Benjamin 'Karpov' Tan J.M.

Name : Benjamin 'Karpov' Tan J.M.
Date of Birth : 1st March 1991
Place of Birth : East Coast Road , Singapore , SEA
Year started chess : 1995
Handed : Left

Specialized opening (White) : English Opening , King's Gambit (Bishop Gambit) .
(Black) : Caro-Kann Defence , English Hybrid , Falkbeer Countergambit .
Ranking : ijji Royal Chess Expert / ZM (Zonal Master)
Rating : ( Dasher ICC ) : 2714
( Royal Chess ) : 2085
(Rating to be updated every friday after 6pm)

National U-18 Ranking (2006) : 18 / 250
( 2007 ) : 19 / 270
Historical Record : First Gabrielite (Students from St Gabriel , Monfort and Assumption English High) in history (56 years) to win every single games in a National School Team Tournament .

Ben 'Karpov' won 6 out of 6 games he played in the 2007 NST .

Ben 'Karpov' holds the All-time record for the most number of National Games consecutives victories in the history of Gabrielite . (56 years) . - 8 consecutives wins .

He also smashed the 'All-time' Gabrielite record for the longest National Tournament unbeatable run . An impressing run that stretches from March 2007 to 10 , March 2008 . Across three seperate tournaments (2007 National School Individual Chess Championship , 2007 National School Team Championship and the 2008 National School Individual Championship)

Unbeatable runs : 9 Games !




Introduction of Ben 'Karpov' life :

Ben is born in the quiet country of Singapore on 1st March 1991 . He is parented by Edward and Grace . It is said that when he is 4 , his father predicted that his son would be a chess great later on in his life . A quiet boy that prefer to work alone and thus having minimum friends in school . He attended Rivervale School when he is in primary school and move on to St Gabriels Institution later on . His chess prodigy is discovered when he is 8 . One of his then classmate introducted him to chess and he picked it up fast . But Ben is too 'chicken' to attend any competition until 2 years later . He picked up his first trophy in his first tournament ( which is a team tournament ) . Ben started representing school and is an iconic figure in the school team for 7 straight years . Most of the time he played in the 2nd board and captained his team . He is most remembered as an all-rounded player , as he is deadly in both deep defence and intense attack . Thus making him the most feared player in the North-East zone . Ben is also said to be able to defeat every single player in his neighboorhood school ; Sengkang Secondary , Compassvale Secondary , Nan Chiau High , North Vista Secondary , Hougang Secondary , Pei Hwa Secondary and Ponggol Secondary . (All 7 schools) . Ben spends 7 hours playing online chess everyday . He is arguable the most exciting upcoming talent in Singapore .





His Achievements :

Ben 'Karpov' Tan's achievement till today includes 32 trophies/medals in 44 tournaments . Although he started playing chess at 8 , he did not attain a silverware until he is 10 . He is a three times national medal achiever ; twice at 2006 and once at 2007 . Ben 'Karpov' is the fourth guy in the history of Gabrielite (56 years) to attain the National School Individual Chess Championship medal in back-to-back years . He had captained his school for more than 50 games and 7 tournaments , in which one of the tournament he lead his school to National 6 in the National School Team Tournament 2006 behind RI , ACSI , Hwa Chong , Catholic High and bitter rival Maris Stella . In which St Gabriel drew rival Maris 2:2 , beat ACSI 2:1 , NUS High 3:1 and thrashed St.Hilda's and CHIJ 4:0 ! Most of his 32 silverwares are 1st Runner-Up . His only two champion silverware comes from coming in 1st in the 2005 Yio Chu Kang CC Open section Champion and St.Gabriel's 'Champions League' 2005 . He came in first in his school chess league , which lasted for the whole year . This achievement highlights his strengh in consistancy . The year 2005 and 2006 is a good one for Ben , in two years he won around 20 trophies and medals and even won his very first National medal at the NSI Championship . He participated in 25 tournaments in Serangoon Garden Country Club and won a trophies in every tournaments he played in , and is therefore one of the most feared player in the country club .





Chess Prodigy ?

