The 55-year-old was born with dysmelia, a condition that left him with under-developed arms.
But chess provided a level playing field, giving him a route to a fulfilling life. After picking it up as a child, he went on to become a grandmaster at 25 and won three German championship titles and a silver medal with the German national team at the 2000 Chess Olympiad.
Now a training director with the Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) and chairman of the International Chess Federation (Fide) Players with Disabilities Commission, Luther has come a long way.
He said: "I learnt early on to handle (the disability) in my life. So I'm very much independent and this is also a mindset, that having a problem in life, you always call out others to help, or you have the mindset, okay, I'll fix it.
"Back as a kid, when I learnt chess and I went to the chess club, I saw a different world. Suddenly, there was really equality, I could really play as well as the others, or even be better.
Denne historien er fra November 18, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 18, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Star producer of NewJeans quits after legal spat with BTS agency
The South Korean super-producer behind the chart-topping girl group NewJeans resigned from her label on Nov 20, following a protracted legal battle with Hybe that has rocked the country's K-pop industry.
One Direction stars attend Liam Payne's funeral in UK
Family and friends of One Direction star Liam Payne, who died in October after falling from a Buenos Aires hotel room, gathered for his funeral in Britain on Nov 20.
Composer A.R. Rahman and wife separate after 29 years of marriage
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and his wife, Saira, have announced their decision to part ways after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Audemars Piguet joins hands with Kaws for groovy new drop
Audemars Piguet has teamed up with contemporary American artist Brian Donnelly - better known by his pseudonym Kaws - to create the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion, a 43mm titanium horological knockout which groovily fuses high watchmaking and pop art.
LOCAL DESIGNERS GET WICKED
Singapore fashion designers have created clothes and accessories in a Wicked collaboration between Design Orchard and NBCUniversal
Captain America excited to flaunt new powers
No serum? No problem. New Captain America Anthony Mackie goes on a different flight path in upcoming movie
SBA RESHUFFLE NETS KIM
S. Korea's ex-Asiad champ will become Singapore women's singles head coach
Yeo targets top-l O spot after maiden win over Sindhu
As far as giants go, they do not come taller in the badminton women's singles circuit than India's 1.79m P. V. Sindhu, who has a 2019 world title and an Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and bronze (Tokyo 2020) to match her stature.
Hearing-impaired Audelle, 10, is rising chess star
It was only when Audelle Sim was six years old that her parents found out that she has a hearing impairment.
THE BEST OF CHESS AND MORE
S,pore world c'ship's side events include fan zones with grandmasters and exhibitions
