He started off by taking on 'uncles'. Now, Singapore's Chinese chess champion eyes success at SEA Games & More News Here

SINGAPORE: As a toddler, certainly one of Alvin Woo’s frequent haunts was a Ghim Moh senior residents’ nook close to his house.

There he would hone his abilities in xiangqi (Chinese chess), take on all comers and construct his confidence.

“I was quite regular. It was not only me, there were quite a lot of other students that would go there,” he advised CNA, forward of the thirty first SEA Games in Hanoi, the place Chinese chess is making its debut.

“They were always open (to us playing). Unless you beat them too many times, if you did that then they wouldn’t want to play with you!” 

More than simply profitable or shedding, these pleasant matches helped him to spice up his self-belief.

He defined: “That grew my passion. Because if you keep losing, you will feel sian (bored) after a while.”

Woo, 38, can be certainly one of 4 gamers in motion for Team Singapore ranging from Saturday (May 14) and he’ll characteristic in each the person and fast occasions at the Games.

A REALITY CHECK

Woo’s curiosity in xiangqi started when he was about seven.

“I was influenced by my father. He started playing with my (older) brother, and then I was just observing and subsequently I got interested,” he stated.

“I was always into Chinese culture … Last time we didn’t have all these things like iPhones, you have less things to play with. And it seemed to appeal more to me than computer games, and then my parents thought that it was better than playing (those) games.”

Encouraged by his mother and father to pursue this curiosity, he would play with anyone and everyone.

“Last time there was no reliance on the Internet so … you just have to find someone that is maybe slightly better than you (to challenge),” he stated. 

There have been additionally golf equipment which might host annual competitions. And at the age of 13, Woo would participate in his first one, the place he confronted off in opposition to adults.

“That didn’t work out well, I was nowhere,” he stated. “It just gave me some reality to know that there are actually people that are very good.”

Then a 12 months later, he would get his second actuality verify after taking part at a nationwide youth stage competitors, the place he completed thirteenth.

“A lot of younger players were much better than me,” he stated. 

“Once you keep winning, you think you are very good. And then you get to play with the much stronger players in Singapore. And then you realise that … those who play competitively are much stronger than those ‘outside’”.

But the aggressive hearth was lit.

“After you lose, you will try to find somebody you can beat to win again. So that builds your confidence, and you don’t get demoralised,” he defined.

A “DUTY” TO THE SPORT

Woo would go on to characterize Singapore for the primary time in 2006. Coincidentally, the Asian Xiangqi Championships – a crew competitors – was additionally held in Vietnam.

“(During that) first time I was definitely more nervous, but subsequently you get used to it,” he stated.

“I had gone overseas for smaller competitions before but this was a more recognised event.”

Woo would carry out properly within the occasion, enjoying six video games – profitable 5 and drawing one.

A 12 months later, he would win his first nationwide title, the primary of eight he has gained. 

Preparation for main tournaments means spending hours analysing phases of the sport such because the opening, mid-game and end-game. Woo seems to be at the place of items on the board after which thinks about what he would do on this specific scenario.

“Basically, it is like a math question. I give you a math question, you look at it for ten minutes. Can you solve the question? If you solve the question, there will be a working,” he stated.

“After that, you consult with the reply to see whether it is right. If it’s mistaken, why? Or is my reply higher?”

YouTube can also be one other useful resource that Woo utilises throughout his match preparation.

“We look at competitors’ recent games, we go through them and we try to spot mistakes they have made … Hopefully during our actual games we are able to capitalise on those mistakes,” he stated.

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