M'sia's top Xiang Qi players gather in Kuching for Cat City Cup national championship
KUCHING (Aug 7): Thirty of Malaysia's top Xiang Qi players have gathered in the state capital for the 23rd edition of the 'Cat City Cup' National Xiang Qi Master Championship and Cultural Exchange Series 2025.
The tournament kicked off following the first round of competition at the Imperial Hotel here today.
Officiating the event, Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng praised the tournament's enduring legacy as a reflection of cultural pride and intellectual tradition.
'This tournament has stood the test of time for over two decades.
'It reflects the deep cultural significance of Xiang Qi (Chinese chess) and the commitment of our city to promoting and preserving traditional arts,' he said during the opening ceremony.
Wee highlighted that Xiang Qi is more than a battle of intellect — it also embodies mindset, strategy, and cultural refinement.
'It teaches us the importance of thinking ahead, knowing when to advance or retreat, and planning with foresight.
'These very principles resonate deeply with how we approach city governance and urban development.
'In shaping a better city, we too must strategise holistically, proceed steadily, and face challenges with calm and wisdom,' he said.
Sarawak Xiang Qi Association president Ting Chung Yii echoed this sentiment, describing Xiang Qi as a vessel of Chinese heritage and philosophy.
'Xiang Qi carries the wisdom of generations.It embodies strategy, perseverance, and moral character.
'The board may be small, but the ideas it contains are vast, reflecting the very essence of life's challenges,' Ting said.
(From left) Ting, Wee and Wong observe a match between two players. – Photo by Aileen Yap
Ting also emphasised the importance of the tournament's traditional Commander Ceremony, which marks the official start of the event and symbolises honour and responsibility for all participants.
'It reminds us that the true chess king is not only a victor in the game, but also a guardian of chess ethics and sportsmanship,' he said.
As host, the Sarawak Xiang Qi Association reaffirmed its commitment to a fair, professional, and culturally enriching tournament experience.
Ting expressed hope that the event would inspire more young people in Sarawak to take up Xiang Qi.
'We hope this national platform will encourage more youth in Sarawak to take up Xiang Qi.
'Promoting and developing local talent remains a core mission for our association,' he added.
Also present were Kuching Xiang Qi Association Jee Xin, Samarahan Xiang Qi Association chairman Chen Ling Wei, China Grand Master of Xiang Qi Wang Bin, Sarawak Xiang Qi Association chairman Thomas Wong, Samarahan Xiang Qi Association president Liew Sin Hua, and Chief Judge Tan Koong Hean. Cat City Cup Chinese chess Kuching Xiang Qi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
China boy stays calm by reciting poems while stuck in lift, earns acclaim online
An eight-year-old boy in China who found himself alone in a stuck lift reacted to his predicament with remarkable calmness, garnering widespread praise online. The surveillance camera in the lift of a residential building in northern China's Hebei province captured the entire incident. The unnamed boy, trapped on the 11th floor while en route to his flat, initially pressed the buttons for other floors and then gently tapped on the lift door to assess his situation. Upon realising he was stuck, he pressed the emergency button. Loudly yet politely, he informed the helpline operator of his situation and location. The operator, from the property management company, reassured him that help was on the way. After the call ended, the boy attempted to lift his spirits by repeating phrases like 'Someone will come soon,' 'Don't be afraid,' and 'Add oil,' punctuating his words with playful air punches to signify courage. He was also heard murmuring: 'I'm only eight, but I already have the fortune of being stuck in a lift.' As time passed and boredom set in, he began reciting the classic Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan, a work typically included in textbooks for older students. A staff member from the property management company arrived within 10 minutes and opened the lift door. Upon seeing an adult come to his rescue, he finally burst into tears but still remembered to express his gratitude with a firm 'thank you.' His mother was unaware of his mishap until he returned home. She had sent him into the lift that day while his father waited for him outside on their floor. After a while, noticing that his son might be stuck, he went downstairs to seek help, only to find that the boy had already contacted the helpline himself. The boy even proudly demonstrated his new-found knowledge, saying: 'You have to press the emergency button for three seconds to activate it.' His composed reactions earned him widespread praise online. 'He has a strong mind in his small body,' one commenter remarked. 'His recitation of poems was likely not just out of boredom, but a way to shift his focus away from fear. He is a clever boy,' another noted. 'Even in the face of fear, he managed to uplift himself and politely thanked the staff who came to assist him. He must have received an excellent family upbringing,' a third person observed. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Barnama
8 hours ago
- Barnama
13th Straits Youth Day Wraps In Fuzhou With Over 2,000 Young Leaders
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The 13th Straits Youth Day concluded its week-long main events on Aug 7, bringing together more than 2,000 young talents from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in a bid to deepen cross-strait cultural and developmental ties. The Youth Day staged its centralised activities, featuring 25 events, including the 13th Straits Youth Heart-to-Heart Exchange, the ninth Cross-Strait College Student Leadership Camp, and the fourth Taiwan Youth Talk at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Themed 'Inheriting Chinese Culture and Honoring Family Ties', the 13th Straits Youth Day plans to roll out 52 events throughout the year, and it is expected that over 3,000 Taiwan youth will be invited, according to a statement.
