Celebrating our growing chess community with promising junior champions

Speech by Mr Eric Chua, Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community & Youth and Social & Family Development, at the 61st National Inter-School Team Chess Championships 2020 (Primary Division)

President of Singapore Chess Federation, Mr Christopher Lim,
Coaches, parents and especially our budding players,

Good morning,

1. It is going to be yet another exciting morning ahead as our young players compete in this year’s National Inter-School Team Tournament, which also marks the tournament’s first online edition.
   
   

   Singapore has a growing chess community with promising junior champions

2. Over the years, the Singapore Chess Federation has been growing the chess community in Singapore. Through such competitions, aspiring junior players are identified and nurtured, and eventually some of you will be selected to participate in national and regional competitions.
3. For example, we have Mr Aston Chia from Maris Stella High School here with us today. Aston represented Singapore in the 4th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championships held in Bangkok last August. In that tournament, Ashton brought home six medals from both Single and Team events.
4. Another young player to watch is Mr Nicholas Kua from Tao Nan School. Nicholas was the champion in the 10th National Kindergarten Chess Championships last year. In the same tournament held in Bangkok, Nicholas also brought back six medals in both Single and Team events!
5. Today’s competition will also see Singapore's most promising female juniors Charlene Mak, Fang Kun and Lauren Rice in action. They were Singapore’s representatives in the International Chess Federation Online Chess Olympiad in August, which actually attracted participants from over 160 nations. Our players performed well against world class opponents. They finished seventh in their pool group, and this bodes well for the future of the sport in Singapore.
   
   

   All children should be given the opportunity to pursue sports in and out of school, regardless of backgrounds and abilities

6. To excel in chess, you need critical thinking, quick decision-making, and clarity of thought under time pressure. These are important skills to develop in our young.
7. To promote chess among more young Singaporeans, the Singapore Chess Federation has plans to increase its outreach in schools. At MCCY and SportSG, we will continue to work with the federation and other partners to support our children in their sporting pursuits in and outside of schools.
   
   

   Through sport, we can impart positive values in our children

8. So through sport, we can impart important values to children and youth, such as the commitment, resilience and determination. Over the past two days, the players have been stepping up and performing at their very best. I hope this sporting spirit will carry on in your daily lives and would like to encourage you to give your all in whatever you do. So, in closing, I would like to commend the Singapore Chess Federation for organising this competition in a virtual format, which has provided the players with the opportunity to gain competition exposure and hone their skills amidst COVID-19. I wish all participating schools and players the very best.  May the best team win!
9. Thank you.