by Ian McIntyre
A founding member of the Penang Chess Association has called on the Youth and Sports Ministry to better promote the game as it can drive the country’s aspiration to become a top innovative nation in the age of information communications technology (ICT).
Datuk K. Koris Attan said that the mental strength that promotes analytic thoughts could help the country promote more scientists in the field of ICT and embrace the future tech in Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Since Independence, Malaysia has only produced one international-class master in the past 50 – years but no grandmasters of the mentally stimulating board game.
In India, there are 85 grandmasters while the top developed nations such as China, United States, and Russia, are in the top 10 skilled playing nations in the world, said Koris.
In the region, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore edged Malaysia in rankings, Koris noted.
Speaking in an interview, the consumerism advocate, said that when chess was introduced to the country before Independence, there were people playing the board game in public, honing their skills and mind games against each other to the amazement of the local audience.
Now, one can hardly find any open competition although each state has a representative in the national chess federation, Koris said.
“If we want to produce great intellects, one way is through chess. If one mind can think six steps ahead of one opponent, there is a chance we can finally produce a grandmaster,” said Koris.
He is therefore grateful that Penang will host the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship (EAYCC) this weekend at the Cititel Hotel here.
Players under the ages of eight, ten, 12, 14, and 16 from 18 countries are set to throng Penang from July 12 to 21 for the EAYCC championship here.
The spillover to tourism is also evident, as approximately 400 individuals and their families are expected to take part, said organizing committee member Chong Kean Fong.
Chong, an avid player when studying at St Xavier’s Institution school, said that the EAYCC is sanctioned by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Asia Zone 3.3 and 3.5.
Asia Zone 3.3 is made up of 17 countries, most of which are within the Asean region with one sole country in Asia Zone 3.5, which is China.
Organized by the Penang Chess Association (PCA) and co-organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF), the championship is expected to elevate and boost the presence of chess, ranking in the levels of other sporting events in the world.
Each country is allowed to send any number of players but only one player from the Open event and one player from the Girls event will be recognised and accorded as the official player for the respective country.
MCF president Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi was reported as saying that EAYCC in Penang is part of MCF’s strategy to bring quality continental-level tournaments to the country.
“By having more such quality tournaments like these here, we hope to accelerate Malaysia’s pursuit of its first ‘Grandmasters’ by also enriching local tournament options through to the grassroots level.
We are also pleased and grateful that the PCA has agreed to host the EAYCC, as it has a strong reputation for not just excellent chess players, from our first ever International Master Jimmy Liew, through to current stars like Poh Yu Tian and Sim Jia Ru.”
PCA president See Swee Sie said PCA and MCF have a collective vision of providing more opportunities for the youth in Malaysia to promote and enhance the presence of chess in schools.
State Sports Council director Harry Chai said that they wish to see a multitude of rising chess stars emerging from Penang.
The PCA also pointed out their gratitude to the individual sponsors such as Kang Beng Hai, Serena Tan, and Goon Koon Yin for their support.
