SANDAKAN: A total of 200 participants from Sabah, other Malaysian states and overseas took part in the HMM Chess Rapid Championship Sandakan, which featured six competition categories.
Sungai Manila Assemblyman Datuk Hazem Mubarak Musa said the championship not only tested players’ strategic abilities but also helped build mental resilience and sharpen critical thinking skills.
He said the tournament also served as a platform to identify and nurture new chess talents across different age groups.
“This championship has attracted participants from Sandakan, other districts in Sabah, other states and overseas, including a four-year-old international participant.
“This is an encouraging sign that chess is gaining popularity among people of all ages. Although it does not require physical strength, chess demands strategic thinking, careful planning and sound decision-making, making it a unique and intellectually challenging sport,” he told reporters after officiating the tournament on Sunday.
Hazem said the possibility of organising a larger championship in the future would depend on participation in the coming years.
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“If participation continues to grow, we will certainly consider hosting a bigger tournament,” he said.
The youngest participants, siblings Ho Che-Ming, four, and Ho Tse-Ming, five, from Chinese Taipei, attracted attention after competing in the FIDE-rated Open category.
Che-Ming finished 116th out of 125 players with two wins from nine rounds, while Tse-Ming placed 119th, also recording two wins.
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