Beyond the Board: Reflections from the 2024 Chess Olympiad
This year, Radha Mohanraj fulfilled her dream by attending the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. She experienced firsthand the excitement, camaraderie, and intensity of one of the most prestigious tournaments. During the event, Radha connected with some inspiring young players from Malaysia and had the opportunity to listen to their remarkable stories. This experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the game that unites people across borders and generations. Photo: Radha Mohanraj
Experiencing the Magic of the Chess Olympiad in Budapest
Attending the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest was a dream come true. As a chess player and enthusiast, being surrounded by some of the best minds in the game felt surreal, reminding me of why I fell in love with chess in the first place—the suspense, the excitement, and the camaraderie. This year’s event was particularly special because it was not only my first super tournament as a spectator but also because I had witnessed history in the making.
The Chess Olympiad stands as one of the most prestigious events in the chess world, spanning 2 weeks, uniting elite teams from 193 nations in a quest for international glory. This year’s tournament showcased an impressive array of talent, featuring chess giants such as Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, and Gukesh Dommaraju. It was a spectacle of strategy, skill, and mental fortitude, with the world’s finest players clashing over the chessboard.
Having once competed myself, I still remember the peak intensity of my games, with my heart pounding throughout. To anyone who claims chess isn’t a sport, I challenge you to play or even witness a match firsthand; it may appear as just two people staring at a board, but you’d be amazed at the physical exhaustion it entails, with their minds are racing at 282 miles per second. Fun fact: an average grandmaster can burn around 382 calories during a classical match!
As Bobby Fischer once said, “Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind”. It was both heart-wrenching and thrilling to watch some of the greatest players live, struggling to bounce back after devastating losses, and the raw emotions they show. While some stormed off in frustration, others graciously took the time to greet fans - I even had the chance to have some incredible conversations with a few of them! Having previously seen these players only on screens, I tried to play it cool, but inside, I was absolutely fangirling!
During my time there, I connected with the Malaysian contingent and had the privilege of interviewing two rising stars: 17-year-old Nur Uzma Bazillah and 13-year-old Puteri Delisya Zhansaya Azhar.
Nur Uzma, who competed in the women’s category, shared how her father introduced her to chess when she was just 9 years old. “My father was my first coach,” she told me. When I asked how she got into chess, she explained, “I didn’t like outdoor sports, and chess was the one game that stuck with me”. Like her teammates, Nur Uzma had gone through many qualifying rounds to represent Malaysia at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. She described her preparation for the competition, by analyzing opponents’ games and forming strategies for each match she was about to play. Although it wasn’t always easy, the support of her family kept her grounded.
Outspoken 13-year-old Puteri Delisya’s journey in chess began even earlier. At just 7, she realized she wanted to pursue the game seriously after being inspired by her family, who were all into chess. When I asked her about maintaining discipline, she replied, “What is the meaning of discipline if you don’t practice it? We need to respect our elders, our mothers, and our fathers. The goal to win is to respect our parents first. So you need to work hard to make them proud and achieve our goals”.
I also touched on the challenges they faced, both on the board and back home in Malaysia. Nur Uzma said that while her teachers were supportive, her school didn’t fully understand her journey since chess is still considered a niche sport there. “There’s a big difference between chess culture overseas and in Malaysia,” she noted, expressing hope that one day, chess will get the recognition it deserves. For Puteri, with her father retired, her siblings pooled their money to fund her endeavors. It really makes you think about how much more recognition and support the government needs to provide for young talents in the sport!
Despite these hurdles, the entire team carried the Malaysian flag with pride. Nur Uzma’s personal highlight was a crucial game that led to a team victory. “Kegembiraan itu tak terbayang”, she said, beaming as she recounted how her teammates and coach celebrated her triumph in a must-win game.
Malaysia’s performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest saw the team finishing 59th in the open category and 57th in the women’s category. Competing against 193 teams in the open section and 181 in the women’s section, Malaysia’s players, including Wong Jianwen, Muhammad Syakir Shazmeer Azhar, Kavin Mohan, Tan Jun Ying, and CM Anderson Ang Ern Jie, showed resilience despite being ranked 83rd globally.
While Malaysia’s performance was commendable, the real spotlight of this Olympiad was India’s unprecedented dominance. For the first time in history, India claimed its maiden victory winning gold in both the open and women’s divisions, emerging as a new powerhouse of international chess. The open team, featuring rising stars like Gukesh Dommaraju, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Gujrathi, topped the standings with an impressive 20 match points. Gukesh earned the gold medal for the best performance on board 1 with 7.5 points, while Arjun excelled on board 3.
One of my favorite moments was when Gukesh, against all odds and seemingly lost against China’s Wei Yi, skillfully held his position with two knights against a powerful rook, guiding his passed pawn to victory in what has been dubbed the ‘Immortal Knight Dance,’ ultimately clinching a crucial match point for his team.
Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has long been the face of Indian chess, remarked, “It’s inspiring to see how these young players are dominating the world stage. This is just the beginning.” Anand’s words resonate with the entire chess community, as India’s victory not only puts the country on the global chess map but also signifies a larger shift towards youth dominance in the sport.
As the chess world now looks to Singapore, the upcoming host of the 2024 World Chess Championship in November 2024, where India’s 18-year-old Gukesh will face current world champion Ding Liren of China, I can’t help but feel excited about the ripple effect this will have across Asia. Singapore’s hosting of such a prestigious event in our region will hopefully act as a catalyst, encouraging more young Malaysians to take up chess and aspire to compete at the highest level.
In Malaysia, chess is still somewhat under the radar, but with rising stars and the increasing global attention on youth players, I believe we’re on the cusp of a chess renaissance. For aspiring players, as young Puteri simply put it, “Don’t listen to people who say you can’t play chess. Do whatever you want. Chase your dreams”.
Reflecting on my time in Budapest, I’m filled with hope for the future of chess in Asia. Chess has a way of sharpening the mind, cultivating resilience, and enhancing creativity and strategic thinking in our everyday lives. Traveling halfway across the world for this tournament reminded me of how much chess has given me—and how much it has yet to give.
My dad introduced my siblings and me to the world of chess during our childhood, and for that, I will always be thankful. Beyond the victories and defeats, chess is a universal language that connects us all. I’m just here playing my small part in sharing my love and excitement for this incredible game with you readers, hoping to inspire you to go to a local store, buy a chessboard, and just play some fun chess!
So here’s to the next generation of players in Malaysia and around the world. May they continue to break barriers, challenge norms, and carry the torch of this beautiful game into the future.
