Trial selects long list of Sabah chess players for Sukma

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 28): Eighty-four chess players from seven zones throughout Sabah competed in the Sukma Sabah Grand Final selection at the Oceanus Waterfront Mall here from Jan 25 to 26.

A squad of 24 male and female competitors were selected to the long list from which eight male and eight female players will be shortlisted to represent the Sabah at the XXll Sukma Selangor in August.

Sabah State Chess Association president Muammar Julkarnain was grateful that the selection was conducted smoothly.

“I hope that selected players would demonstrate high discipline, commitment and hard work, whether outside or in the training centre,” he stressed during the opening ceremony.

The association will bear all travel and accomodation expenses during this year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma). Meanwhile, Sabah State Sports Council deputy director Valerie Wong remarked that chess has been attracting more attention recently.

She expressed the hope that Sabah could pick up medals in the sport at the upcoming Sukma.

Sukma Sabah chess manager Zulhimat Taip concurred and expressed optimism that chess will be elevated from Category B to A under the Sabah State Sports Council.

The selection tournament saw Muhd Tirmidzi Abdul Sahim taking first place in the men’s category while the women’s champion was Ainnur Asyikin Jupineh.