Yeoh Li Tian makes history as Malaysia’s first chess Grandmaster

Yeoh Li Tian has made history by becoming Malaysia’s first-ever chess Grandmaster, a title conferred by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and regarded as the highest recognition in global chess. The 25-year-old clinched this prestigious lifetime title after a powerful performance at the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, where he secured his final required GM norm and surpassed the elusive 2500 FIDE rating threshold.

His decisive win not only checked all the boxes of FIDE’s stringent criteria but also marked a milestone never before reached by any Malaysian player. Yeoh’s achievement places him among fewer than 2,000 elite Grandmasters worldwide, and one of only a handful in Southeast Asia. Winning the final norm on home soil made the victory even more resonant, with celebrations erupting across Malaysia’s chess community and beyond.

A journey of patience and persistence

Yeoh’s rise to Grandmaster status is the culmination of years of focused effort, tactical brilliance, and relentless discipline. Born on October 16, 1999, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Yeoh began playing chess at the age of three. By his teens, he was already competing internationally and had established himself as a two-time Malaysian Chess Champion. In 2019, he won a bronze medal in rapid chess at the SEA Games, and reached a career-high FIDE rating of 2530.

Despite narrowly missing his final norm at the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi, Yeoh remained undeterred. His coaching team intensified his training regime, honing his endgame precision and psychological endurance—skills that ultimately paid off at the Kuala Lumpur championship in August 2025. His current FIDE rating stands at 2490, but his return to form signals strong potential to surpass his previous peak.

Igniting a national chess movement

Yeoh’s success is not just a personal victory—it’s a transformative moment for Malaysian sports. In the days following his win, the Malaysian Chess Federation reported a 300% spike in junior sign-ups, indicating a surge in interest among young players. Schools and educational institutions have begun incorporating chess more actively into extracurricular programs, and a proposed national training center is in the pipeline, modelled after Yeoh’s approach and philosophy.

At the policy level, government leaders and sports agencies are touting Yeoh’s triumph as proof that Malaysians can compete at the highest intellectual levels globally. It also places pressure on corporate sponsors to better support mind sports, which have historically struggled with funding in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.

As Yeoh prepares for possible participation in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand and eyes future qualifiers for the World Chess Championship, his journey continues to inspire a new generation. More than a title, his Grandmaster status represents a turning point for chess in Malaysia—proving that with strategy, perseverance and vision, even the most complex challenges can be conquered.