Pawns, Piano, Perseverance: Diajeng, Indonesia's multi-talented chess star on a song in Kerala

At just 21, Women International Master (WIM) Diajeng Theresa Singgih is an exciting chess player from Indonesia. But there’s more to her than her killer moves on a black-and-white board. When not playing, and sometimes at once, she is also a chess coach, commentator, avid traveller and passionate singer.

"My parents often ask me to slow down,'' chuckles Diajeng. ''But right now, I want to complete my bachelor’s degree in Communication and pursue the Woman Grandmaster title. After that, I plan to do my master’s in Europe.''

Diajeng loves to talk, and she's taught herself English, German, Malay, and a bit of French to connect with people on her chess journeys. But she also walks the talk, as is evident from her performances at the 1st Grandmaster International ongoing at Kanjikuzhy in Kottayam.

Diajeng played in the 2nd Bengaluru GM Open in early April and then competed in the 3rd Maharashtra International GM Tournament toward the end of last month. She plans to participate in the 16th KIIT International Chess Festival in Bhubaneswar later this month.

But Diajeng has played some of her best chess here in Kottayam. She defeated three strong male players in the first eight rounds, including Indian IM Nitin S and Russian IM Maksim Schekachikhin.

Since she was eight, Diajeng has visited 21 countries, mainly for chess tournaments. ''I do five things at once,'' she laughs. ''If I had to choose just one thing to do, it would be travelling. But most of my travels have been for chess.''

Sports family
Diajeng comes from a family with a proud sporting history. Her father, Singgih Yehezkiel, is a former national table tennis player. Her elder sister, Irene Sukandar, holds the distinction of being Indonesia’s first Woman Grandmaster (WGM), while her brother,  Kaisar Jenius Hakiki, is a FIDE Master.

''My siblings were already travelling the world when I was very young. I was fascinated when my sister returned home and shared her experiences. She even convinced me I could do the same if I played chess," Diajeng said.
She took up chess at the age of five. By seven, she had clinched the national girls’ under-8 title, and at 13, she won the under-17 category. Her solo chess travels began at 14 with a tournament in Malaysia.

Her parents played a crucial role in nurturing this passion. When her siblings showed promise in chess, the family relocated from Jakarta to Bekasi to be closer to a chess academy. ''My mum,  Cici Ratna Mulya, quit her job to support my siblings. I’m privileged in many ways,'' she said.

Still, she admits the pressure of growing up in her siblings’ shadow. ''But I’ve now made peace with that and focus on building my own identity.'' Diajeng credits journaling and therapy for helping her cope during that phase of self-discovery.

Despite the demands of international competition, she remains focused on her studies. ''After every round, I go back to my laptop and work on my thesis. English isn’t the main language in Indonesia, so I taught myself. That’s one of the things I love most about travelling—I learn so much from it. That’s what makes it so special to me.

''Chess and travel go hand in hand. You don’t just wake up, get ready, and play. Each match requires preparation. Even adjusting to the weather and routine matters.''

On her maiden visit to Kerala, she quickly took a liking to the state. ''The greenery and scenic views are amazing, and the people here are very welcoming. The food is great too,'' she says, noting that she adjusts her diet while travelling. ''I take more fibre to cope with the weather. These are lessons you learn from experience—things they don’t teach in school.''

Though chess dominates her life, music remains her biggest passion. ''If I weren’t born into a chess family, I would’ve become a singer. Music makes me breathe,'' she says.

After winning her first international event at age nine, her father gifted her a piano—an instrument she’s been close to ever since. ''Sometimes I sing in my head during matches when I’m bored,'' she says with a smile.