Hall of Fame

Dato’ Tan Chin Nam

Category: Official
Sport: Chess
Year Inducted: 2007

Y.Bhg. Dato’ Tan Chin Nam is known within Malaysia for his generous support of chess. He is known internationally as a highly successful figure in the world of horseracing and chess.

Dato’ Tan is the founding President of the Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF), which was registered in January 1975. He served for three terms until 1986, when he retired.

Over the years until today, Dato’ Tan has donated over RM10 million to chess promotion, ranging from sponsoring major international tournaments, to spending a steady RM100,000/= a year over a couple of decades to support chess development in Malaysia.

In 1982, Dato’ Tan was returned unopposed as Deputy President of FIDE in charge of Asia. In 1986, he was elected to the FIDE Council. In 1999, during FIDE’s 75th Anniversary celebrations, current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, appointed him as Commander of the Legion of Grandmasters an honour thus far extended to only 20 individuals throughout the world.

Dato’ Tan is also a charter member of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

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