Checkmate at Pulau Duyong

I was a little nervous on Saturday morning, last week, when I sat down facing my first opponent in the Terengganu Special Education Chess Tournament at Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort and Spa in Pulau Duyong.

To be honest, I had not been practicing except for a quick game against my sister Diana the night before.

After a few moves, I knew Tuan Mohd Sholihin Tuan Zahrin could play chess and the 14-year-old student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ketengah Jaya, Dungun, was making all the right moves.

Soon after I found myself struggling after losing my queen but I kept going, this time very carefully, to avoid from making another mistake.

Somehow, I managed to get the better of him and eventually, I won the game.

We faced each other again in the semi-final round and again, I was in trouble.

But, for the second time that day, I ended up winning.

My old friend from SK Padang Hiliran Muhammad Nur Firdaus Nor Azli stood between me and the title.




I was quite familiar with his game plan and knew I should be able to beat Firdaus.

True enough. I was champion again.