A victim of persistent domestic violence, Jet Chou Sai-kit was sent to the then Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre at the age of ten and had once gone astray. Unexpectedly, his interest in chess cultivated occasionally during his time at the centre brought him a “second life.”
Jet recalls that Uncle Kam, a watchman at the centre, used to play chess with the children every evening before the lights went out. Noticing his fascination with the game, Uncle Kam started coaching him personally and became his first teacher. A thoughtful mind coupled with an introverted personality made Jet deeply engrossed in chess and delve into the skills of the game. “I stuck a large cardboard with a chessboard drawn on it under the upper bunk bed. I slept on the lower bunk, and every night, I would contemplate every move in the darkness.”
The little boy that Uncle Kam saw back then was a child with extreme thoughts and a sense of despair towards life. Unexpectedly, through Uncle Kam's unintentional nurture, the little boy blossomed in the game of chess. “It's regrettable that I couldn't thank him in person and show him the man I have become today, standing tall and proud. At that time, he unwittingly imparted knowledge that has influenced my entire life. Now, I pass on my knowledge with a purpose, hoping to help those in need by teaching chess.”
Jet recalls that Uncle Kam, a watchman at the centre, used to play chess with the children every evening before the lights went out. Noticing his fascination with the game, Uncle Kam started coaching him personally and became his first teacher. A thoughtful mind coupled with an introverted personality made Jet deeply engrossed in chess and delved into the skills of the game. “I stuck a large cardboard with a chessboard drawn on it under the upper bunk bed. I slept on the lower bunk, and every night, I would contemplate every move in the darkness.”
The little boy that Uncle Kam saw back then was a child with extreme thoughts and a sense of despair towards life. Unexpectedly, through Uncle Kam's unintentional nurture, the little boy blossomed in the game of chess. “It's regrettable that I couldn't thank him in person and show him the man I have become today, standing tall and proud. At that time, he unwittingly imparted knowledge that has influenced my entire life. Now, I pass on my knowledge with a purpose, hoping to help those in need by teaching chess.”
The chess lover, who had experienced abuse since childhood and endured a deprived upbringing, found a sense of accomplishment in winning chess matches, which made him believe that only through chess could he have control over things in life. Unfortunately, negative emotions eventually led Jet down the wrong path. He joined the triads and got addicted to drugs after dropping out of school at Secondary 3. When he was at rock bottom, he even scavenged the streets for leftovers to relieve his hunger.
Thereafter, mistakenly taking a certain drug pushed the 23-year-old drug addict to the brink of death. At that moment, like reviewing a game of chess, Jet reflected on every move he had made in his life and realised that the whole game was lost. It occurred to him that he needed to make an effort for himself. He then made a determined decision to quit drugs and completely break away from his past life. He started to plan for studying and participate in chess competitions, embarking on a second chance in life.
Back to school again
With only a junior secondary education, Jet chose to begin a study at the then Open University of Hong Kong, which has no academic entry requirements for most of its distance learning programmes. “I was fortunate enough to meet the age limit of 24 or below for the Government's Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students and successfully applied for tuition subsidies. It was like a door opening for me, a blessing from above. This is also the reason why today I am actively involved in social service and giving back to society.” Jet further expresses gratitude to the University for admitting him, a high-school dropout who never thought he would have the opportunity to attend university, and fulfilling his dream of pursuing higher education. He reminisces that besides playing chess, his favourite pastime during childhood was reading Jin Yong's novels, which laid him a solid foundation in Chinese language and enabled him to complete his studies in Chinese humanities.
During this time, Jet worked as a temporary actor and part-time tour guide to support his living. With chess as his only strength, he also began to volunteer as a teacher, gradually turning it into a viable career. “At that time, I was studying a course titled 'Logic and Methodology.' I applied the thinking skills I learnt to play and teach chess, which had a profound impact on me.” Four years later, he completed his studies, and in the same year won the championship in a Hong Kong Xiangqi tournament, earning the title of Hong Kong Xiangqi Master.
Building a personal career
Through continuous participation and winning in chess competitions, Jet has gained prestigious lifelong titles like Xiangqi Grandmaster and growing reputation, attracting many admirers seeking to learn from him. In 2021, Jet established his own chess academy and opened a branch this summer. “More than a decade ago, there were only a handful of institutions in Hong Kong that specialised in teaching chess, and even fewer of them taught Xiangqi. I consider myself one of the pioneers in this field,” says Jet. He attributes his success in the field of chess to a combination of a natural talent, hard work and a stroke of luck that came later in his life. “Chess has given me an opportunity for change, and I also hope to help those in need through chess.”
Volunteering in chess teaching
Over the years, Jet has often volunteered to give chess lessons in the shelter homes where he once lived. The transformation of a 19-year-old resident in particular has given him great satisfaction. “Ever since he arrived at the centre as a baby of a few months, he had always had a strained relationship with his family and suffered from depression. After learning to play chess, he regained interest and confidence, and even hope in life. Apart from reconciling with his family, the chess lover ended his 19-year stay at the centre. He currently teaches part-time at my chess academy and aspires to become a Xiangqi Master.”
In addition to participating in social service himself, Jet also encourages his students to bring chess into the community, such as organising chess activities for the visually impaired and children living in subdivided flats. In 2020, Jet was named one of Hong Kong's Top Ten Outstanding Young Persons for his personal achievements in chess and contributions to society through chess services. This year, he started teaching chess to prison inmates, hoping to encourage and bring about change to those going through similar experiences to himself.
Enhancing the image of chess
When talking about his dreams for the future, Jet frankly shares two of them: “The first is to turn the chess academy into a publicly listed company within the next ten years.” He jokingly points out that the second dream is perhaps even more challenging in comparison, which is to raise the status of chess and its influence in society. Thanks to the networking opportunities brought by the title of “Outstanding Young Person,” now he has more chances to promote chess in schools and other communities. At an invitation earlier, he participated in a collaborative project between chess and a luxury watch brand, which also helps enhance the image of chess.
Having experienced a turbulent life, Jet has a deep conviction of the words of Mencius: “If you strive for it, you will attain it.” From his point of view, the real world is not as complex as a chessboard. “When playing chess, one often has to anticipate ten or twenty moves ahead, but the real world doesn't require such intricate calculations. As long as you embrace the right values, things become simple and naturally fall into place.” He firmly believes that all obstacles can be overcome with faith and determination.
