News – Page 12 – Asian Chess

Early Leaders at Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Masters

Dignitaries at the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Masters, from left, Mohamed Suliman AlFahim, Abu Dhabi Chess Club Chairman Husain Khoury, Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Husan Turdialiev, Aref Khoury and Faisal Al Shehhi board member of Abu Dhabi Chess Club.

Twenty seven out of 201 players grabbed early lead with two points in as many rounds of the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Masters at the Radison Blu Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results, standings and to download games.

Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Reels Off With 16 Events

Gracing the opening ceremonies are, from left, Aref Khoury, UAE Chess Federation president Taryam Matar, Saudi Arabia Chess Federation president Mohamed Al Otaibi, Houston Khoury and Faisal Al Shehhi

The Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival is going on from 14th to 24th August 2025 at the Radison Blu hotel at Abu Dhabi Corniche. The tournament is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club and Mind Games.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results, standings and to download games.

Masters Championship

The strongest tournament is the $55,500 Masters championship open to all FIDE-rated players with a Standard published rating of 2300 ELO and above.
The tournament is a 9-round Swiss System with a time control of 90 minutes for each player and a 30-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

Over 200 players from 45 countries are competing in the Masters, including 29 Grandmasters, 3 WGMs, 83 IMs, 2 WIMs and 76 FMs.

Open Tournament “A”

Open to all players with a Standard published rating of 2299 ELO and below (as of 1st August 2025). A total of 212 players from 40 countries are competing in this event.

Open Tournament “B”

Open to all players with a Standard published rating of 1999 ELO and below (as of 1st August 2025). A total of 320 players from 42 countries are competing in this event. A total Prize fund of $19,700 is at stake on the A and B open tournaments.

Juniors Under-16 Tournament

Open to all juniors under 16 (born in 2009 and later) with a Standard published rating of 1999 ELO and below (as of 1st August 2025).

The Juniors can play at the same time in the Open tournament.
The tournament will be a 9-round Swiss System with a time control of 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment for each player

A total of $9.500 in cash prizes are at stake.

Blitz Open, Under-16, Ladies

FIDE Rated Blitz tournament, open for all ages and nationalities.
The tournament will be an 11-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

FIDE Rated Blitz tournament, open for juniors Under 16, born in 2009 and later. The tournament will be an 11-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

FIDE Rated Blitz tournament, open for girls only/ The tournament will be a 9-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

A total of $5,700 in cash prizes shall be at stake.

Abu Dhabi Chess Academy

Blitz tournament, open for juniors Under 18 (born 2007 and later).
The tournament is open for Abu Dhabi Chess Club members only.

The tournament will be a 9-round Swiss System with a time control of 5 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1. At stake are cash prizes of $2,100

Abu Dhabi Masters Online Blitz

The Abu Dhabi Chess & Mind Games and Chess.com announce the Abu Dhabi Masters – Online, on Thursday, 22nd of August 2025. The tournament features a prize fund of $10,000 and is open to all titled players.
Blitz tournament, open for titled Players Only.
The Tournament will be played on www.chess.com.
The tournament will be an 11-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 1-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.
Playing venue: www.chess.com.
Date & Time: Thursday 22nd of August, starting at 9:00 PM. (UAE Time)

Schools Tournament

Open for all kids under 17 (born in 2008 and after).
The tournament will be a 7-round Swiss System with a time control of 5 minutes for each player and a 3-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.
The competition will be played in 12 different categories: Under 7 to Under 17 with a total of $3.600 in cash prizes at stake.

Seniors Blitz

Blitz tournament, open for players age 50+.
The tournament will be a 7-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

Date & Time: Sunday 17th of August, starting at 2:00 PM.

People of Determination

Open for people of determination only.
The tournament will be a 5-round Swiss System with a time control of 10 minutes for each player.
Date & Time: Friday 22nd of August, starting at 2:00 PM.

Family Teams

Open for teams of 2 players (parent on board 1 and child on board 2).
The tournament will be a 7-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.
Date & Time: Sunday 17th of August, starting at 2:00 PM

Community Teams

Open for teams of 3 players (2 playing + 1 substitute), UAE Residents with the same nationality. The team will represent their country (or city).
The tournament will be a 7-round Swiss System with a time control of 3 minutes for each player and a 2-second increment after each move, starting with move 1.

