BY EDWINNIE EINSTEIN UNJI
THERE are a plethora of ways to exercise one’s brain in order to maintain critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.
Of course, one way is to read books and solve puzzles, but there is another activity that can challenge the mind in problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity—all at once: chess.
While chess can be intimidating to some, the truth is that it serves as an excellent form of brain exercise.
The skills a chess player must apply extend beyond critical thinking to include creativity, problem-solving, strategising and managing emotional resilience.
Meet Bakri Abdul Karim, a 46 year old lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) who is passionate about chess and financing.
He is also the programme coordinator for finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Bakri’s early chess days
Hailing from Perak, Bakri’s journey into chess began at the age of 12.
However, during the 1990s, there were not many resources available for him to practise and sharpen his skills.
“Nowadays, there are numerous online classes where coaches from other countries can teach individuals how to play chess and improve their skills.
“In my day, we didn’t have those advantages; we had to learn on our own, myself included.
“It’s true that books and magazines were available, but given that chess wasn’t particularly popular back then, I doubt many people would buy them.
“In fact, magazines rarely highlighted any chess content.
“You had to skim through the pages and hope to find a tutorial, tips, or tricks related to chess.
“Although I had to learn everything by myself from scratch, I still proved that I could succeed by participating in numerous chess tournaments in the past”.
During Bakri’s early days in Perak, there was little exposure to chess, and not many tournaments were available for him to participate in to gain real experience in the chess environment.
“Compared to Kuala Lumpur, there weren’t many tournaments in Perak.
“So, it was quite difficult for me to participate in any major competitions.”
However, when Bakri entered university, his chess journey began to grow exponentially.
“I played for my university at that time, and from there, I continued to participate in other tournaments, particularly major ones.
“But I still hadn’t received my Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) ratings,” he said.
When Bakri relocated to Sarawak to become a lecturer at UNIMAS in 2006, he found that there were still not many chess clubs available at that time.
“It took years to find a suitable club, but eventually, in 2012, I represented the Sarawak team.
“Back then, our team was one of the strongest in chess.”
Representing Sarawak in chess
The first time Bakri represented the Sarawak chess team was at a tournament in Kelantan, marking the beginning of his journey as a chess player.
“When we competed in Kelantan in 2012, Sarawak was crowned champion.
“That was the first time Sarawak won a championship in a chess tournament.”
Following that success, Bakri’s team continued their journey to other tournaments in Malaysia, including those in Pulau Pinang and Johor Bahru.
“The latest chess tournament I competed in was in Perlis, where our winning streak ended with a second-place finish.
“I mean, we can’t be champions all the time; sometimes, others are just better than us, and our opponents at that time were younger players.”
In chess, it’s not just about winning tournaments and earning prizes, including money; it’s also about making connections with others who share the same passion.
“For me, chess is not just about winning; it’s also about making new friends.
“I enjoy meeting new people wherever I go, and at every tournament I participate in, I always try to make new connections.
“I even have connections with international chess players from countries like Indonesia and many others.”
Chess as a sport
Bakri firmly believes that chess is a sport and he points to its inclusion in prestigious events like the Olympics, as well as in the recent Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and ParaSUKMA, as clear indicators of its legitimacy as a competitive discipline.
He views these developments as a positive sign for the future of chess.
“People are beginning to recognise that chess is indeed a sport.
“However, there remains a significant number of individuals who question why it is classified as such.
“To many, sport is primarily associated with physical activity, as they perceive chess as merely a game where players sit down and move pieces on a board.
“What they fail to appreciate is that chess requires extensive training, not just mentally but also physically.
“When I say physically, I mean that your body needs proper rest and care, for instance, maintaining wrist health is crucial, as is ensuring overall physical well-being”.
Bakri emphasises that the mental strain involved in playing chess can be quite intense.
Players must cultivate concentration, strategic thinking and resilience over long periods, which can be physically demanding.
“Just as athletes prepare their bodies for competition, chess players must also prepare themselves physically to perform at their best”.
In this way, Bakri advocates for a broader understanding of what constitutes a sport, highlighting the mental and physical aspects of chess that contribute to a player’s success.
His advice
To nurture a strong chess player in Sarawak, Bakri suggests that parents should introduce their children to chess from an early age.
“One of the essential games for their kids is chess.
“They must expose them to chess, as it requires focus.
“Not only will parents help produce skilled chess players for the state and country, but they will also develop their children’s cognitive abilities for their future adult lives.
“When we look at today’s international grandmasters, many became grandmasters because of their parents, whether through education or motivation.
“In Sarawak, we have an active association for chess, the Sarawak Chess Association, which is led by my close friend.
“Parents can register their children with this association, but they also need to teach their kids the basics of chess.
“This brings me to my next point—chess associations could organise seminars or workshops to educate teachers and lecturers about the fundamentals of chess.
“Whether in high school or university, teachers should at least have the basic knowledge in chess so they could teach students the basics.
“If it’s not for tournaments, at least students can improve their focus, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills”.
Bakri further encourages young parents to consider making chess a daily activity for their children instead of handing them mobile devices.
“Nowadays, many children have their eyes glued to the screen. Why not introduce them to the classic board game of chess?
“At least their brains will be engaged instead of consuming random content from the internet.
“I’m not saying the internet is a bad thing; you can also utilise it as a teaching platform for children, but it’s important to teach them how to browse the web properly, such as looking for chess tutorials or videos”.
A passion
Currently, Bakri continues his role as a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and Business, where he teaches both financial knowledge and chess.
He has even established his own chess class as part of the co-curricular activities, providing students with the opportunity to join in and train alongside one another.
“My vision is for Sarawak to produce more chess players who could achieve the titles of Grandmaster or International Master.
“So far, it has yet to be seen that any Sarawakian chess players have reached those prestigious titles—not even me.
He believes that educating children about chess is crucial for their development.
“Parents need to expose their children to chess knowledge at the very least, as this will help them cultivate essential skills.”
Bakri’s passion for chess extends to his own family, as his wife and children all play the game.
“Perhaps it’s genetics, but I am confident that my children will be equipped with the mental skills necessary to excel, as they are being prepared from an early age.”
For those parents who wish to introduce their children to the world of chess, Bakri encourages them to take the plunge.
“If you want your children to dive into this fascinating chess rabbit hole, feel free to contact me, or simply invest in a chess board for them.
“It could be the start of a rewarding journey for both them and you,” he enthused.
