https://live.followchess.com/#!southeast-asian-games-960-2019
https://live.followchess.com/#!southeast-asian-games-960-w-2019
https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/30th-sea-games-rapid-2019-fischer-random/2/1/1
https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/30th-sea-games-womens-rapid-2019-fischer-random/2/1/1
FRC 960 or Fischer Random Chess 960 is now officially recognised by FIDE (International Chess Federation) and has its first World Chess Champion in Filipino Wesley So who with residence in Minnesota, now plays under the USA flag.
The connection to Asia and the Philippines is very deep and strong with Asia’s first grandmaster, Eugene Torre, a long time friend and confidant of 11th World Champion Robert James Fischer, a co-inventor of this form of chess that keeps intact all the rule with the single exception that the starting position is randomised to neutralise any benefits of preparation before the game with the help of computers in the opening stage.
In the 30th SEA Games FRC 960 is an exhibition sport but the seriousness and participation of the best players in the region speaks volumes as to its importance.
World Blitz Champion Le Quang Liem, Torre himself, Philippines National Coach Jayson Gonzales and Indonesia’s No. 1 Susanto Megaranto, and Vietnam’s rising star Nguyen Anh Khoi are just some of the big names participating in the mens (open).
It is equally serious with the women with Indonesia’s No. 1 Irene Kharisma Sukandar, Philippines only woman grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Phung and even Thailand’s No. 1 Sarocha Chuemsakul looking to also emerge winners on the womens.
Malaysia’s Yeoh Li Tian – Gold – Rapid Chess (Men)
Singapore’s Gong Qiyuan – Gold – Rapid Chess (Women)
In Rapid Chess Men (Open), Malaysia’s Yeoh Li Tian capped an impressive performance by forcing a draw with the black pieces in an advantages position against top seeded Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the last round to secure his country’s first ever Gold medal in chess.
Yeoh and Nguyen were already assured of Gold and Silver after outpacing the field with unbeaten scores of 6/7 each, one point clear of Vietnam’s newest grandmaster Nguyen Anh Khoi who himself was assured of Bronze before the last round.
The situation was much less clear in a very competitive Rapid Chess Women when long time leader, Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Mai Hung was beaten by Singapore’s Gong Qianyun in the penultimate round.
As a result, the early leader, Indonesia’s Ummi Fisabillah and Gong went to the last round with 6.5/8 but with another Indonesian, Irene Kharismar Sukandar and Nguyen on 6/8 and very much still in medal contention.
In the end, it was Gong who won against Vietnam’s Pham Le Tao Nguyen to take Gold! Fisabillah and Sukandar told Silver and Bronze.
In the Mens (Open) championship, top seeded Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son leads with 4/5 at the half way mark with two youngsters who are their country’s future in Malaysia’s Yeoh Li Tian and Indonesia’s Novendra Priasmoro, just half a point behind.
University student Yeoh is however effectively ahead in the race for Gold as he has played one game less and is on 3.5/4 and arguably also playing the best chess.
In the Womens championship, Indonesia’s Ummi Fisabillah and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Mai Hung lead with 4/5 with Singapore’s Gong Qianyun in third place with 3.5/5.
The medals are however still very much up for grabs as all all the leaders and those just behind have all suffered losses in a so far extremely evenly matched and competitive tournament.
The medal chase at the 30th SEA Games Chess Sports has now started with the Men (Open) and Women Rapid Chess competitions.
Both are round robin tournaments, nine rounds in the men (open) with a bye and also nine rounds in the women. See http://chess-results.com/tnr493357.aspx?lan=1&art=1&turdet=YES&flag=30
Men (Open)
Women
On Day 1 of the 30th SEA Games Chess Sports competitions, the Philippines took centre stage and struck an early blow to their rival’s aspirations when Jan Emmanuel Garcia won the the Online Chess Exhibition ahead of second placed Vietnamese Le Tian Minh and Indonesia’s Muhammad Lufti Ali.
SEA GAMES ONLINE CHESS PAIRINGS
Utilising the www.chess.com platform, we have eight (8) players from five 5) countries, assigned the following ANTONIO_PHI and GRACIA_PHI from host Philippines, WONG_SGP and GONG_SGP from Singapore, MEGARANTO_INA and ALI_INA from Indonesia, LE_VIE from Vietnam and ARUNNUNTAPANICH_THA, from Thailand in a seven (7) round robin competition.