Vincent Keymer wins Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025

The top three in the Masters and Challengers: Puranik Abhimanyu, B. Adhiban, M. Pranesh, Vincent Keymer, Anish Giri and Arjun Erigasi

by Shahid Ahmed – 16/08/2025

Vincent Keymer (GER) finished Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters in style as he defeated Ray Robson (USA) to finish with an unbeaten 7/9. It was his fifth win of the tournament as he finished a whopping two points ahead of the rest, performed at 2917 and gained 20.9 Elo rating points. Anish Giri (NED) scorched the reigning Dutch champion, Jorden van Foreest (NED) to score his first win of the tournament after eight draws. It was enough for him to secure second place. Arjun Erigaisi had a well contested draw against Karthikeyan Murali to finish third.

GM Pranesh M became the champion in the Challengers section. GM Adhiban

Baskaran showed his class in the final round by winning against GM Leon Luke Mendonca to finish second. The reigning National Rapid champion, GM Iniyan Pa finished his campaign with a win over GM Abhimanyu Puranik, still Abhimanyu managed to finish third.

Visit chess-results.com

FIDE World Junior Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025: Registration deadline extended

FIDE and the Peruvian Chess Sports Federation invite all FIDE member federations to participate in the World Junior U20 Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025.

The championships will be held in Lima, the capital of Peru from September 22 (arrival) to September 29 (departure) 2025.

Each federation can register an unlimited number of players. The winners of the World Junior U20 Rapid and Blitz Championship 2024 and the first 10 players on the starting list (10 from the open list and 10 from the girls’ list) will receive free accommodation in a double room and full board.

FIDE member Federations should proceed with the registration of their participants.

The registration deadline has been extended to August 22, 2025.

E-mail: juniorrapidblitz@fide.com

Official website: fidewj2025.com/

Regulations, schedule, visa information (PDF)

Successful Conclusion of the Asian Amateur Chess Championships 2025

Philippines Triumphs in Three Categories as Hong Kong Breaks into Top Ten

(Hong Kong, 11th August, 2025) Organized by the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, the highly anticipated Asian Amateur Chess Championships concluded over the weekend with resounding success. In main event, the Philippines achieved outstanding results with 3 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals, which was the best performance among all participants. China secured 2 silver medals, while Hong Kong, China also demonstrated strong competitiveness by advancing to the top ten in four different categories.

Philippines, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan Claim Championships
China and Hong Kong, China Deliver Strong Performances

Marking its 15th anniversary, the Asian Amateur Chess Championships was held in Hong Kong for the first time, drawing a record-breaking 400+ outstanding amateur players from nearly 30 countries and regions. After seven days of intense competition, Mongolia’s FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig claimed victory in U2300 while Kazakhstan’s WCM Kristina Kim took top honors in the W2300. Philippine players dominated the lower divisions, with Jan Clifford Labog winning U2000 and Paul Christian Barroga claiming U1700, complemented by Yana Emilou De Vera’s victory in W1700. Mongolia’s Enkhsaikhan Odmaa rounded out the champions list by taking the W2000 crown.
China secured two silver medals through WFM Li Xinyu in W2300 and Xu Wei in U2000. For Hong Kong, China, CM Jamison Kao achieved 5th place in U2300, while Xia Xuejing claimed 8th place in W2300. Huang Jing finished 4th place in W1700 and Lo Ho Chun took 9th place in U1700.

Jamison Kao and Xia Xuejing Honored as
Most Outstanding Hong Kong Players

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the 65th anniversary of the Federation. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Championship has specially established a Special Prize to the most outstanding Hong Kong player, which was presented to CM Jamison Kao (Male) and Xia Xuejing (Female). Kao expressed that while his performance in the early stages was affected by physical discomfort, his exceptional play in the final three rounds secured him 5th place in the fiercely competitive U2300. This tournament added 13 rating points to his tally, edging him closer to his goal of reaching a 2100 rating points. Xia acknowledged that being named “Best Hong Kong Female” was a meaningful recognition of her years of dedication. She particularly praised the high-standard arrangement, noting that the overall quality of chess tournaments in Hong Kong has been consistently improving, enhancing the experience for all players.

Hisham Al Taher Geoffrey Kao

Mr. Geoffrey Kao, Honorary President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, stated, “ Organizing more international tournaments is crucial for developing local talent. In recent years, our Federation has consistently promoted various championships to provide high-level competitive platforms for Hong Kong chess players. The Asian Amateur Chess Championships has served as valuable training for athletes preparing for the National Games. This December, we will further advance the development of local chess by hosting the Hong Kong International Open Chess Championship.”

See Awards Ceremonies of Asian Amateur Chess Championship in Hong Kong – Asian Chess

FM Brian Jones 1947 – 2025

FM Brian Jones has passed away in Sydney, at the age of 78. Born in the UK in 1947, Brian was a significant figure on the Australian chess scene after moving to Australia in 1987 with his wife Margaret and two children Lee and Nancy (who both became Australian junior champions shortly after their arrival). Originally working in the IT industry, Brian turned his passion for chess into a full time business (Australian Chess Enterprises) as well as being a chess administrator and tournament organiser.

