Singapore keen to host World Chess Championship at end-2024
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-keen-to-host-world-chess-championship-in-end-2024
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The reigning champion is from China and the challenger is from India. A scenario very much representative of where APAC stands beyond chess!
Singapore, India and Argentina are among the contenders for hosting the clash that will determine the next world champion. Will China also enter the fray? China is already a giant in across-the-board sport, an Olympic titan!
I would love to see Singapore getting the opportunity to host the event. The Government can fund it by itself without having to rely on sponsors.
The outcomes may not match that of the Taylor Swift shows earlier this year. Chess is not a glamour event with entertainment appeal. It cannot even be seen as a spectator sport.
The Straits Times does not even consider chess a sport. It often puts chess reports in the general pages, not under Sport. That appears to be changing lately, with even this report taking prime space in Sport!
Yet, yes, chess does not have to be confined to the shallow pages of the newspaper where horse racing gets a big coverage.
It is a game with the strength to boost cognitive, visionary thinking, which is a vital leadership attribute in business and governance. After all, it involves planning deep ahead, strategising, effective timing and execution with precision!
At the same time, merely knowing the rules of the game and how the pieces move on the 64-square board will not make one a master of all things strategy.
With distraction-free focus, chess can induce sharp, logical thinking which can serve individuals well on and beyond the board. A game of life!
That can help Singapore utilise its small resource pool and sharpen its competitive edge. In essence, its native population can combine to contribute to the continued development of the country and its economy.
Singapore has already seen big success in chess with four Grandmasters and one woman Grandmaster, significant for a small country.
My vote is for Singapore to host the event that will determine who will scale the chess summit! The gains from it can go well beyond inspiring new players!
G Joslin Vethakumar
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