First International Chess Master
Tan Lian Ann (born in 1947) was conferred the coveted title ‘International Chess Master’ by the FIDE in 1973 for reaching the quarter-finals of the world championships. When he was 25, Tan took on 45-year-old world champion, Boris Spassky. Their 5-hour epic encounter ended in a draw. Read More »
Youngest U-7 World Champion
At the age of 6, Derek Lim of Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) became Singapore’s youngest world chess champion after winning the Under-7 title at the World Schools Chess Championships in Halkidiki, Greece. The event took place from 24 Apr – 2 May 2006. Read More »
First Female Olympian
At the age of 19, Tang Pui Wah represented Singapore at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. She competed in the 80m hurdles, in which she had been the undisputed Malayan champion for 4 years, as well as the 100m sprint event. Read More »
First Winner At World Games
Adelene Wee Chin Suan was the first Singaporean to be named World Bowling Champion in 1985 when she won the Ladies’ Masters title at the World Games in London at the age of 20. She won 3 golds in the singles, masters and team events that same year at the Asian FIQ Youth Championships. In 1983, she also collected 3 ... Read More »
First Team Silver At Olympics
Singapore’s silver medal in the Beijing Olympic women’s table tennis team event is the nation’s second Olympic medal and the first in 48 years. The team comprising Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei lost to China 0-3 in the finals in Aug 2008. Read More »
