Folks,
Most of the chess players I know have, at least once, dream of
setting up a chess center. Some wants to do it as a way to give back to society
(rare), some wants to do it as a profit oriented center (many), some wants to
do it as a place to unearth talent, to produce that elusive particle in chess cosmic, a GM particle (many) and
etcetera.
I also dream of setting up a chess center but due to slightly
different reason…I just want it to be like that pub in Cheers (80’s TV show)
where everybody could just drop by, meet friends etc. a place where everybody
know everybody, a sanctuary full of smiling faces and laughters…yeah, very much like my old, charming ‘Kedai Aziz’.
You don't have to be a star,
baby
To be in my club
Oh, honey
You don't have to be a star, baby
To be in myclub
Some have walk the talk and set up the center (Dato Tan, Joseph Toh,
Jax Tham, Khairunnisha, Jimmy, Peter and few others) but most, mine include, still remain
the uncross item under the long, chess, bucket wish…still remain NATO...:(
Latest to set up (or upgraded) a chess center is Mr Najib. After he
took over DATCC (again) last few months, he has poured a serious, large amount of money to
redecorate the place (with large screen TV, Astro, Wi Fi etc…no, Karaoke set is
not there ) and has come up with membership program …in other word looks like
he is bringing chess center to a new
level…maybe the correct name is a chess lounge instead of chess center.
Will this move by Najib turn up to be a winning move?...a beginning of long, successful journey that one day turn DATCC to a regional chess academy with branches all over countries? ... as at now nobody knows....not even Najib.
Some times ago when Najib presented this idea to few professional juries on NTV7 Reality show...these professionals turn him down..doubt over Najib's idea and capability...gave Najib a lemon...I have a feeling Najib is about to make a nice lemonade out of this lemon.
Ahh 'professionals'...aren't professionals once used to condemned one young music executive that do the crazy thing by buying a debt laden airline with a vision of low cost air transportation... what did music executive knows about running an airline? (We now know who this guy is)
Once a young guy was fired by a professionals newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, he started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failures. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked (By the way this young guy name is Walt Disney)
Maybe with this new DATCC, Najib has found a recipe for success that worked ?
Chess Odyssey would like to wish Najib all the best and I could
almost hear Najib is singing in his bathroom… “We’ve just
begun…” :)
We've only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun)
Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
And yes, we've just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we're on our way
(We've only begun)
Before the risin' sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We'll start out walkin' and learn to run
And yes, we've just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin' it over, just the two of us
Workin' together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We'll find a place where there's room to grow
And yes, we've just begun
Come this Saturday, a new DATCC will open its door….a blitz event
(with refreshment) is being organized to commemorate the new DATCC…See you
there!
I'm so disappointed there is no karaoke there.
ReplyDeleteIt will be more disappointed with KaraOK + Jimmy there. LOL.
ReplyDeleteOh NO???!!! Jimmy and Yeoh singing duet... Pang Yau! Ha ha ha... Next day, they will probably request for GRO and I have to start dressing up like a Mama San....
ReplyDeleteThanks Ilham - for the nice notes and words of encouragement. We are a small community and support is important from all corners. Although I may have the idea, there are still a lot of rooms for improvement. But the support, camaraderie and good words, goes a very LONG way - and that I hope, I can get from the local community, chess or otherwise.
Yeoh, Since I am told I cannot play chess, I have to practice my singing skills. How to make living otherwise?
ReplyDeleteJimmy will probably sing that retro song 'I will survive' dedicate to whoeverlah he wants to dedicated to....
ReplyDeleteAt first, I was afraid,I was petrified
Kept thinking, I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinking, how you did me wrong
And I grew strong and I learned how to get along
And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid link
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd known for just one second you'd be here to bother me
Go on now, go, walk out the door,just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one, who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my chess to give And I'll survive, I will survive, hey, hey
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent, oh, so many nights just feeling sorry for myself
I used to worry but now I hold my head up high