At just 6 years old, Derek Lim from Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) made history by becoming Singapore’s youngest world chess champion, clinching the Under-7 title at the World Schools Chess Championships in Halkidiki, Greece (2006).
This victory wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was also a national first. As World Chess Federation General Secretary Ignatius Leong remarked, “It’s the first time any Singaporean has won a world title in chess.”
What makes Derek’s story even more remarkable is the coaching behind his success. Coach Tigran, who had only recently moved to Singapore in 2005 and could barely speak English at the time, immediately recognized Derek’s raw talent when others had overlooked it. With his deep coaching expertise, he nurtured and guided Derek to achieve extraordinary results in record time.
Coach Tigran believes that a true coach doesn’t just teach moves — he cuts the learning curve, sets the right foundations from the very beginning, and unlocks potential without the need to “unlearn” bad habits often left behind by professional players who lack real coaching skills. Derek’s world title is a testament to this philosophy.
