KUALA LUMPUR – “Success doesn’t come rolling your way; it must be earned.”
This sentiment perfectly captures the journey of Abd Hamid Abd Majid, who transitioned from chess player to International Arbiter (IA) to continue contributing to the sport he has loved since his youth.
Now in his 70s, Abd Hamid never had the chance to bring glory to Malaysia as a player, but he takes pride in representing the nation as a “small icon” in the global chess arena.
Recently, Abd Hamid made history as the first Malaysian arbiter appointed to officiate at the World Chess Championship, currently taking place in Singapore from November 25 to December 15.
“As a chess enthusiast, I’m not an excellent player. But I want to contribute something to chess—that’s why I became an arbiter,” he told Bernama.
Abd Hamid recalled his first assignment as an arbiter in 1992 at a championship in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. Looking back, he expressed pride in becoming the first Malaysian to officiate at the World Championship.
Reflecting on the challenges of being a chess arbiter, Abd Hamid acknowledged that it is not an easy path, requiring extensive knowledge and experience to adjudicate matches fairly.
“Becoming an international arbiter is no small feat,” he said.
“Not everyone can achieve it. They need the right knowledge, attitude, and talent. But with enough effort, it’s possible to reach that level.” — November 27, 2024