EAYCC begins in style

Photo from Buletin Mutiara

The official opening of the eighth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship at the Cititel in George Town yesterday was a tremendous success. I am certain the guest of honour, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, and the various sponsors were all very impressed and pleased with the impressive turnout of 364 participants from 16 East Asian countries. With the guests, players' accompanying persons, and championship officials present, the hotel's ballroom was packed to the rafters. The Boys' Brigade Bagpipers led the guests into the ballroom and gave an impressive performance, which was truly one of the highlights of the opening.

See Swee Sie, the co-chairperson of the organising committee and a deputy president of the Malaysian Chess Federation, gave a welcome speech, followed by Ong Eng Bin who spoke on behalf of Wong Siew Hai of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association. Finally, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying took the stage with an impactful speech. She later declared the championship open by making the ceremonial first move against local FIDE Master Poh Yu Tian. What impressed me most was her choice. In all my years of observing VIPs making ceremonial first moves, I have never encountered one moving Ng1-f3 on the chessboard. It was a definitely legal move and a refreshing change from the usual e2-e4 or d2-d4, or even howlers like h2-h4.

The following is the text of the deputy minister's speech:

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today at the 8th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship, jointly organized by the Penang Chess Association (PCA) and the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF). This event marks a significant milestone in the development of chess in our region, and I am thrilled to see so many young talents gathered here.

Chess is a game that not only entertains but also educates. It engages a wide range of cognitive skills such as analysis, strategic thinking, time management, and planning. Through chess, players become more disciplined, learn the importance of strategic planning, and understand that both winning and losing are valuable experiences. These skills are essential, not only in games but also in life itself.

Playing chess offers numerous advantages. It enhances memory, improves concentration and develops problem-solving skills. Chess also fosters creativity and encourages logical thinking. By practicing patience and perseverance, players learn to handle pressure and make thoughtful decisions. These benefits extend beyond the chessboard, contributing to personal and academic success.

Last year, we successfully included chess in the SUKMA games, recognizing its importance and the benefits it brings to young minds. This inclusion underscores our commitment to promoting chess and its role in holistic education.

Good governance, much like chess, involves strategic thinking and careful planning. In both fields, we find ourselves in advantageous positions at times, while at other times, we must make difficult decisions, sometimes even sacrifices, for the greater good. As politicians and government officials, it is our duty to create a safe and prosperous environment for the next generation—an environment where you, our young stars, can shine and reach your full potential.

The Madani government is working tirelessly to develop our country and reform our economic and fiscal systems. Recently, after almost six years of maintaining an "underweight" rating on Malaysia, JP Morgan has upgraded its stance on the country to "neutral." They cited the surprising pace of progress, with Malaysia recording a 4.2% GDP growth in the first quarter of this year, and earnings growth tracking around 10% to 11%. This rating also reflects a governance reset in the wake of the 1MDB scandal.

Furthermore, Forbes columnist Benjamin Laker has praised our Prime Minister Anwar's economic policies, highlighting three key achievements: attracting investments, restructuring subsidies, and controlling civil service costs. Malaysia has taken various measures to attract high-quality investments, including increasing automation in production systems and boosting R&D spending. These efforts aim to enhance labor productivity, reduce reliance on low-skilled labor, and create a more innovation-driven economy. These reforms have significant implications for Malaysia and the broader Asian region.

Our investment projects are showing positive growth, with impressive tourist arrivals and spending. The latest indicators show that our economy continues to be robust in the second quarter of 2024. Ongoing investments in both the private and public sectors are contributing to this steady progress. Malaysia is focusing on developing high-growth potential areas and advancing technology to elevate our global value chain position and build a more diversified and competitive economy.

We are committed to creating opportunities and providing the necessary support for our youth to thrive. By fostering a conducive environment, we hope to nurture the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and champions.

I believe most of you know our champion Yeoh Li Tian, the first Malaysian to be awarded the title of International Master by FIDE in 2017. His journey is an inspiration to us all, and I hope that many of you here will follow in his footsteps, achieving great heights in the world of chess and beyond.

In conclusion, I want to thank the organizers, participants, and everyone involved in making this championship a success. Your dedication and passion for chess are truly commendable. Let us continue to work together to promote this wonderful game and support the development of our young talents.

Best of luck to all the participants. May you play with both heart and mind, and may the best player win.

Meanwhile, I want to add that I have taken several hundred pictures and they are now uploaded to the Penang Chess Association facebook page. Just look for the albums with the EAYCC prefix in the folder names.

Photo from Pearl Bulletin

Photo from Pearl Bulletin