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Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug Ruslan Nikolayevich Kukharuk (third from left) awards trophies and medals to the top three teams. At right is Chief Arbiter Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran.

The awards ceremonies for the Asian Club Chess Champions League were held 25th June 2025 in Khanti Mansiysk, Russia. The top rated teams expectedly made the podium finish but individually, GM Gupta Sankalp of the Airports Authority of India won the highest gold medal on board 1.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Follow games on Lichess.

You can follow the tournament in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network ‘VKontakte’ (https://vk.com/chessugra). The tournament was commented on by international grandmaster Sergey Shipov.

A record 92 juniors and 70 girls from 13 countries are participating in the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships scheduled 25 June to 4 July 2025 in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka.

The event is organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka in a glorious manner at the beautiful Citrus Hotel in Waskaduwa.

Visit chess-results.com to see full list of players. Top seed is IM S. Aswath of India in the juniors and compatriot WIM G. Tejaswini among the girls. The champions will receive GM and WGM norms, respectively.

The tournaments are 9 round Swiss System events in standard chess. There will be Rapid and Blitz championships as well.

The final round of the Asian Chess Club Champions League brought some surprises. The leading teams faced fierce resistance.

The leaders of the competition, the KPRF team, met in the seventh round with the  Mongolian team Zandanshatar Chess Club. Pavel Ponkratov assumed the day before that the match would be difficult, because everyone’s nerves are on edge and even the strongest players can make mistakes, and those who are lagging, on the contrary, can pull themselves together and surprise everyone. Despite the fact that Ponkratov’s game ended very quickly in his favor (it lasted less than two hours), the Mongolian club really managed to surprise. Maxim Matlakov, for example, lost his game, and Vladislav Artemyev played a draw.

“The game started well, but in the end, I made a few mistakes that led to a worsening of my position. Despite the difficulties, I offered a draw, which the opponent accepted. The game was tense and risky. Moreover, as it turned out, Maxim Matlakov didn’t win. If I had lost too, the whole team could have lost the victory. This draw was not easy – the game was difficult and far from the most successful”, Vladislav Artemyev commented on the match.

During Olga Girya’s victorious game, Ugra’s team position became critical: Alexei Pridorozhni had fallen to his opponent, while Dinis Sattarov settled for a draw. The fate of both team points hinged entirely on Nikolai Kabanov’s match outcome.  For the second consecutive day, Nikolai endured a grueling battle – yesterday’s five-hour marathon against China’s Mingren Hong ended in a draw. Today, however, he clinched victory against his opponent Enkhrii Enkh-Amgalan.

Vladimir Malakhov’s clutch performance ultimately secured KPRF’s overall victory.

Meanwhile, the junior team of Ugra Chess Academy faced a stern test against Kazakhstan’s Astana club. The match proved nerve-wracking and protracted for the Russians: one draw, one loss, and two wins. Yet the finale brought jubilation – a team win for Ugra Chess Academy.

“Today’s game proved challenging yet somewhat simplified by my successful opening choice. I opted for a variation I knew thoroughly, while my opponent lacked sufficient experience in this line. What followed was complex maneuvering, but his lengthy deliberations increased my thinking time, allowing me to confidently develop my strategy. Every move contributed to steadily improving my position”, explained 16-year-old Grandmaster Savva Vetokhin, the game’s victor.

The finale proved equally challenging for Ugra team who faced the Indian club firmly entrenched in third place of the standings. The Ugra team failed to secure a single victory, recording two draws and conceding two wins to Airports Authority of India.

“It was extremely important for us to win this match to secure the bronze medals. We approached the game with a great mindset, but it wasn’t enough. As for my game, the outcome is truly disappointing. I had a significant advantage in the opening-it seemed like defeat was impossible, yet I still managed to lose”, shared Olga Girya, captain of the Ugra team, reflecting on her game.

In the fourth match, the club from Uzbekistan faced the Chinese team Hangzhou. After a hard-fought battle, luck favored the chess players from China. With two draws and one win by the Chinese club, the fate of the match came down to the board between Akbarali Abdullakhimov and Yining Chen. This was the most grueling game of the round-lasting nearly four hours. The players agreed to a draw, and the points went in favor of Hangzhou.

Chief Arbiter Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh (left) welcomes Maya Yelena, Vice Governor of Khanty Mansiysk, responsible for sports culture and education.

On June 25, the closing ceremony of the first-ever Asian Club Chess Champions League held in Russia will take place, along with the awards presentation for the winners. The tournament leader was KPRF team, second place went to Ugra Chess Academy team, and the bronze medal was claimed by Airports Authority of India.

