
From: The Australian
November 24, 2009 12:00AM
A MELBOURNE student has become Australia’s first world champion face-to-face chess player after winning the world under 12 titles in Turkey.
Bobby Cheng, 12, beat a field of 142 players from 68 countries to win the title at the World Age Chess Championship in Antalya on Sunday.
Cheng’s coach, Australian grandmaster Darryl Johansen, said yesterday he was “over the moon” at the result as Australians were generally regarded as minnows in the chess world.
The chess prodigy, who is in Year 7 at Balwyn High School, faced stiff competition, with 15 of his opponents previous master titles winners, some of whom had left school to pursue the game full time.
In the final round Cheng demolished the competition favourite and top seed from India, Suri Vaibhav, and held off challenges from competitors from Poland, Canada and Russia.
Ian Rogers, another Australian grandmaster, said the win was unprecedented.
The only other Australian international chess champion, Cecil Purdy, had won a correspondence championship in 1953 — via postcard.
“It took six years to win the world title that time; things have sped up a bit,” Mr Rogers said.
He said the Australian chess community was in shock.
“No Australian is ever tipped to win,” Mr Rogers said.
“He’s going to get a bit of a hero’s welcome when he gets back to Melbourne.”
Cheng moved to Australia from New Zealand two years ago after receiving coaching at the Auckland Chess Centre in Mt Eden under chess greats Bruce Wheeler and Ewen Green.
Mr Johansen said the pair had concentrated on practising opening moves but never thought the moves would take him all the way to the top.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au
Is he Chinese?
Yes, “Cheng” is a Chinese, probably originally from China. Look at those who represent USA, Canada, UK, ect in this tournament, how many of them have Chinese name!
“Cheng moved to Australia from New Zealand two years ago …”
After all, he is a KIWI, not an Aussie.
Congratulations Bobby!
Bobby Cheng – a Chess Prodigy !
Congratulations Champion !!
We don’t tak about race , colour on the Chess Board !
“On Chess board , lies & hypocrisy do not survive long ; the creative combination lays bare the presumption of a lie ; the merciless fact, culminating in a checkmate contradicts the hypocrite….” -Dr Emanuel Lasker(Lasker’s Manual of Chess)
Unquote: Sisira.Govinnage@gmail.com from Canberra, Australia.