From the tender age of ten, Azizbekyan Hayk was introduced to the intricate world of chess by his family. Little did he know that this hobby would ignite into a lifelong passion and shape himself in profound ways. Hayk is keen to capitalise on the power of chess and eager to bring it to his community.

Hayk (far left) played a human-sized chess game with his students who drew chessboard pattern on the sidewalk. Some wore chess hats and acted as real chess, while some stood on the podium to mobilise the “chess” and acted as a real chess player.

Hayk did not put off his interest in this board game upon entering university. He became a teacher of chess, which was a compulsory subject in his home country Armenia, and had taught more than 2,000 pupils in School N2 named after Khachatur Abovyan (the oldest school in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia) for over seven years. His enthusiasm grew even stronger after relocating to Hong Kong in pursuit of his PhD degree in Digital Humanities at HKU. Transitioning to the vibrant city of Hong Kong, Hayk encountered a landscape where chess was not as prevalent as in Armenia. Yet, undeterred by the unfamiliarity, he continued to excel by joining a wide array of chess tournaments in the territory. His performance was inspirational - despite not being among the top 100 players in his hometown, he was able to win most of the open competitions he participated here, even defeated members of the Hong Kong’s Olympic team.

The competitive spirit gave Hayk a strong momentum in winning numerous tournaments in Hong Kong.

His residential hall at HKU provided a fertile ground for Hayk to share his passion with others. He spearheaded the creation of a chess club within Shun Hing College, which provided a safe environment for everyone at different levels to compete and play for leisure. He was always proud to see how his teaching and detailed retrospective analysis of every game was instrumental to the improvements and progress of the players. He was also delighted by the time the residents could spend together, providing them with a chance to unwind from student work and assignments. At the same time, playing chess offered an opportunity to train their minds and brains.

Hayk is keen to share the joy and challenge of playing chess with his friends in his residential hall.

For Hayk, chess transcends mere entertainment and fun. This hobby becomes a sanctuary for him where strategy, intellect, and creativity combine, helping to keep his mind fresh and sharp. Looking into the future, he stands poised to promote chess to the wider community, continuing to inspire others to embrace the joy of playing this game.