Well, I've joined the competition... won 2 matches and lost 5. Sad sia. And one of the loss costs me $15 (taxi fare) because I was late. Felt really down... and then it happened.

I WON THE LUCKY DRAW!!!
Woo!!! Yes there is a lucky draw, and I won one of the prize, which is a magnetic chess board! I feel really good. Though I did not win any titles, I got something more useful and better and what I really wanted! I was like OMGosh thank you Fate! I am here to advance some people, and to make some people realise their mistakes and weaknesses. I am not here to get the first prize, I was not intended to. I was so occupied in trying to win, trying to best others that I've lost the meaning of the game, and what it means to be a Strider. I'm here to better myself. I may win, but if I did not learn anything, it will only be an empty victory. I'm also there to make friends, which I did.

Some of the people there are kids who are really young. Some even thrashed me. Ouch. All of them go for Weiqi lessons, something I do not have the previlege to have. They are really smart for their age. I wonder how I much up to them. But then I think, I've all the knowledge I need to survive, as Fate and Gaia have given to us all. They are cleverer because they need to. And even though they may beat me in Weiqi, I've other strengths that can beat them, and even if they win me, it is no problem for me cause it does not affect me in my survival and thus pose no threat! Never be threatened by the talents of others. It is stupid and blinds you with jealously which will destroy you. Whenever you are jealous, close your eyes and think of the peace which you'll have when you are not.

CHEN LE CONGRATS ON BEING FIRST!!! $400 worth of FAIRPRICE VOUCHERS!!! EAT TILL YOU DROP!!!
Now I hope we can get Chess Club more funding from the school thanks to this.

In the whole competition my name is registered as Alex. Yes, not Alex Lim, or Lin RuiFeng, but Alex. hmm. feels weird.

My play consists of several placements on the side star points to confuse and slowly strangle my opponents. I am not one who fights in Weiqi. I love to slowly hug my opponents, and before they know it, their whole piece is gone. Weaker, less stable opponents will be confounded by my weird moves and make dire mistakes. My chess skill is not that high, so I figured that if I want to win, I've to play with my opponents minds, which I did, which got me my 2 wins. Alas, I was not successful in the last few rounds because I lost track of my goals and freaked out when my opponents start to pace me. *Note to self: Sleep early before competition!!!*

Plain water. I need plain water to think.

The key to understanding is constant observation, intuition and vigilance.

Cheers all.