Ben is also remembered as a chess prodigy . At age 13 when he joined St Gabriel Institute's chess club , the club legend Jude Tan Ju Hui and then club vice-chairman reportedly announced that "throughout life he had not came across a chess player like Ben , he could see the best move in an instant . Ben also can see about 10 moves ahead , his reading of the game is stunning".





Controversial Medal :

This debatable issue happens in the 2007 National School Individual Championship . The tournament consist of 9 matches and Ben have completed 8 , he has 5.5 pts . The last game would totally determines whether he would attain the National medal for that year , and he Must need a win . His last round opponent comes from rival school Maris Stella and he happens to be the best player there , Ben knows him , he is a China player called Jiang Zeliang and plays very well . His opponent is also desperate for a win . It is going to be a death match . Saint Gabriel Number 1 VS Maris Stella Number 1 . The Match of the year ! 25 minutes per side , the game started . Ben started out strongly , he attacked well , Zeliang defended and counterattacked . Although Ben's King is exposed he defended tremendously and manage to force trade several key pieces and drag the game to endgame . It is a very drawish position and both side are fighting all out . Finally the game reached a point where draw is inevitable . Ben was about to give up when someone shouted "Flag Drop !" . Ben looked at the clock , his opponent's flag dropped . Without hesitation he claims win . However Zeliang countered that Ben won by prompting , this sparked a serious argument for both side . The chief arbiter is being called in to settle after 30 minutes of intense verbal fighting , the chief arbiter gave Ben the win and the vital point , then he went on to collect his 2nd consecutive National medal . It was a controversial match , no doubt .





The Three Big Matchs that Ben never forgets

Ben 'Karpov' Tan played a grandmaster when he is 14 . It is a simou game , the GM played 11 games in one go . All the other board got thrashed except for him , he drew . Then three years later he played 2 games against GrandMaster Mark Paragua (Elo rating 2521) and held him to a 1 : 1 draw . (Ben drew him twice) .





Club of commitment

Ben 'Karpov' started out his chess career in the quiet school of Rivervale Chess Club. He was 8 years old then. He is still very young and inexperience. 'Karpov' have trouble finding his place in the school and almost gave up on chess, but thanks to his good friends he struggled and continue and play for Rivervale chess club for another 4 years. He was voted 2003 Rivervale Chess Club Player of the Year.
Next he went on and signed a 4 years contract at Saint Gabriel Chess Club. Even though he was their new signing, 'Karpov' quickly found his way into the school team starting line-up. That year he played 3rd board for his club. His club debute against ACS Independent ended in tradegy where he lost to ACSI third boarder. However Ben created a record in his debute tournament. He checkmated his Yu Jing Secondary opponent in 34seconds, the fastest in the history of Gabrielite Chess Club.
In his third year of playing for Saint Gabriel, Ben established himself as the first choice player in the club, following the departure of club legend Ben Lee and Jude Tan. He is also said to be the 'dream player' for the club. 'Ben' being the first name of Ben Lee and 'Tan' being the last name of the other club legend, Jude Tan.
Later that year Ben led the Saint Gabriel Chess Team to national glory. The 6th in Singapore in the National School Team Championship.
In the final year of his time with Saint Gabriel Chess Club he once again brought honor to his club by coming in 19 out of 270 players and completed his hat-trick of National Medals.
He was a legend on the off the board and is no wonder why the club fell following the departure of him at 2008. Ben 'Karpov' joined the league of legends alongside with Ben Lee, Jude Tan, Abraham Pitono and team-mate Ng Ming Sheng.
Kevin Chong, member of the club has this to say when 'Karpov' dissolves his contracts after 4 years of service 'we had undoubtly lost one of our greatest star, you cannot simply replace Ben like that, in fact he is irreplaceable'.
Now he is in Republic Poly Chess Club but planning to play for some other club. Now the burning question... Which club would be lucky enough to capture his signature?



Ben 'Karpov' Tan of the future .

Ben will surely fight on , no mater what . His dream is to be a GrandMaster and play in World Champion Level . Cheer , Go Ben - Go !!!