WHEN you see the deaf, blind and physically disabled play chess, more often than not you will be amazed by their competitive spirit and enthusiasm.
This was exactly what happened during the 2nd Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled (preliminary round – Northern Region) held at M Mall in George Town recently.
Organised by members of 10 Lions Clubs and supported by the Penang Chess Association (PCA), the event drew 25 participants.
The clubs were the Lions Club of Alor Star Central, Bayan Baru, Kulim, Kulim Central, Penang Komtar, Penang Metropolitan, Penang Rising Star, Penang Straits Quay, Puchong and Tanjong Putri.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was also among the many who witnessed the event.
“I am humbled to see the differently abled play chess with such spirit and determination, especially the blind who cannot see the board and pieces and yet play by touch and memory using braille sets,” Phee said in his speech on Dec 29.
PCA president See Swee Sie, who is also the vice-president for Women, Malaysian Chess Federation, attributed the success of the championship to a team effort.
She thanked the organising committee led by Sim Se Kai of Lions Kulim Central, and among others, Ooi Kok Pin, Bryce Lim and Elizabeth Toh for their passion, hard work and dedication.
See also commended the volunteers from Penang Chess Association, including international arbiter Jonathan Chuah Jin Hai and his team of young student arbiters, all sponsors in particular the venue sponsor M Mall, for their role in making the championship a successful event.
“These chess players take the game seriously and I am amazed by the way they play with such passion.
“What further inspired me was the response from my student arbiters. They came to thank me for the opportunity to serve this community as they themselves were touched too,” See said.
Wheelchair-bound Muhammad Idris Mohamed Ibrahim seemed best to epitomise an indomitable spirit when he flew in from Kuala Lumpur after failing to qualify for the national finals.
His efforts paid off when he finished among the top 10 in Penang, beating a strong opponent in his last match to make it to the national finals scheduled to be held in March.
Another participant who impressed was 67-year-old deaf player, Ahmad Zaki, who has been training for four years with the deaf. He battled hard to win his last match against a younger and strong rival who is vision impaired to finish in fourth place.
The championship ended with 14-year-old Loo Pin Xie of Chung Ling High School as the winner when he drew with last year’s champion, Tan Yin Kuang, but emerged as the overall champion based on the tiebreak system.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Penang Chess Association
