Singapore will launch a new Mind Sports Federation by March to support athletes and promote participation in mind sports nationwide. The federation will bring together four main associations: chess, contract bridge, weiqi, and xiangqi, to help players prepare for regional and international competitions.
The move follows the recent passing of a Bill in Parliament earlier this month, which officially recognises mind sports and esports as sports in Singapore. This recognition is expected to help the community gain better support, resources, and visibility.
Coordinating Efforts Across Mind Sports
The Mind Sports Federation of Singapore will focus on coordinating efforts among the various associations, rather than governing them. Chess grandmaster Kevin Goh, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Chess Federation, explained the purpose of the new body.
“I think it’s meant not really to govern the four associations, but more towards helping us to promote the game, to build awareness (and) to have more young children and parents understand the benefits of these games,” he said.
He added, “I definitely think this new entity with like-minded individuals will definitely help us in our projects.”
The federation is also aiming to be affiliated with the Singapore National Olympic Council and recognised by the Asian Mind Sports Association, which could open more doors for athletes competing in major regional events.
Space and Participation Challenges
Recognition has been a long-standing challenge for mind sports in Singapore. Some associations face space issues, while others are seeing a drop in participation. Goh shared that it has been difficult to secure venues large enough to host major events.
This includes the National Schools Individual Chess Championships, which is expected to break participation records this year with more than 1,800 students. “We’re running out of space and we always have to find a way to manage,” he said.
Training venues are also in high demand. Weekend classes at the Singapore Intellectual Games Centre at Bishan Community Club often see around 100 players attending each session. “The easy part about chess is that we don’t need special facilities,” Goh explained. “We need space, tables, chairs and chess sets.”
Interest in chess continues to grow, with participation increasing by about 20 per cent each year. The number of local tournaments has also risen sharply, from about 30 in 2021 to around 300 in recent years.
Hope for Growth Across Other Mind Sports
The Singapore Contract Bridge Association believes official recognition will help improve participation and global performance. Despite past success at regional competitions, the number of active players has dropped from about 500 before the pandemic to around 300.
Association president Luwen Koh said recognition would help establish bridge as a proper mass-participation sport. “Hopefully this will drive up the numbers and greater interest in playing the game,” he said.
Other associations share similar optimism. The Singapore Weiqi Association described the move as positive and encouraging, while the Singapore Xiangqi General Association hopes more schools will adopt the game as a co-curricular activity.
