Kuala Lampur, Oct. 18 -- I love playing chess. I am neither a professional player nor a complete beginner.

Chess simply makes me happy. It challenges me to think, anticipate, and make decisions carefully.

I started playing when I was about 10 years old. Back then, I hardly knew the rules.

I learned them gradually by playing again and again. Knowing the rules did not instantly turn me into a grandmaster.

However, it gave me confidence. I began to understand what I should do and what I should avoid.

That knowledge reduced my mistakes and allowed me to play the game with purpose.

To become truly skilled, of course, one must continue practising. Yet imagine if I had never learned the rules at all.

I would not have been able to play for...