My first interaction with Lim Chong was in 1990 when I got angry at him when he was in charge of ChessMate – Malay Mail column on chess – that he did not announce on his column, a tournament in Melaka where I was studying. As a result, I missed it and did not even know about it until the result was posted. He graciously replied and published my rant on his column, apologetic about that fact even though it wasn’t really his fault if organisers did not send him notice!’=
Years later I would meet him in person at the many DATCC tourneys held at Wilayah Kompleks. I worked with him when he moved his writings to Chess Overboard column online and I supplied the pictures he needed.
This 2010 blog post, “The Promise of Malaysian Chess,” is highly significant in light of Yeoh Li Tian’s achievement as Malaysia’s first Grandmaster (GM). At the time, Lim Chong identified a then 10-year-old Yeoh Li Tian as the country’s most promising young chess talent, forecasting a bright future for him due to his rapid progress, strong training, and support system.
He talked about the intense training in China, and the vital role of his family and expert mentors. It even compared his pathway to greatness with that of Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion, suggesting Li Tian could achieve great things given the right environment. I for one (and many of my friends agree) that if Yeoh Li Tian was born in India, he would have been GM in his teens!!
That post to me stands as a visionary piece—it captured a pivotal moment far ahead of his GM title, documenting the potential, dedication, and community hopes invested in Li Tian. Sadly Lim Chong passed away in that same year he wrote that article. I just want to highlight that old article as it’s a historical milestone that highlights the fulfillment of not just one young talent’s dream, but a nation’s sporting ambition.
gilachess