More youngsters choosing a chequered career

SAM Chow started playing chess when he was five. At the age of 12, he played - and almost conquered - the all-time king of chess, Russian champion Garry Kasparov, in an online game.

SAM Chow started playing chess when he was five. At the age of 12, he played - and almost conquered - the all-time king of chess, Russian champion Garry Kasparov, in an online game.

So it's hardly a surprise that Chow, now 19, is one of the favourites for this week's Sydney International Open, held in Parramatta, in the city's west.

The second-year university student from Melbourne has already earned a draw with the tournament's top seed, world-renowned Russian grandmaster Sergei Shipov, describing that game with the 40-year-old as "as good as a win".

And while the teenager will seriously challenge this weekend for the tournament's $7500 first prize, his youth doesn't necessarily set him apart from the 143-strong field.

There are 29 juniors participating in the tournament, which, according to spokeswoman Cathy Rogers, is a sign of the times.

"While the numbers of older players seems to have plateaued in recent years, teenagers are taking up chess at an exponential rate," Ms Rogers said.

"There's a phenomenal amount of chess being played in our high schools."

The new breed of chess player, some not yet in their teens, has been nurtured by the game's booming popularity on the internet. "The kids love the fact that you can play chess online at any time of the day or night with people all over the world," Ms Rogers said.

Chow says the secret to his success is a mathematical mind, and lots of practice. "You need a good memory and pattern recognition, and you need to be able to visualise the game a few moves in advance," he said.

"It also helps if you can remain calm and just think logically."

Moulthun Ly is another chess up-and-comer, who has already competed in open championships across the world.

The 15-year-old Brisbane schoolboy only took up the game four years ago when given the choice of two extra curricular activities at school.

"It was either chess or dance," said Ly. "I chose chess."

It was, as it turned out, an inspired choice. Since 2002, Ly has been crowned the Australian Junior Champion, finished 14th in the World Junior Championship, and achieved great results in open-age international tournaments in the US, Britain and Asia.

Ly, who migrated from Cambodia to Australia with his family when he was four, said his friends were very supportive of his zest for chess.

"At first they paid me out, but now they think chess is cool. They're really supportive of me," he said.