Bringing his experience from the UK chess scene to the somewhat less developed Australian environment, Brian immediately began to make improvements. An early adopter of technology, Brian helped introduce the use of electronic clocks to the Australian chess scene, lending his stock of DGT clocks to organisers, before clubs were in a position to purchase their own. When the Australian National University began a series of matches between humans and computers (Carbon v Silicon) he provided a number of strong programs for the Silicon team. He also introduced a number of new tournament formats to Australia, including knockout events, and single day rapid events, which he had organised back in England. He was the Chief Organiser of the 2003 Australian Open Chess Championship in Penrith, and included a number of format changes that remain till this day. He then created the Sydney International Open in Parramatta, an important addition to the Australian Chess tournament scene, and organised the event from 2007 until 2014.

On the International stage, he was a great contributor to the development of chess in the Oceania region. He was the FIDE Zone 3.6 President and founded the Oceania Chess Confederation. Through his efforts he helped countries such as Palau, Guam and the Solomon Islands join FIDE. He travelled to many Pacific federations, both as a tournament participant, and as an administrator. He was the Team Captain for Papua New Guinea at the 2008 Chess Olympiad (Dresden), and was a Councillor on the FIDE Development Commission.

In 2003 he began publishing Chess Australia (later Australasian Chess) which was the national magazine for Australia and ran until 2013. A labour of love for Brian, it remains the last printed national magazine for Australian tournament chess. During this time he also resurrected the Australian Grand Prix series, obtaining sponsorship from both the Myer family and well known Malaysian chess sponsor, Dato Tan Chin Nam.

Later in life he developed an interest in Correspondence Chess , and served as the International Secretary for the Correspondence Chess League of Australia. Always the innovator, Brian organised the 2014 International Correspondence Chess Federations congress in Sydney, as a way of highlighting the contribution that Australia had made to international CC. He also pioneered the move away from postal chess to server based CC, introducing a number of new events and formats, including the very popular Bicycle (non engine) events. He was also the publisher of the Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly, the official magazine of the CCLA.

In later years poor health curtailed his participation in chess events, but he still visited important events in Sydney and Canberra. He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2022 for his services to chess. He will be fondly remembered by both the Australian and international chess community and will be missed by wife Margaret, son Lee, daughter Nancy and son in law Gary Lane, and his grandchildren Jasmine and Ryan.

From https://chessexpress.blogspot.com/2025/08/brian-jones-1947-2025.html

idChess Technology at the WSTCC 2025: Live streaming, VAR, and video highlights

The 2025 World Schools Team Championship took place at Episcopal High School — just 11 kilometers from downtown Washington, D.C. — from August 3–7, bringing together over 50 teams from six continents. For the first time in the history of the competition, it featured innovative idChess technology for real-time game broadcasting to chess fans around the world.

idChess enables live game broadcasting on any chessboard using only a smartphone: phones are mounted on tripods beside the boards, and games are automatically converted into PGN format through computer vision and AI technologies. The platform also supports VAR — a video assistant for chess — helping arbiters make informed decisions in controversial situations. In July 2023, FIDE announced the adoption of idChess VAR at international tournaments, marking a new approach to officiating and ensuring fair play while providing players, coaches, and fans with richer content and deeper insight into games.

Another notable feature is the automatic creation of video highlights. Trained on millions of chess games, the idChess neural network identifies and marks the best moves and combinations. The platform then generates short video clips, which tournament organizers can publish on their page on the idChess Media Platform. Watch the games of the World School Team Championship here.

“The World Schools Team Championship is not only a celebration of young chess talents but also a platform for innovation,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

“By integrating idChess into this year’s event, we are setting a new standard in how youth competitions are run and experienced around the world. It reflects our commitment to making chess more accessible and engaging, especially for the next generation.”

idChess technology is now used at tournaments in more than 150 countries, including national championships, international opens, school competitions, and regular chess club meetings. The platform is recognized for its simplicity, requiring only smartphones, tripods, and a stable internet connection.

For organizers, idChess offers a fast and affordable way to enter the world of digital broadcasting. Schools and federations can adopt the system with minimal technical training, opening new possibilities for promotion, engagement, and game review. Organizers can submit a request to receive free access to a tournament organizer account.

idChess official website: idchess.com/

From idChess Technology at the WSTCC 2025: Live streaming, VAR, and video highlights – International Chess Federation

Awards Ceremonies of Asian Amateur Chess Championship in Hong Kong

Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher (left) and Hong Kong Chess Federation president K.K. Chan (second from right) with gold medalists of each category, from left: W2000 Enkhsaikhan Odmaa (MGL), U2000 Jan Cliffor Labog (PHI), U2300 Khishighat Ulziikhishig (MGL), U1700 Paul Christian Barroga (PHI), W1700 Yana Emilou De Vera (PHI) and W2300 Kristina Kim (KAZ) and Chief Arbiter Khusan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan.

