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Blind chess player keeps vision in his heart
By Su Shanyan and Pan Zheng |
February 28, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
YOU cannot change fate but you can change your life. That's the motto of the blind chess master Shen Jianguo who lives in Gaohua Residential Area. He has won many blind chess competitions and has beaten a good many sighted players as well.
Ten years ago, Shen was an ordinary man with good eyesight and at the peak of his career. But he was suddenly struck blind because of detached retinas.
"At that stage, I could not handle my life -- I was just like a piece on a chessboard," he said.
He became seriously depressed and locked himself inside his home for six years, until one day someone told him that blind people played Chinese chess.
This used to be his hobby when he was young but he gave it up when he was working. Now was the time to start again.
Shen has to remember every square and every move. When he plays, he has to speak his moves to his opponents.
Although Shen had been a good player before he lost his sight, blind chess was a challenge.
"At the very beginning, I had trouble memorizing the moves. If someone interrupted, I forgot everything about the game on the chessboard," he said. But after about six months, he became accustomed to the game and the new way of playing it.
He often plays outside with others in the community if the weather is fine. If it is raining or too cold to go out, he stays at home and plays chess with other blind players through the blind phone net (960699).
Although Shen has won many prizes in blind chess games, he has never played with sighted opponents in a formal game, which is now a big hope.
"Conquering difficulties is just like playing chess - you move, you survive," he said.
Ten years ago, Shen was an ordinary man with good eyesight and at the peak of his career. But he was suddenly struck blind because of detached retinas.
"At that stage, I could not handle my life -- I was just like a piece on a chessboard," he said.
He became seriously depressed and locked himself inside his home for six years, until one day someone told him that blind people played Chinese chess.
This used to be his hobby when he was young but he gave it up when he was working. Now was the time to start again.
Shen has to remember every square and every move. When he plays, he has to speak his moves to his opponents.
Although Shen had been a good player before he lost his sight, blind chess was a challenge.
"At the very beginning, I had trouble memorizing the moves. If someone interrupted, I forgot everything about the game on the chessboard," he said. But after about six months, he became accustomed to the game and the new way of playing it.
He often plays outside with others in the community if the weather is fine. If it is raining or too cold to go out, he stays at home and plays chess with other blind players through the blind phone net (960699).
Although Shen has won many prizes in blind chess games, he has never played with sighted opponents in a formal game, which is now a big hope.
"Conquering difficulties is just like playing chess - you move, you survive," he said.
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