As at today, there are no more chess news in printed media, as our last chess column in "The Star" ended last friday. To me it is a sad thing.... coz I have been reading chess news through printed media, ever since my siblings and me started playing chess in 1988.
Our first chess column was Petak 64 in Utusan Malaysia. I love reading it, coz at that time it was the first chess news that we in Kuantan (east coast) could get a hold off to know what is going on regarding chess around the world.
Living in the east coast is different, we seldom have any competition, so news from KL is enough to cheer us down here.
Then, there are chess column in Malay Mail and Jaguh, Berita Harian. We used to cut and paste any chess news, especially news about us. Having chess newspaper cutting is actually a "cool" things for me (my Long initiated the ideas).
And the best part of all, is having my photos in all of the chess columns, my news playing overseas, winning local chess competition and the sweet memories where my sis (Nurul) and bro (Kamal) won NM and NWM title in the same year! they said "the siblings triumph". And that was a history record that is still holding on. Also, my pictures of winning the title in 1995.
I don' t think that chess players nowadays have that kind of luxury, to have their names in the newspaper, and their photos appear in the columns.... Come to think of it I am lucky, using that newspaper cutting of me to apply for jobs and further studies... (at least).
Life isn't fair isn't it? At the time where chess is rising in Malaysia, where tournaments are held every weekends, chess classes are everywhere to be found in Malaysia, then suddenly there it goes..... I am still wondering why some people still have the same old thinking about chess!
We chess players never had the chance to be as equal as other sportsman! Most people will definitely raise their eyebrows when "chess" were brought up as the topic... not just they don't understand chess, but they look down on chess. And the funny part is, while some low class people think that chess fit for elite group, on the other hand, the high class people think that chess isn't essential at all! They said it is easy to play chess, just push all the pieces and play. They never think that chess is more than that, there are values in chess!
As long as there are these kind of people, we chess players will have to battle our stands in the community for all these years and years to come....
So we chessplayers must prove that they are wrong! I have been battling with the parents in Kuantan that chess is one of the best method in improving their child mind thinking, handling their social life and applying chess to life.... As chess does improve my life, so it will be for others!
Where there is a will, there is a way!!!
There will always be a bright chess future here in Malaysia, and I put my positive thinking into it..
Just my thoughts,
National Woman Master title holder
