One move at a time

At 15, Mateus Alice’s world fell apart. A bright and dedicated student from the city of Beira in Mozambique, he was told that a prized scholarship he had won to study in the United Kingdom had been given to someone else.

“I sank into a deep depression and didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I used to love English and my dream to continue studying it was shattered.”

Thirteen years later, he recalls how the kind words of a family friend changed his life forever: “He told me that I was a bright student and that there was something else that I could be good at, something I could do that would use my brain.”

That something else was chess. “I got hold of an encyclopaedia and read about the game. I learned the moves and because I didn’t own a chess board, I drew one. Later, I started practising with my brother using a real chess board.”

One year later, aged 16, Mateus had won the Sofala provincial championship and went on to play in the national championships in the capital, Maputo, where he came second.

“After that, I kept playing and I won my first national championship in 2001. Five years later, I became Mozambique’s first Fide Master. This was a big achievement for Africa.”

Next month, Mateus will be travelling to Singapore to compete in the Commonwealth Open Championship (9 to 15 December 2009) for the first time. The game has already taken him many places around the world, including Egypt, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia, but also further afield to France, Germany and Italy.

“It is very difficult for us in Africa to get titles, because we get few opportunities to play in tournaments compared with European and Asian competitors,” he says.

It’s tough playing professionally and the money isn’t great, Mateus admits. “Chess is one of the best games when you’re winning, but the worst when you are defeated,” he explains.

“I once played in South Africa and made one mistake, which lost me 10,000 rand. But chess becomes the best thing in the word when you win. You feel really good inside, relaxed.”

Mateus is currently practising for five to six hours a day, on his computer, and online with other people. He is slowly increasing this in preparation for his dream goal: to win the All Africa Games in 2011, which take place in Maputo.

“I want to win this medal on my home ground and I have two years to prepare,” he says. “I made a promise to myself seven years ago that I would win the African Championship and I will pursue this dream up to the last day of my life.”

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Mozambique