Mirrored Moves

In conjunction with International Chess Day, Tatler speaks to Puteri Munajjah Az-Zahraa Azhar, the third Malaysian to earn the FIDE title of Woman International Master

- Kiran Pillay

In 2019, Puteri Munajjah Az-Zahraa Azhar etched her name in Malaysian chess history, becoming the third Malaysian to earn the International Chess Federation (FIDE) title of Woman International Master (WIM). It is the second highest title, after Woman Grandmaster (WGM), which Malaysians have yet to claim. The 23-year-old prodigy joins the elite ranks of Audrey Wong Su Yi, who first claimed the title for the nation in 1985, and Dr Siti Zulaikha Foudzi, an eight-time record holder, whose last win came in 2006. With her predecessors now retired, Puteri is the highest-ranked among the nation’s women chess players.

“I believe it takes a competitive mindset to be a woman international master. It begins with setting goals and working towards achieving them,” Puteri says, reflecting on her journey. “I used to spend five to seven hours on daily training. Confidence only comes from knowing you’re well-prepared,” the young prodigy says, citing this as the secret of her success.

Puteri has been playing chess since the tender age of four, introduced to the basics by her mother before her father took over her training. “Chess was a way to stimulate my brain, and I quickly fell in love with the game because of the cognitive challenge it provided, along with the satisfaction of winning.”