2011 SU Update: Quiet! We are playing Chess

SHENZHEN – Whilst buzzing noise, cheers and shouts of joy describe all the amazing emotions at the other 59 sports venues, a wave of silence looms inside the Plum Blossom hall at the Convention & Exhibition Center in Shenzhen,China.

The chess venue boasts of a collection of signs informing the public-journalists, spectators, coaches, volunteers and players not to make noise less they part with $314 for damages.

For the journalists, it is written in bold black on several notices received upon entrance of the magnificent building “Please turn off your cell phone before you enter the field; 2,000RMB will be charged if your cell phone rings.”

And for the photographers whose images could create a tremendous story about these athletes, their actions at this moment are really not called for because of the clicking sounds that could disrupt the athletes.

Chief arbiter, Indonesian Bong Bunawan confirmed that, “Chess is a game that needs a lot of thinking so the surroundings do not have to be loud. Noise is disturbing to the players’ concentration because it is a mind game.”

The second ‘rule’ on the notice reads, “You can only use flashing light in the first 10 minutes when the game starts, after 10 minutes please turn it off. Please leave the field 15 minutes after the game starts” and “Please keep quiet in the field”.

Talking to one of the journalists from China Youth Daily, Lis Wei said that, “It is a little different when a photo journalist is covering chess, so on my part I had to carry a smaller camera with a smaller lens and less clicking sound because either way we have to cover the event.”

Angola’s participant Osvaldo Graciano revealed that he admits that while playing chess, silence has to be top priority because analysis is the key weapon in this mind game.

Uganda’s Goretti Angolikin also thinks the same. She said, “Any sharp noise distracts your thinking and can make you forget an idea because you are also playing against time.”

Meanwhile, the Universiade has attracted Chinese families which bring their children to watch the games live on the screen to help them learn more about chess.

According to Mary Wang, mother to seven-year old Howard Chen, she knows that this is an opportunity for her only son to learn this board game.

An excited Chen in grade one at Yitian primary school who was introduced to the game a year ago said he dreams of playing at such a level—-at World University Games.

“I want to give him an opportunity to play so that in the future he can be among the best in this country,” said a hopeful Wang.

(Source: Usher Komugisha, FISU Young Reporter/Uganda – Photos: C. Pierre/FISU)