National Champion with experience teaching beginners/intermediate players. I help many to achieve their rating goals and beyond.

Find out more about Bernard

• When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

  I started playing chess when I was six years old. My father taught me the basic rules. At the time he was the only person I would play with and I found that I really enjoyed it.

• Which artists or works affect you the most?

  Most of my playing style is influenced by former World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca. His ability to convert simple positions into winning advantages in the endgame is simply magical to me.

• What are the qualities and skills required to succeed in this area?

  I believe that anyone can be good at chess, regardless of the age you start to learn. There are three skills that I believe are crucial for anyone thinking of improving their chess game: being open-minded, prepared to work hard and able to enjoy the game and its many challenges.
  
  Being open-minded is important as it reminds us that there always is someone better than us and we should take every opportunity to learn and improve our chess knowledge.
  
  Hard work speaks for itself in any field. For chess, hard work is the road to build the capacity for strong calculation and in-depth understanding of the game's inner workings.
  
  Enjoying the game helps to cultivate resilience you will need to deal with the challenges you will inevitably face. . Be it losing a game or difficulties solving a challenging puzzle, if you truly enjoy playing chess, you will persevere when most would quit.

• What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

  Remind yourself of why you started. Reflect on the energy and enthusiasm you had when you began and use that to motivate yourself to take the reasonable next steps. No one cares about your project more than you do, so remind yourself why you invested the time in the first place.

• How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

  Chess helps me make life decisions because it is very relatable. Some notable skills I learned from the game include: handling time pressure, decision making, problem-solving, creative thinking and constant learning to improve. It is a never-ending cycle of trial and improvement, pushing yourself to the next level because the sky is truly the limit.
  
  Teaching chess is a very fulfilling experience for me. The privilege to share in someone's journey of growth and help them to unlock their potential is highly rewarding.
  
  When my students participate in tournaments or matches and share their success with me, it is simply joyful. When they have a negative experience, the opportunity to guide their reflection and bring about new learning as the result of a defeat is gratifying.

• What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  Being the first player from my little city in Malaysia to win the National Junior Chess Championship in 2017 was my biggest achievement. Another highlight of my chess career is when I was the sole representative for Malaysia in the World Junior Chess Championship.
  
  In respect of my teaching, I am proud of helping three students, who started with no prior chess knowledge and then went on to win multiple junior tournaments both online and over the board.

• Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

  All the time. Regardless of age, students can be full of surprises, and it is important to have a range of chess puzzles and activities to keep them challenged and engaged.

• Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

  I have no secrets: I promote an upfront and transparent teaching and learning environment with my students. Praising them when appropriate but also highlighting their areas for development. I encourage them to do the same with my teaching, modelling a growth mindset that is open to constructive criticism. Over time my students have not only become accustomed to this but have grown to appreciate the sincerity and trust engendered in this approach, which is a vital element of the student-teacher relationship.