KUCHING: The Lions Club International organised the Third Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled at Vivacity Megamall yesterday with 19 participants competing.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed chess veteran, Termizi Yusuf who emerged as the winner. He said, he had been playing chess since 1979 and with over 30 years of experience he continues to share the same passion when he first started.
He said that the interest of chess came from the support of his family and that has been his main factor to continue, besides his love for the sport.
“I couldn’t play any other sport so chess was my choice of preference and interest which I enjoy.
“There was an opportunity for me to play, I saw it and I decided to grab that opportunity,” he added.
Tarmizi won the Third Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled and will represent Sarawak in Berjaya Times Square on March 19.
Another chess player, Johannes Gabriel Chew, 16, grew interested in chess from his late grandfather. He was the youngest competitor at the Third Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled.
“I started playing chess when I was 11 and I had that spark of interest because of my late grandfather.
“He taught me how to play chess and because of that I really enjoy playing it.
“I hope more players from this tournament can represent Sarawak in the Para SUKMA Games,” he said.
Johannes, who comes from a mixed parentage of Iban and Chinese, was ranked 6th in the Third Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled.
Born with dwarfism, Johannes shows great passion in chess and will be representing Sarawak in the Grand Finals in Berjaya Times Square on the 19th of March.
Also inspired by his family was Watson Manda Edwin, 26, who has been playing chess for 11 years and aims to represent Malaysia at the international stage one day.
Watson, who is Iban and is visually impaired, said that he loves chess and shows excitement in the coming tournament in March.
“My dad taught me how to play chess and I enjoy playing it. Representing Sarawak has been a great honour.
“I hope this programme will continue on to create more opportunities for chess players,” he said.
Watson will join both Tarmizi and Johannes in the Grand Finals of Chess Tournament in Berjaya Times Square on March 19.
