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Journalism of Courage
Syrian refugee Hussain Besou was picked to play for the German chess team at the Mitropa Cup in Croatia, according to a video report in the Guardian. He will become Germany’s youngest national chess team player
Hussain Besou was four when he started asking his father to teach him to play chess, the Guardian wrote. Now, aged 11, Besou will play for the German chess team at the Mitropa Cup in Croatia, becoming the youngest player to represent the country in the history of the German Chess Federation.
Besou’s father Mustafa was quoted in a Guardian video as saying: ‘In our family we always played chess together … Hussain started asking how to move the pieces, how to play the game, and this is how he learned the basic moves of chess. Then he started seeing tactical moves we wouldn’t see.”
Hussain said in the video: “The people i am playing with are all older and therefore they maybe have a bit more experience. But i honestly think it’s great I’m able to play and i think it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Besou’s father Mustapha recalled how Hussain took to chess: “In our family we always played chess together. My father and I with my brothers. Hussain used to come and started asking how to move the pieces, how to play the game. And this is how he learned the basic moves of chess. Then he started seeing tactical moves we couldn’t see.”
According to Guardian, when the Bessou family settled in Germany, Hussain found a youth chess club. However club trainers soon recommended the six year old attend a club of his level and soon he began winning tournaments.
“We are very proud that Hussain was invited to join the German team to participate in international tournaments. We wish for the German team to achieve good results.
This success would be one for Germany but also for Husain,” his father was quoted as saying.
