Chess is more than making decisions to catch a king

BOARD Members of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) must be commended for taking an unwavering and united stance on the need for accountability and transparency, thereby preserving the slow but steady gains made so far by chess locally.

The framers of the updated GCF constitution recognised the importance of accountability, also enshrined in the regulations of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), of which Guyana is a member.

In similar vein, the entire Board of the GCF reacted in unison and decided to sack their president last month; he allegedly refused to be accountable and attempted to foist a strange gambit on the executive members of the body. Evidently, they would have none of it and demonstrated maturity and prudence to discredit the former president’s act of sheer folly. It is seriously laughable!

Chess is more than making decisions to catch a king. In the small local chess community, a few aficionados recognise and subscribe to the time-honoured maxim: “CHESS IS LIFE”.

Moves in chess are unleashed from a pattern of decisions made with the sole objective to checkmate an opponent’s king. Perhaps, fate is one’s main opponent in navigating life when making decisions to achieve personal uplift.

Decision-making is the main premise of executing moves in chess. Good decisions (moves) lead to good outcomes and bad decisions lead to bad results. It’s that simple. Fortunately, chess is intended for the masses – the ordinary man, woman, girl or boy everywhere and NOT a select few only.

The game is easy to learn and a force for good, yet some with developed minds are misguided by its great lessons on life away from the chessboard. I urge parents and guardians, teachers, students and responsible adults to learn and spread the game of the mind to promote a better thinking society. Arthur Fletcher, former head of the United Negro College Fund aptly coined the phrase “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”. He is right. Emmanuel Lasker, one of the chess greats over a century ago warned, inter alia, “On the chessboard lies and hypocrisy do not survive long…” He is also right.

One hopes lessons are learned from the above episode and the drive continues earnestly to spread the game countrywide. Peace!

Sincerely,
Shiv Nandalall
Former President
Guyana Chess Federation