KUCHING: Termizi Yusuf, 64, will be among the top 10 chess players with disabilities who will represent Sarawak in the grand finals of the 2nd Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled in Kuala Lumpur next March.
Termizi, beat all his competitors to emerge champion in the preliminary round of the competition with five points and a FIDE Rating of 15 points overall.
“I feel honoured to be able to represent Sarawak for the second time in the upcoming grand finals of this competition,” said Termizi.
“I will continue with my usual daily trainings as I have experienced quite a number of chess competitions previously. I will give 100 per cent focus on the upcoming grand finals,” he added.
He said in the last competition in 2018, he won 2nd place in the preliminaries and 5th in the grand finals.
Termizi also revealed his love for chess bloomed when his physical disabilities prevented him to be active in other sports.
“I spend most of my youth playing chess as it does not require a lot of physical effort and energy to enjoy thoroughly,” he added.
He is a self-taught chess player and the oldest participant in the competition with over 30 years of experience.
Second place was won by Thoo Siaw Lan. Thoo suffers from blindness and is an avid chess player for many years.
Muhammad Adib Rusydan Suharman won third place overall with a total of 4 points but a lower FIDE Rating at 10 points compared to Thoo’s 13 points.
Muhammad Adib, 14, is the youngest participant in the competition, and was participating for second time.
Termizi said he is glad to see younger generations of the disabled community participating in the competition.
“This is a good opportunity for Sarawak to polish the talents of younger generations to ensure they are able to win many international competitions in the coming years.
