KUALA LUMPUR – At just 13, Poh Yu Tian is already making waves in the world of chess.
The teenager, who started playing chess only six years ago, has shown great potential in his debut SEA Games in Hanoi and the recently-concluded Chess Olympiad in India.
Yu Tian’s maiden Olympiad is not one to forget as the young boy took down a 64-year-old chess grandmaster from Slovakia in the tournament.
Speaking to The Vibes, Yu Tian said that he attended his first chess lesson at the age of 7 years old, adding that he had no knowledge at all of what the game was about.
“I agreed despite not knowing anything about the game,” said Yu Tian whose father is also a chess player.
However, it was not long before his coach, P. S. Lim, from the Penang Chess Association, noticed the potential of the pint-sized player and enrolled his name in several school-level competitions.
Yu Tian’s breakthrough came in 2017 after winning the under-8 category at the National Youth and Junior U-20 Chess Championship.
In 2021, Yu Tian bagged the Blitz Championships and the National Rapid, which earned him a spot on the national team for the Hanoi SEA Games.
Although he failed to advance to the final rounds in Hanoi, Yu Tian said that he enjoyed the experience and exposure, making him appreciate the game even more.
“I like chess because it is a complex and complicated game, but once you master it, the game becomes less intimidating.”
‘Defeating a grandmaster at the Olympiad’
Recently, he represented the national team at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, which took place from July 28 to August 9.
In Round 2, something remarkable happened as Yu Tian surprisingly defeated grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik from Slovakia, helping Malaysia draw the match with the Slovaks.
“It was a completely different experience in India. The matches were difficult, and the tournament was on a much bigger scale compared to the other competitions that I had participated in.
“During the match, I surprised him in the opening few moves, which pressured the grandmaster into making further mistakes in the game,” he said.
Despite his age, Yu Tian is unfazed about his opponent because he puts all his focus on his game.
“I don’t think much about my opponent or how strong they are.
“I just focus on my game and do my best, while enjoying every move I make,” said Yu Tian, who is the youngest in the family.
‘Chess is more than just mental strength’
Studying at the Tenby Schools in Penang, Yu Tian occasionally partakes in outdoor sports such as football and basketball, but his real interest lies in chess.
However, Yu Tian’s father, Poh Leong Tat said physical exercise is crucial for chess players.
“A chess game sometimes can take up to five hours. It is not easy for the players to be seated for that long, hence why exercising is important for them.
“As chess is a mentally demanding sport, the players need to balance it with physical exercise,” he said.
Leong Tat added that competitive chess is not the same as it used to be many years back.
“The sport of chess has come a long way in terms of accessibility and resources. Many years back, chess could only be played in person but now everyone can play the game online with anyone around the world.
Meanwhile, Leong Tat said competitive chess is not receiving the recognition it deserves in Malaysia even when the sport has one of the biggest pools of junior players.
“Compared to other sports in Malaysia, chess attracts a large number of young players, but I agree that it loses out in terms of commercial value. The game is not sexy enough compared to other sports.
“People would not want to watch a chess game that could go on for long hours. The sport needs to find ways to increase the its commercial value,” Leong Tat added.
Yu Tian will next make an appearance at the 17th Malaysian Chess Festival, scheduled from September 2 to September 11 at Cititel Mid Valley where he will compete in the Datuk Arthur Tan Malaysia Open Championship. – The Vibes, August 20, 2022
