Hi. RJC Team A won 3rd for Raffles Cup, through a series of fortunate events. This came as a pleasant surprise to us since we were the 'dark horse' of the competition and were just hoping to make the bet of our final competition before the end of JC.

It is true that luck was a major factor in our getting a draw with HCI in the last round hence clinching third place with superior opponent points to NJC. Had there being a tiebreaker match with NJC, we might not necessarily have won. Then again, all sports contains an element of luck, including chinese chess.

For example, grandmaster Tao Han Ming ascended to the grandmaster throne through having a slightly better opponent point then either Lu Qin or Yu You Hua, both grandmasters then. While his win then might have been based slightly on luck, his performance now has silenced previous critics into thinking he was an undeserving champion.

I do not mind people saying that we got third by luck, and neither do I mind saying that I am a noob player, as evidenced by my blog title. What bothers me is the complete lack of knowledge some have regarding the chinese chess arbiting and score keeping system.

Firstly, a draw is acceptable anytime in the game as long as the side asking for the draw has the complete advantage. And the opponent having no shi or xiang, boys and girls, with you having one more ping and one horse and cannon is a clear example of absolute advantage. Before you criticize me for my lack of knowledge, please study Lu Qin's games.

There was a game in the 1980s when grandmaster Lu Qin was down by 2 pings against another player whom I cannot recall (Check Lu Qin's biography, 羊城少帥吕钦 for the details) The opponent, however, had only one minute left and asked for draw and the arbiter approved of it. Hence, there is historical precedence even in the highest level of chinese chess supporting my case that a draw can be declared by the arbiter anytime when the side asking has the absolute advantage.

Another interesting point by the opposition is that one horse and one car and one ping versus one horse and one car does not end in a sure draw. Rather amusing in fact. Of course, excuse me and my limited knowledge of chess, but I have no doubt that you have just discovered a new brilliant end game scenario that has eluded the notice of countless grandmasters. Simply wonderful.

And it is an unfounded accusation that my team and I are despicable that we swapped our reserve in so that our best players could get to play against your best players. Firstly, this is not prohibited in the rules, and secondly, which deuce would send his worst player to play against your best? And lastly, and the most damning of all, you changed your formation first so that you get to target our weakest player and now you are crying foul? Hmm, something not right, is there?

To question the objectivity of the arbiters is something completely uncalled for. That's just like Chelsea players surrounding the referee after he has made a decision against them. You are nothing, I repeat, nothing, if you think that you know more about arbiting than Mr Ong or Mr Tan. Wait till you have received your arbiter license and arbitrate in high level games between top players in the region before you complain.

And pardon me if I was wrong, you hired the same arbiters for your own competition, and there was no complaints. So why complain only when the ruling is not in your favour?

If you have read the above and still disagree with me, and think that I am just attempting to justify our draw, and think that you should be champions instead of AJC, I don't mind. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. But know this: AJC beat us 7-1, and even had your best player being here, you will still only beat us 6-2. The deserving ones won the championship trophy.

We know.