Philippines, Mongolia, Kazakhstan Top Asian Amateur Chess Championship in Hong Kong

Philippines topped the overall medal tally with four gold medals followed by Mongolia with three golds and Kazakhstan with one gold and two silver medals in the Asian Amateur Chess Championship in Hong Kong.

The tournament was organized by the Hong Kong Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation. A record 361 players from 25 countries competed in three tournaments held 1st-9th August.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings.

Yana Emilou De Vera of the Philippines drew with compatriot Lila Alyssa Serina to finish alone in first with 7.5 points out of 9 rounds in the Women’s Under 1700. Adina Baideldinova of Kazakhstan beat UA Disha of India to place second with 7 points. Serina placed third with 6.5 points and higher tie break.

In the Women’s Under 2000, Enkhsaikhan Odmaa of Mongolia beat Chen Yunqi of China while WFM Allanney Jia Doroy of the Philippines beat WCM Angel Ruth Nugroho of Indonesia to tie at 7 points each. Odmaa won gold by tie break over Doroy who got silver. Chowdhury Diya of India beat Jiran Floravie Cutiyog of the Philippines to finished third with 6 points.

WCM Kritina Kim of Kazakhstan drew with Giecel Pacubat of the Philippines to finish alone in first with 6.5 points in the Women’s Under 2300. Li Xinyu of China beat Xia Xuejing of Hong Kong to place second with 6 points while WFM Mukherjee Bristy of India beat WFM Park Sunwoo of Korea to place third with 5.5 points and the better tie break.

Paul Christia Barroga of the Philippines drew with compatriot Mark Vincent Nuella in the 9th round to top with the Under-1700 category with an impressive 8 points. Filipino Emir Gamis drew with Bonuonuo Gong of China to place second with 7.5 points. Dion Carlos Francis Cortes, also of the Philippines, beat compatriot Jireh Dan Jaimie Cutiyog to place third with 7 points and the highest tie break.

Jan Clifford Labog of the Philippines beat Egor Vlad Lovakov of Russia in the 9th round to finish alone in first with a commanding 8 points in the Under 2000 division. Xu Wei of China beat Jhulo Goloran of the Philippines to place second with 7.5 points. FM Nurasyi Zhumabek of Kazakhstan placed third with 7 points.

FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig of Mongolia drew with China’s Wei Yuyang in the 9th round of the Under-2300 division to finish in first alone with 7.5 points. Filipino FM Roel Abelgas beat compatriot FM Christian Mark Daluz to place second with 7 points. FM Alekhine Nouri of the Philippines drew with FM Ganbat Tenguundalai of Mongolia to place third with 6.5 points and the better tie break.

Tight Race after Penultimate Round of Asian Amateur in Hong Kong

It’s a tight race for the crown after the penultimate round of the Asian Amateur Chess Championship in Hong Kong. The tournament is organized by the Hong Kong Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings.

Yana Emilou De Vera of the Philippines beat Wu Yuetong in the 8th round to lead the Women’s U1700 alone with 7 points with four players following at 6 points each. Yana faces compatriot Lila Alyssa Serina who is also aiming for a medal finish.

Odmaa Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia beat Chowdhury Diya of India in the 8th round while Allaney Jia Doroy of the Philippines beat Jiang Xintian of China to tie for the Women’s U-2000 lead at 6 points each. Enkhsaikhan faces Chen Yungi of China while Doroy matches with Angel Ruth Nugroho of Indonesia in the crucial final round.

Kazakh Kristina Kim drew with Xia Xuejing of China in the 8th round to maintain solo lead with 6 points in the Women’s Under-2300. Kim faces potential spoiler Giecel Pacubat in the final 9th round. WFM Li Xinyu of China is in second slot with 5 points.

In the men’s division, Paul Christian Barroga of the Philippines beat compatriot Djon Cortes to maintain solo lead with 7.5 points in the U-1700 category. He faces third running Filipino Mark Nuella in the 9th round.

Filipino Jan Clifford Labog beat compatriot Irwin Aton in the 8th round to maintain solo lead with 7 points in the Under-2000 division. He faces strong challenge from Russian Egor Vlad Lovakov in the final round.

Mongolian Khishigbat Ulziikhishig beat Russian Ekaterina Borisova in the 8th round to hold on to solo lead with 7 points. He faces Wei Yuyan of China in the 9th round.