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Barnama
Growing Up In A United Malaysia
At nearly all 30 or so houses in the small U-shaped enclave of the JKR quarters off Jalan Connolly (now Jalan Tun Perak) in Ipoh, life moved a little faster than usual toward the evening. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- It was that day of the week when RTM would screen a Tamil film on television. One house belonged to a Chinese family, the other to an Indian family, and both opened their doors to everyone. Even in the late '60s, after television was introduced in Malaysia in December 1963, few homes could afford such a luxury. So, when RTM screened a film – especially a Tamil one – it was carnival time. The multiracial residents of the quarters were getting ready for their weekly 'show' at one of the two houses that owned a television set. That was just one facet of life in the '60s and '70s that I grew up in – an atmosphere where unity in diversity wasn't just seen, it was deeply felt. As the black-and-white film flickered on, Indian viewers would quietly translate the dialogue for their Malay and Chinese neighbours. Someone always brought snacks, and they were shared as naturally as stories and laughter. Children crowded the front of the television set, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Adults settled wherever they could – on chairs, on the floor, or even at the one open window of the cramped, one-bedroom quarters. There was more. We played together – top-spinning, kite-flying, 'police and thief', football and badminton. We shared traditional delicacies during festive seasons. We stood by one another during weddings and funerals. Race and religion were simply part of who we were, never a reason to divide. One memory remains especially vivid: the morning of 14 May 1969, a day after the racial riots erupted in Kuala Lumpur. A curfew had been imposed in Ipoh. The residents of the JKR quarters – Malay, Chinese, Indian – gathered at the centre of the enclave, quietly trying to comprehend the news from the capital. Racial violence? It was beyond our imagination. The crowd only dispersed when a police patrol car passed by, blaring a warning to stay indoors. Today, those quarters no longer exist. Where once stood homes full of life and laughter, now lie only crumbling concrete and overgrown undergrowth. But many of the people who once called that enclave home are still around, now nurturing grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They may have left their beloved quarters, but they carry with them the memory of a time lived in mutual respect and harmony, helping to shape the spirit of the nation. In every corner of Malaysia, the real story of this country has always been one of shared struggle, collective hope, and quiet acts of unity. That's why year after year, our National Day and Malaysia Day themes echo a familiar message: Malaysia is strongest when her people are placed at the heart of the national narrative. This year's theme – Malaysia MADANI, Rakyat Disantuni – reaffirms that commitment. It calls for a society guided not just by development, but by compassion, inclusion, and dignity. Introduced by the government, the MADANI framework champions six core values: sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion. At its core lies a belief that unity is essential, not just for harmony but for every citizen to thrive. In 2025, as we navigate new and complex challenges, Rakyat Disantuni reminds us that progress must be people-centred. Beyond policies and infrastructure, what matters is whether the people – the schoolteacher in Sabah, the fisherfolk in Terengganu, the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur – feel seen, heard, and supported. Their wellbeing is the true measure of our national success. So let us reflect on the deeper meaning of disantuni. It speaks not merely of assistance, but of empathy, respect, and nurture. It reminds us that true patriotism is not loud or boastful; it is humble, inclusive, and rooted in kindness. At a time when the world often feels divided, Malaysia must hold fast to what makes it special: our ability to live, work, and dream together despite our differences. That strength does not lie in any one group or leader, but in all of us. As we raise the Jalur Gemilang this National Day and Malaysia Day, let us remember that the future of Malaysia will not be built by slogans alone, but by how we treat one another. Because, at the heart of Malaysia MADANI lies this enduring truth: The rakyat is not an audience to be addressed, but a family to be cared for. -- BERNAMA * M. Govind Nair is the Special Projects Editor at BERNAMA. BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