Source: Ugra Chess Academy

Media Contact: 8 967 886 0287 Vladimir Gilev

Seasoned and rising stars from the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) area in the Philippines are expected to vie in the 2025 Tatang Bibo chess festival which Koronadal City is hosting for the first time on Saturday, June 28.
The one-day event to be held at City Mall is the third in a series of tournaments in honor of Chess philanthropist Mr. Jessie Villasin and organized by Joselito Dormitorio features two divisions – the 1950-below open and the 13-under youth.
South Cotabato Congressman-elect Ferdinand “Dinand” Hernandez is elated with the staging of the event in the city believing it would spur the growth of the sport in the province.
“It is my dream that someday a new Chess Grandmaster will come from the province,” said the well-loved legislator who is hoping to make the province a major sports hub in Mindanao.
Cash prizes, trophies and medals are at stake for the Top 10 players in both divisions, with the champion in the 1950 and below set to get P5,000 and the winner in the Kiddies Division to pocket P3,000 – thanks to the support of Ms. Divine Lebanan, ArmAnn Pharma and Medical Supplies, Dr. Melben Jochico, BetterWorks Construction.
Other backers are NG Dumlao Enterprises, Mr. Rommel Revilla, MYRIAD Water, One Chess Movement, RiChessMasters, Zamboanga Sahaya Dermatology, Byaherong Arbiter, Mr. Alvin Rea and Mr. Teddy Cu.
Second and third placers in the 1950 and below will receive P3,500 and P2,000, respectively, while the top two runners-up in the Kiddies Division will go home with P2,000 and P1,500.
The first two events of the said chess festival were held last May 11 and June 8 at Robinsons Galleria Mall in Ortigas.
To add to the festive spirit, free lunch will be served to all participants.

Alexander Tkachev: “There was no doubt for a second where the first Asian Club Chess Champions League in the history of Russia should take place”.

The Asian Club Chess Champions League is at the finish line. There are only two rounds left, which will determine the strongest Asian club team in 2025. This tournament is being held in Russia for the first time, and Khanty-Mansiysk has become a venue for prestigious competitions. Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, called the holding of the Asian Club Chess Champions League in Russia a historic event.

Khanty-Mansiysk has held the title of the world chess capital for many years. Since 2005, 19 international tournaments have been held here. This year Ugra Chess Academy is hosting the Asian Club Champions League. Since June 17, eight teams from six countries have been fighting for the title of the strongest. The winners of the zonal competitions of the Asian Chess Federation participate in the competition – clubs from India, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and, of course, Russia. Our country is represented by three chess “squads”: the «Ugra team», the «Ugra Chess Academy youth» team, and the leader of the rating, the «CPRF sports club».

In an exclusive interview, Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, assessed the level of preparation of the teams and spoke about the organization of the tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk.

– Why do you consider hosting the Asian Chess Club Champions League a historic event for the country?

– “The game of kings has deep roots in our nation. The Chess Federation of Russia will soon celebrate its centenary, yet the first recorded games date back to Ivan the Terrible’s reign. This tournament marks a historic milestone: for the first time in the competition’s history – and for the first time in Russian chess history – the Asian Chess Club Champions League is being held on our soil.

– During the opening ceremony, you stated that when deciding where to host the league in Russia, you never hesitated about the location. Why?

– The decision-making protocol was clear: the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) submitted our bid to the Asian Chess Federation, received approval, and once Russia was confirmed as host nation, we needed to designate the specific venue to welcome Asia’s top grandmasters. There was zero doubt: Khanty-Mansiysk and the Ugra Chess Academy were the unequivocal choice. For over two decades, Ugra’s Sports Federation has amassed unparalleled expertise in hosting international tournaments! The crowning achievement remains the World Chess Olympiad – still regarded among the best-organized events in chess history, despite 15 years having passed. Back then, Khanty-Mansiysk hosted athletes from hundreds of countries worldwide.

Another decisive factor was the unequivocal position from regional leadership and the dedicated professionals executing the events – specifically, the team at Ugra Chess Academy led by Director Alexander Parkhomenko, alongside representatives of the Ugra Chess Federation and its President Vasily Filipenko. Their demonstrable commitment to hosting elite tournaments made the choice of venue a foregone conclusion.

– Following the topic: how do you assess the level of these particular competitions?

– The level of organization is really impressive: everything is done clearly and professionally. An almost perfect space has been created for the tournament. Why is it almost perfect? There are always prospects for improvement. Having reached the top, we risk facing stagnation and regression, so moving forward must continue constantly!

A chess tournament commences with its opening ceremony much like a theater production begins from the cloakroom. Your ceremony absolutely captivated me through groundbreaking directorial vision and inventive solutions. This was something extraordinary – unlike anything I’ve witnessed before!

