Thinley Namgay

Tenzin Zepa from the Changjiji Youth Centre (YC) won the 2025 Youth Centre Chess Championship for Beginners in Thimphu yesterday.

Tobden Singye from Mongar YC came second.

Tenzin Zepa, 15, is a class IX student at Loselling Middle Secondary School in Thimphu. He won all six games played.

He said: “I am happy to win the championship. Last year, I couldn’t do well. This year, I prepared well and defeated my opponents easily.”

He said the championship boosted his confidence besides helping him gain valuable skills.

Tenzin Zepa, who began his chess journey in 2023, is determined to continue playing chess and participate in major championships in the future.

The day-long championship saw the participation of 26 youth, two each from 13 YCs across the country.

Among the contestants were also eight monks and two nuns.

Players were selected through local coaching and tournaments held in the YCs in November and December last year.

Tobden Singye started playing chess in 2022. It was his maiden competition at the national level. “I am happy to stand as the runner-up, which was beyond my expectation. I play chess in school and I also do personal training.”

“When I play chess, I feel my life is valuable,” he said.

In the initial coaching sessions at YCs, 306 youth (201 boys, 105 girls), including 58 monks and 14 nuns, attended coaching. The coaching camps were facilitated by School Sports Instructors.

The third edition of the tournament was organised by the Programme and Youth Coordination Division of the Department of Education Programmes under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development in collaboration with the Bhutan Chess Federation and UNICEF Bhutan.

Sonam Deki, 23, a nun from Losel Yangchenling Anim Shedra, and Monk Pema Druptho from Samkhar Lhendrupcholing Dratshang said that chess was not popular in monastic institutions.

They said it was a good learning platform for them besides gaining game exposure. Both of them complemented the benefits of chess and suggested monks and nuns engage in chess.

Jamyang Cheki Loday, who represented Samdrupjongkhar YC, highlighted that after starting to play chess a few years back, he could do well in subjects such as mathematics and physics.

Jamyang, a student at Samdrupjongkhar Higher Secondary School, said chess competitions were limited in schools despite its ability to enhance creativity.

The winner and runner-up players were awarded trophies and certificates. 

Seven other players were recognised with trophies and certificates for their performances— Thinley Penjor of Bajothang YC, Choki Wangmo from Khasadrapchu YC, Sonam Deki from Mongar YC, and Tandin Tshewang from Zhemgang YC.

Others were Jamyang Sherab from Changjiji YC, Jamyang Cheki Loday from Samdrupjongkhar YC, and Thinley Gyeltshen from Gelephu YC.

President of Bhutan Chess Federation, Thinley Pelden Dorji, emphasised that chess is not merely a sport but a skill. “Chess develops our skills to think, which is crucial to make proper decisions in every aspect of life.”

Research show that playing chess from an early age can help children and young people build self-confidence and enhance their planning and organisational skills.

As a sport, chess has long been recognised as an effective tool for engaging children, including the most marginalised, offering opportunities to improve physical health, socialise, develop leadership skills, and have fun.

Yeshey Lham, chief programme officer of the Programme and Youth Coordination Division, said the chess competition for YCs was introduced to encourage more children and youth to play the game as it contributed to enhancing their concentration level, self-confidence, and other basic life skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

UNICEF Bhutan’s deputy representative Fawzia Hoodbhoy, said that in a game where every move counts, chess players learn to accept defeat gracefully, analyse their mistakes, and strive to improve with each game.