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Reflections on Singapore politics, chess and tests of character
The World Chess Championship being held here resonates with all who follow Singapore chess and know something of the nation’s political history.
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Gukesh Dommaraju and Ding Liren during the FIDE World Chess Championship Singapore held at Reasorts World Sentosa on Nov 25.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Shashi Jayakumar
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On the day of the final rupture between the People’s Action Party leadership and left-wing, pro-communist party members on July 20, 1961, prime minister Lee Kuan Yew called for a crucial vote of confidence in Parliament. Finance minister Goh Keng Swee stood to speak. Addressing the House, in particular Lee Siew Choh, leader of the PAP’s left-wing faction (which was to go on to form the Barisan Sosialis two weeks later), Dr Goh gave perhaps the most perceptive set of remarks ever made by any politician on the link between chess, life and politics.
Beginning by noting how his friendship with Lee Siew Choh began over the chessboard, he continued: “You can judge a man’s character by his style of play. Chess players are of many kinds. Some persons are cautious and calculating by nature, and they play the game to obtain long-term strategic advantages. Other players are bold and prefer complications and combinations on the chess board to get quick results... in the affairs of the country, you do not replace the pieces and play a new game after you have lost. You are playing not only with your own lives but with the lives of other men and women and their families, and you take the consequences.”
