Little chess star is one tough cookie

Little chess star is one tough cookie
Thursday April 26, 2012
By R.S.N. MURALI

MALACCA: While most children these days are inclined towards video games, Lee Qing Aun finds chess a more interesting and challenging game.

The 10-year-old Year Four pupil of Radin Mas Primary School in Singapore was the youngest among 200 participants in the Malacca International Chess Competition, which drew contestants from 17 countries.

While the boy is playing for Singapore, he has strong family roots in Malacca.

His grandfather, retired teacher Lee Siew Yen, 70, is a well-known social worker here.

Qing Aun said he felt nervous when he first started playing against adults but he managed to overcome his fear.

“I’m now being trained by an Armenian coach,” he added.

Qing Aun, whose other hobby is cooking, said he wanted to become a medical specialist as well as a world-class chess player.

He added that he wanted to be successful like his father Assoc Prof Dr Lee Chien Earn, who is with the Singapore Health Ministry.

Dr Lee said his son has a strong interest in the age-old game.

“He grew up watching family members playing chess. He plays the game even if it means skipping breakfast and television,” he added.

He realised that his son had potential in chess and promptly enrolled him at the Singapore Chess School to brush up on his skills.

A few years ago, Qing Aun helped his team win a gold medal in the World Schools Competition in Singapore, while he won the bronze medal in the individual category.

Since then, Qing Aun has taken part in competitions in Turkey, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and China.

Source: http://thestar.com.my