The Asian Youth Team won the Intercontinental Youth Team Online Chess Cup organized by Global Chess Festival and European Chess Union with support of FIDE on 10th October 20 at Tornelo Online Playing server.
The event consisted of a double round robin team championship with participation of teams from four FIDE continents, namely Asia, Africa, America and Europe with 16 players in each team comprised of 2 girls and 2 boys from each age category of Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18.
Europe started as the rating favourites with average rating of 2106 while Asian team had a rating average of 1822. Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo said that the ACF selected former world champions or runners-up from six countries. Asian Chess Federation thanks the national chess federations of India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Sri Lanka for their support.
| Boys | Name | Title | Fed | World Record |
| U12 | Azjargal Erdenebat | CM | MGL | World Schools 2017 U9 Champion |
| U12 | Tenuunbold Battulga | CM | MGL | World Schools 2018 U9 Runner up |
| U14 | Ochirbat Lkhagvajamts | CM | MGL | World Schools 2018 U11 Champion |
| U14 | Gukesh D | GM | IND | World Youth 2018 U12 Champion |
| U16 | Srihari L R | FM | IND | World Youth 2019 U14 Runner up |
| U16 | Batsuren, Dambasuren | IM | MGL | World Youth 2017 U14 Champion |
| U18 | Daghli, Arash | FM | IRI | World U16 Oympiad 2019 Gold Medalist |
| U18 | Thilakarathne GMH | FM | SRI | World Schools 2018 U15 Runner-up |
| Girls | Name | Title | Fed | World Record |
| U12 | Nurgaliyeva Zarina | WCM | KAZ | World Cadets Rapid 2019 G10 Champion |
| U12 | Edithso, Samantha | WFM | INA | World Girls 2018 U10 Champion |
| U14 | Munkhzul Davaakhuu | WFM | MGL | World Schools 2018 G13 Champion |
| U14 | Savita Shri B | WFM | IND | World Girls 2018 U12 Champion |
| U16 | Kamalidenova Meruert | WFM | KAZ | World Girls 2019 U14 champion |
| U16 | Divya Deshmukh | WIM | IND | World Girls 2017 U12 Champion |
| U18 | Nurgali Nazerke | WIM | KAZ | World Girls 2019 U16 Runner-up |
| U18 | Vantika Agrawal | WIM | IND | World Girls 2019 U18 Runner-up |
Asian Chess Federation appointed Deputy President Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan and International Arbiter Gopakumar M S of India as team captains.
The Asian team had a dream start in the opening round by beating Africa 16 – 0 while Europe got the better of America 13 – 3. In a nail biting encounter in the second round, Asia outwitted Europe with the narrowest margin of 8.5 – 7.5, which changed the entire complexion of the tournament. In the other second round encounter, America defeated Africa 11.5 – 4.5. In the third round Asia beat America 14 – 2 and Europe blanked Africa 16 – 0.
In the fourth round, as expected Asia tamed Africa 15.5 – 0.5 while Europe beat America 15 – 1. It became certain that the fifth round encounter between Asia and Europe will decide the champion and the Asian youngsters rose to the occasion to force an 8 – 8 peace treaty. In the sixth and final round, Asia easily overcame Americas with the score line of 14 – 2.
The Asian team clinched the title with 11 match points (5 wins and 1 draw) while Europe finished as second with 9 match points. America finished third with 4 match points while Africa finished as fourth. Visit chess-results.com for individual and team results. Visit official web site.
Earlier before the start of the first round, the Opening ceremony took place online. Addressing the participants were, in photo below (clockwise from upper left), GM Judit Polgar, Chairperson of FIDE Planning and Development Commission Sonja Johnson, ECU Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou and ECU Vice President Dana Reizniece-Ozola who welcomed all the players and opened the event. The video message of GM Polgar was played to them during the opening ceremony.
The Asian team received the Gold Medal Certificate while all the participants will be given an opportunity to attend the Masterclass by GM Judit Polgar.