–  Who would you consider the main favorites?

– We’ve gathered exclusively Asia’s strongest clubs — that’s the very essence of a Champions League! All participants are winners of zonal qualifying stages. The elite of the elite have converged in Khanty-Mansiysk! Statistically, the KPRF Sports Club stands out with its formidable strength and reputation— especially as reigning Russian Champions since May. However, history reminds us that individual ratings never guarantee team success. Chinese and Indian teams traditionally deliver exceptional results.  My personal dream? Seeing three Russian teams share the pedestal!

The tournament follows a 7-round round-robin format:  2 points per team win, 1 point for a draw, 0 for defeat. Current standings place the KPRF team and the Ugra Chess Academy team atop the leaderboard, with the Airports Authority of India rounding off the top three.

You can view the highlights of the past games in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network «VKontakte», as well as on the websites: chess-results.com and lichess.org.

Source: Ugra Chess Academy

Media contacts: 8 967 886 0287, Vladimir Gilev

FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz emerged as the champion in the 7th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open Chess Tournament held June 22, 2025 at the Level 3 BodySenses, Robinsons Metro East, Pasig City, Philippines.

FM Daluz, who plays for the University of Santo Tomas under the guidance of coaches IM Ronald Dableo and GM Darwin Laylo in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), pocketed the P10,000 purse and the trophy for winning the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) sanctioned tournament with over 130 participants..
He had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 6.5 points in the seven-round Swiss system competition.
FM Daluz defeated Ioan Samuel De Guzman, Josemier Jene Panol and Francis Talaboc in the first to third rounds, respectively.
He snapped his three-game winning streak when he had a draw against National Master Jasper Faeldonia in the fourth round.
However, FM Daluz went on to win the last three rounds against Yuri Lei Paraguya, Asher Judd Sy and Chester Neil Reyes, respectively.
FM Daluz is set to compete in the Asian Amateur Chess Championships slated August 1 to 9, 2025 in Hongkong and backed up by AQ Prime.
Ariel Santander went on to place second overall with 6.5 points.
Santander’s second place finish earned him P7,000, while the third place went to Faeldonia with 6.0 points for P5,000.
The fourth to tenth placers were Gabriel Ryan Paradero (6.0), Johann Cedrick Gaddi (5.5), Reyes (5.5), Michael Punzalan (5.5), Wayne Ruiz (5.5 points), Sy (5.0) and Jonathan Jota (5.0), respectively.
Tournament Director International Arbiter Rudy Ibanez led the closing rites.
The organizer of the tournament, AQ Prime CEO Atty. Aldwin Alegre said that this is their seventh time to host a chess tournament featuring pro and amateur players.
He also revealed that AQ Prime will hold an International Chess Tournament later this year to give the opportunity to the Filipinos player to achieve International Master and Grandmaster titles.-Marlon Bernardino-

Leaders of Asian Club Chess Champions League are on the same positions in the penultimate round of the tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Chief Arbiter IA Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran (seated, center), Appeals Committee Chair Khusan Turdialiev (seated, right) and Arbiters in the Asian Club Champions League.

The Asian Club Champions League final in Khanty-Mansiysk is approaching. The second to last round gave strength to the visitors and surprised the competition leaders.

The KPRF team is firmly leading in the tournament, and all surprises seemed to be left behind. Although, today’s meeting of Muscovites and Kazakh players turned out to be tense. Daniil Dubov played a draw game with young player Satbek Akhmedinov, same result was obtained between Maxim Matlakov and Aslan Aitbayev. Vladimir Malakhov and Pavel Ponkratov ensured victories to the team. The latter noted, that his opponent has demonstrated a decent game despite significant difference in rating.

“My opponent plays interesting chess. He surprised me today with his choice of opening. I deliberately chose a relatively passive opening option, which doesn’t give much advantage, but helps to avoid risky situations. The game was tense; there were many interesting moments and tactical opportunities. My opponent made a mistake by placing his queen poorly, which made my position much more comfortable. I managed to take advantage and create comfortable conditions for further actions. Tomorrow there will be final decisive games, traditionally accompanied by increased tension. Our next opponent is a team from Mongolia, although they occupy the last line of the table, there are known cases when outsiders suddenly ‘slam the door loudly’. So, tomorrow rounds are going to be stressful, everyone will be nervous», shared Pavel Ponkratov, member of the KPRF team.

Incidentally, today Ugra faced Mongolia’s Zandanshatar Chess Club in a match where opponents’ ratings were nearly identical.

