Winning Ways

This weekend, my office hosted an indoor game competitions - TT, Carrom and Chess. I participated in Carrom and Chess. As the most senior competitor, it was an interesting experience mingling with a young crowd.

The first event was the Carrom doubles competition on Friday. Despite being out-of-practice, I teamed up with my partner and began the game. Our opponents were quick to block our pucks across the pockets, presenting us with the challenge of unblocking and pocketing them.  

As the match progressed, the number of pucks on the board reduced and our opponents resorted to foul tricks. Ironically, their tactics backfired, leaving them with more pucks on the board than us. By pocketing the queen, we won the 30 mins match by 2 boards. 😀

Next was the Chess game, which was an easy win for me. I won with a checkmate in just 12 minutes during a 20-minute match. After the game, my opponent admitted that his strategy was to distract me—using timeouts to his advantage—with some extra help and cheerleading from his girlfriend 😉 

Reflecting on these two matches, I realised - that in both games, my opponents relied on tricks and unfair tactics. Had they instead focused all their energy and strategy on winning fairly, their chances might have improved  🤔 

Growing up, many of us heard phrases like "Do whatever it takes to win." But how much can you truly value and appreciate a victory gained through unfair means? I've realised that in today's environment, trickery and shortcuts are increasingly normalised—not just in games, but at workplace as well. From cheating in competitions to cutting corners at work, the trend seems prevalent among some, particularly within younger generations.  😳 

My point is - it's important to recognise that personal satisfaction derived from winning honestly leads to trust and long-term respect. The pride of a fair win far outweighs the guilt of deception.  👍 

So, how can we educate and inspire others to adopt the value of fairness ?