About MOA

Malaysia Othello Association (MOA) was formed on 25th January, 2005 at Yahoo Group.

There were Othello activities in Malaysia way before the formation dated back years ago. Throughout 1998 to 2003, there came a group of emerging new Othello stars in Malaysia. Many of them are students of local and oversea universities.

They played at either MSN or Yahoo. With the help of many arise Othello program, the group of standard amongst them improved very much. But, to no available group or association to unite all the Malaysian players, many of them dropped out half way into playing. In was a hardship for Malaysia Othello scene then.

October 2004, Edmund Liow from Sabah with a heart to form an association travelled to Singapore to meet Yan Leong Woo, then President of Othello Association of Singapore. They met and clicked. With Yan Leong Woo also a Malaysian (he has Singapore PR), given an idea to Edmund Liow to form a Mailing List at Yahoo Group. Fresh from this outing, without much hesitate, Edmund Liow started and formed MOA Mailing List on 25th January, 2005. Thus, MOA was formed.

Then, Edmund Liow started to do promotion at various sources with the help of Yan Leong Woo, George Ortiz (then President of Australia Othello Federation), Kim J. Nielsen (Denmark) and Joseph Chen (Kuala Lumpur). With Joseph Chen being the first Malaysian to join the group. Followed by Stanley Ooi (Klang), Jun Feng (Singapore), Andy Low (Melaka), Tan Kim Piow (Negri Sembilan), etc.

In April, 2005 Edmund Liow decided to pass the president post to Joseph Chen. With Joseph Chen taking over the president post, further activities developed.

In August, 2005 with the help of Edmund Liow, Joseph Chen was appointed tournament director for Malaysia Othello Open 2005. 2nd October, 2005 (Sunday) at 10.00am then come the actual tournament. It was held at Kenny Rogers next to Kota Raya at Kuala Lumpur. Seven people turned out for the tournament. With three surprise participants from Chinese Cari Forum...as a result of Tan Kim Piow promotion. They are Yong Kin Seng, Jackson Loke and Chee Kun. Also a surprise was Kee Chai Guan, a totally new comer who has just played for two weeks then. The tournament that day was played with swiss round robin with Stanley Ooi, Joseph Chen, Kee Chai Guan and Edmund Liow qualified for semi-final. But with Edmund Liow opted for quiting. Thus, Yong Kin Seng replaced Edmund Liow for semi-final place. The cross over semi-final were between Stanley Ooi and Yong Kin Seng, and Joseph Chen and Kee Chai Guan. After a deep challenge, Stanley Ooi and Joseph Chen emerged winners and met each other in the final. Stanley Ooi won the bout 48 vs 16 and emerged as the Malaysia Othello Open 2005 Champion.

In December 2005, with some technique problem, Joseph Chen stepped down for his president post. With no one taking over, Edmund Liow decided to take up the challenge again after a discussion at Yahoo Conference in 25th January, 2006.

On 16th March, 2006 a new milestone in MOA began. MOA lauched it's new homepage. MOA has finally a sweet home. http://www.malaysiaothello.com was born.

Edmund Liow, with the help of Tan Kim Piow, Stanley Ooi, Yan Leong Woo plus the advice given by Joseph Chen decided to host Malaysia Othello Open 2006.

On 21st May 2006 there held Malaysia Othello Open 2006 at Mcdonalds Jalan Silang, Kuala Lumpur. Nineteen people turned out for the event which included four Singapore based players. Players from as far as Kedah, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Johor, Singapore and Sabah turned up for the tournament. The check in time was 9.30am and everyone were on time. The tournament director was Edmund Liow with the help of Yan Leong Woo. Ten sets of timers were borrowed from various local associations. Edmund Liow was very sporty to have sponsored ten new sets of China made Othello Reversi magnetic boards to officiate the event plus another eight sets from last year as reserved. Planning are there for MOA to get sponsorship from Anjar & Co. for a few official Othello boards.