Wan Azizah calls for chess to be key in youth development

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has called for greater national ambition in chess, describing the sport as a vital platform to develop sharper, more resilient minds among young Malaysians.
Officiating at the 2025 National Open Team Chess Championship at the International Youth Centre (IYC) today, the Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament said chess nurtures critical thinking and mental discipline, especially among children and teenagers.
"Chess stimulates thinking and intelligence. It is not limited by age, gender or physical ability."
She urged Malaysia to aim higher in international competition.
"We must be bold in setting high targets for the sport's international development, including producing our first Malaysian Grandmaster — and ideally, our first female Grandmaster."
Wan Azizah also said the sport could help steer youth away from harmful distractions and negative online influences.
"We want young people to think critically so that they don't fall into online scams or negative activities. Chess teaches them to plan ahead, analyse and focus," she said.
The four-day championship features 58 teams and 350 players, including a team from Kazakhstan and six teams representing the disabled community.
Organised by the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) and Chess Hub Sdn Bhd, it remains the only open-format national team chess tournament in the country.
MCF president Akram Shah Munavvar said the team-based format is aligned with global standards like the Chess Olympiad and aims to develop both grassroots and elite-level talent.
"Team chess forces players to think strategically not just as individuals but as a unit. It gives them a pathway to international team events."
He added that Malaysia is on the verge of producing its first Grandmasters, with rising talent like International Master Poh Yu Tian just a few steps away from earning the title.
MCF executive secretary Najib Abdul Wahab said the event also marked a milestone in national support for the sport.
"This is the first time both the prime minister and the first lady have attended chess events in the same month. It's a historic feat for the chess community," he said.
The championship continues through the weekend at IYC.