Pearl Kander-Moodley: Yudhi sat at a chess board when he was 2 years old. My cousin from PE used to visit we had a chess board so he put my son on his lap and showed him how to move the pieces on the board.
Q: What are your greatest memories from chess so far?
A: When Yudhi got his medals for Provincial colours. In 2013 I was with him in Durban when he played at the ICC and he was 1 one of the 5 who qualified in the under 18.
Q: That must fill you with incredible pride as a parent
A: Yes, I am extremely proud of my son.
Q: How do you think chess compares to other sports in terms of costs and expenses?
A: It’s very expensive as most of the time Yudhi plays in other provinces and that involves travel and accommodation costs.
Q: In your opinion what benefits have there been from playing chess for Yudhi?
A: Chess has opened doors for him. He was awarded a chess scholarship at Crawford College North Coast. UCT (the University of Cape Town) awarded him a scholarship for chess.
Q: Any advice you would like to share with a parent who is considering teaching their child chess?
A: Champions are not the ones who always win races – champions are the ones who get out there and try. And try harder the next time. And even harder the next time. ‘Champion’ is a state of mind. They are devoted. They compete to best themselves as much if not more than they compete to best others. Champions are not just athletes.
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