Asian Games 2023: meet Hong Kong’s 14-year-old chess prodigy who skipped a year of school to take part in Hangzhou
- Jamison Kao turns an after-school activity into pursuing his dream of playing against the region’s best at the Asian Games
- Father tips the Hong Kong International School eight-grade student to become the top junior in Asia ‘if he works very hard’
Imagine turning an after-school activity into a true profession – one that would pit you against the regional best at the Asian Games.
Just ask Jamison Kao, the 14-year-old chess prodigy from Hong Kong.
“It all started about two years ago because my friend at school asked me to,” the Hong Kong International School eighth-grade student said. “It’s not an easy game and you need to use your brain, it involves a lot of strategy and the variations are unlimited.”
Kao, who was fond of playing board games growing up, said he is “excited” by the decision-making element of chess because one wrong move may cost a player the entire game.
“Playing a good game – regardless of the result – and being able to try your best and be the best you think you could, that’s a true satisfaction for me,” he said.
To pursue his Hangzhou Games dream, Kao had to suspend his academic studies for one year because he couldn’t “do school and play chess” at the same time.