Strategy, visualisation and problem solving are useful skills in the game of life, and an ancient board game that develops these skills is Chess. 

UWA alumnus and staff member, Jay Jay Jegathesan (BCom '96, BCom(Hons) '97), is a former Chess champion and was part of the State team that won the national championships in Malaysia in 1990.

Studying Commerce at UWA in the mid-90s, Jay Jay lived at University Hall (Currie Hall) and has many fond memories from that time.

“If I didn’t study at UWA, I probably would not have come back to work at UWA, which I have been doing since 2004,” Jay Jay said. 

Jay Jay is a Senior Adviser of Academic Quality in the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Excellence and enjoys meeting with colleague, Chris Sparrow, for Chess games at UWA’s Hackett Café on Mondays and Wednesdays.

 
Image: Jay Jay and Chris Sparrow in Hackett Hall Café. Photo credit: Anna Ge.

With family connections to the game, Jay Jay was encouraged to play Chess from an early age. 

“My mother taught me how to play when I was 3 or 4 and my uncle was a very strong player who encouraged me between the ages of 8 to 12,” Jay Jay said. 

Commenting on winning the state Chess Championships in 1990, Jay Jay explained it was completely unexpected as he was ranked 10-15th.

“This is the only time I had finished 1st in an individual chess tournament and the winner was guaranteed a spot on the state team for the nationals. 

“I am proud of the fact that, I beat one of the players who later became an International Master and went on to win the national individual title that same year.” 

Jay Jay retired from competitive Chess after winning the state title that year, understanding that serious players trained and studied Chess for 3 to 4 hours a day, which he didn’t do. 

A person of many talents, Jay Jay founded the UWA Virtual Universe Project where he and his team built UWA in 3D, enabling anyone in the world to log in and digitally walk around the UWA campus. He also acts in, narrates and produces film, the most successful of which is The Quiet which was longlisted for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

 
Image: Film poster ‘The Saint’. Photo credit: Radheya Jegatheva.

The UWA Chess Association (UCA) runs social chess, coaching, tournaments and provides access to a thriving community of people connected by their love of chess.
Find out more here.