3rd Lim Chong Memorial Chess Tournament on June 16

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Hi everyone, 

KUALA LUMPUR: In memory of a much-respected chess columnist, the Malaysian chess fraternity is holding the 3rd Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship on Sunday, June 16. The holding of a tribute chess tournament was first mooted by Honorary Life President of the Malaysian Chess Federation Datuk Tan Chin Nam, following the demise of journalist Lim Chong, 56, who was a pioneer chess columnist with the Malay Mail in the early 1980s.

"In those days, Chess didn’t fit into any popular category – neither considered sports nor entertainment – and perception was that the game was not newsworthy," said Abd Hamid Majid, organising chairman of the tournament.

"One can only imagine the impact Lim Chong’s early writings on chess matters and later his column ‘Chessmate', had on us enthusiasts keen for any morsel of news regarding the local chess scene," he said in a statement. The Malay Mail then was a national paper although reaching certain northern and east coast states one day late.

“Yet, there were orders placed for the paper, just to read his column,” said Abd Majid, adding that Lim never stopped writing on chess goings-on and was also actively involved as a council member of the Selangor Chess Association.

Lim succumbed to a heart attack on Nov 26, 2010, on a flight back to Malaysia from London where he had been on assignment. Lim started off as a cadet reporter in 1974 with the New Straits Times and left in 2004, his last position being senior general manager of the group’s IT Publications. He subsequently joined Bernama Economic Service as a sub-editor, a job he held till his demise.

The Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship 2013 will be held on Sunday, June 16, at the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre in Wilayah Kompleks, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 10, the best female competitor, best Under-16 and Best Under-12, while the oldest and youngest participants will be given commemorative medals.

Entry Forms can also be downloaded from Facebook at the LimChongMemorialChessChampionship 2012 site or datcchess.blogspot.com. Walk in entries on tournament day (before 9am) are welcome. Further details can be obtained by contacting the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre – Abd Hamid (Tel: 019 3158098 or email: aham@pc.jaring.my) or Najib Wahab (Tel: 016 3382542)

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