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New Straits Times
03-08-2025
- New Straits Times
Checkmate, Malaysia crowns its first chess Grandmaster
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in the nation's history, Malaysia can proudly call one of its own a Grandmaster (GM), the highest title awarded in the world of chess. Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old prodigy from Petaling Jaya, officially earned the coveted GM title after securing his third norm and surpassing the 2500 FIDE rating mark by winning the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship 2025 held here today. The title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong honour and places Li Tian among an elite group of fewer than 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide. Speaking to Bernama, Li Tian, who began playing chess at the age of three, admitted that his journey was long and grueling, marked by sacrifices and perseverance. "I always tell people that I have no childhood. So I guess that that will be my biggest sacrifice. "Since young, like even in primary school, I go to school, come back, do my homework and then I start working on chess," he said. When asked about achieving the GM title on home soil, he said the moment was even more meaningful after narrowly missing the opportunity during the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi. "I felt really relieved and happy to actually get my last norm back in Malaysia. "I hope that it inspires more chess players to play chess," he added. Looking ahead, Li Tian remains uncertain about his next steps but hinted that he might compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand at the end of this year. "Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) already approached me for this SEA Games. "I think there's a high chance that I will be playing," he said. Meanwhile, MCF President Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi described Li Tian's achievement as a historic milestone in the nation's chess history. He said the MCF is now more determined than ever to nurture and produce more Malaysian GM, with the goal of elevating and strengthening the local chess scene. "I feel the achievement is a new positive and healthy development for the game of chess in the country. "We do not want this achievement to stop here and if can, we want more GM from Malaysia to emerge, just like what has been produced by neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines," he said.– Bernama
The Star
03-08-2025
- The Star
Checkmate, Li Tian emerges as first chess Grandmaster
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in the nation's history, Malaysia can proudly call one of its own a Grandmaster, the highest title awarded in the world of chess. Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old prodigy from Petaling Jaya, officially earned the coveted title after securing his third norm and surpassing the 2500 FIDE rating mark by winning the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship yesterday. The title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong honour and places Li Tian among an elite group of fewer than 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide. Li Tian, who began playing chess at the age of three, admitted that his journey was long and grueling, marked by sacrifices and perseverance. "I always tell people that I have no childhood. So I guess that that will be my biggest sacrifice. Since young, like even in primary school, I go to school, come back, do my homework and then I start working on chess,' he said. When asked about achieving the title on home soil, he said the moment was even more meaningful after narrowly missing the opportunity during the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi. "I felt really relieved and happy to actually get my last norm back in Malaysia. I hope that it inspires more chess players to play chess,' he added. Looking ahead, Li Tian remains uncertain about his next steps but hinted that he might compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand at the end of this year. "Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) already approached me for this SEA Games. I think there's a high chance that I will be playing,' he said. Meanwhile, MCF president Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi described Li Tian's achievement as a historic milestone in the nation's chess history. He added that the MCF is now more determined than ever to nurture and produce more Malaysian Grandmasters, with the goal of elevating and strengthening the local chess scene. "I feel the achievement is a new positive and healthy development for the game of chess in the country. "We do not want this achievement to stop here and if can, we want more Grandmasters from Malaysia to emerge, just like ehat has been produced by neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines,' he said. - Bernama
The Sun
26-06-2025
- The Sun
Parents should encourage children to take up chess
PARENTS should encourage their children to take up chess, which has been proven to stimulate thinking and enhance mental sharpness, said Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. She said chess is a unique sport as it is inclusive and can be participated by everyone, regardless of age, gender and physical ability. 'This sport is not limited by age, gender or even physical ability. We see that there are people with different differences, including people with disabilities, who can and are capable of playing chess. 'We encourage parents and families, especially in the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary constituency, to support their children's participation in chess. We want to ensure children do not get involved in negative activities,' she said at the launch of the 2025 National Open Team Chess Championships-PMX Trophy here today. Dr Wan Azizah, who is the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also thanked the Malaysian Chess Federation for their continuous efforts in developing the sport of chess in the country through regular seminars, training classes and competitions held almost every weekend. She stressed that such tournaments are not just about competition, but are also an important platform for producing new national chess talent, including Malaysia's first Grandmaster. 'This tournament is not just a competition, it is a call to action and we want to produce our first Grandmaster... and we also want a woman Grandmaster,' she said. As such, she stressed the importance of integrated collaboration between the Youth and Sports Ministry, Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry as well as chess associations and clubs to strengthen the sport's development ecosystem. Meanwhile, MCF president Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi said 350 participants are competing in the four-day championships, which began today, to elevate team chess events in Malaysia. The tournament retains the format from last year, using the standard time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, over seven rounds using the Swiss system. A total cash prize of RM30,000 is up for grabs, including RM6,000 for the champions, as well as special awards for the top three state chess associations.