“My opponent pleasantly surprised me with an unused opening – something I hadn’t seen from him before. The position developed favorably for me, allowing a successful tactical maneuver. Though Mongolia currently sits last in the standings, they remain dangerous opponents – ravenous for victories”, noted Olga Girya, Team Captain of Ugra, about her match.

During Olga Girya’s victorious game, Ugra’s team position became critical: Alexei Pridorozhni had fallen to his opponent, while Dinis Sattarov settled for a draw. The fate of both team points hinged entirely on Nikolai Kabanov’s match outcome.  For the second consecutive day, Nikolai endured a grueling battle – yesterday’s five-hour marathon against China’s Mingren Hong ended in a draw. Today, however, he clinched victory against his opponent Enkhrii Enkh-Amgalan.

The Indian club, which currently firmly holds third place in the tournament standings, battled it out against the Chinese team and secured a decisive team victory, further strengthening its position

“Actually, we expected more resistance, but we managed to secure three consecutive victories. The result is impressive‐three wins and one draw-an excellent outcome! As for further performance, second place seems unlikely, considering the two earlier losses. So, our goal is to hold onto third place and confidently secure the tournament’s bronze. Nevertheless, the next match won’t be easy—we’re up against the Ugra team, which has a comparable rating (around 2400). Their skill level is high, and we hope to perform at our best”, commented Harikrishnan Amirthavalli Rengarajan on the match results.

Another confident team victory came from the Ugra Chess Academy. The young Russian athletes played against a club from Uzbekistan. Three games were won by Ugra Chess Academy, and one ended in a draw. The young chess player from Khanty-Mansiysk, Bogdan Perchinsky, managed to defeat his opponent, though he admitted that despite a strong start, he made a mistake in the middle game that could have cost him the win. Nevertheless, the Ugra player handled the situation well and earned extra points for his team.

On June 24, the grandmasters will play their final matches. The tournament leaders—KPRF team—will face the Mongolian club Zandanshatar Chess Club. The Indian team will play against Ugra team, the youth squad Ugra Chess Academy will compete against the Kazakh club, and the Chinese grandmasters have one last match against Uzbekistan.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Follow live broadcast on Lichess.

You can follow the tournament in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network ‘VKontakte’ (https://vk.com/chessugra). The tournament is being commented on by international grandmaster Sergey Shipov.

Source: Ugra Chess Academy

Media Contact: 8 967 886 0287 Vladimir Gilev

In round 5 of the Asian Club Chess Champions League, Sport Club KPRF secured a shutout against Uzbekistan Chess Club to share the lead with the Ugra Chess Academy who beat Airports Authority of India. Astana proved stronger than Zandanshatar Chess Club, while Ugra and Hangzhou of China settled for a draw.

The fifth day of the Asian Club Chess Champions League has concluded. This round treated us to stunning combinations, unexpected performances, and fascinating tactical maneuvers. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with players allotted 90 minutes per game plus a 30-second increment per move starting from the first. A win earns a team two match points, a draw one match point, and a loss zero match point.

The key and most spectacular showdown took place between the Ugra Chess Academy and the Airports Authority of India. For three rounds straight, the Indian team had been the undisputed leaders of the competition but lost their advantage. The players fought for winning positions as if on a battlefield. The thrilling clash ended in a 3:1 victory for the juniors.

“I was prepared for any scenario but made a mistake somewhere. My opponent played really well—I had no chance to defend my position”, shared Indian grandmaster Harikrishnan. His opponent, Savva Vetokhin, added, it wasn’t an easy game: “The opponent tried to surprise me with an unusual tactic. India is a very strong team, so I prepared thoroughly, and that was the key to victory”.

The Ugra vs. Hangzhou of China clash proved extraordinary. Following Alexei Pridorozhni’s quick victory, the Chinese team ramped up pressure, getting on their experienced opponents nerves. Battles on boards three and four evolved into protracted, grueling affairs, culminating in mutually agreed draws – the teams split points amicably at 2:2.

Astana, after yesterday’s defeat against Ugra, launched an aggressive offensive against Zandanshatar Chess Club. The Mongolians ultimately failed to secure their first match points, conceding victory to Kazakhstan after fierce resistance.

KPRF Sports Club faced Uzbekistan’s chess team. Daniil Dubov unleashed a dazzling opening on board one, driving Ulugbek Tillyaev into defensive mode. Matlakov and Artemiev likewise seized the initiative on their boards. The Uzbek athletes lacked the experience to outmaneuver the tournament’s rating favorites, culminating in another commanding 4:0 victory for KPRF.

“Today’s game was very difficult. Dubov played a good opening for himself, and I found myself in a complicated situation. By the middle of the game, we were in equal positions, when we could have played for a draw, but there were time troubles, and I made some mistakes”, said Ulugbek Tillyaev, an International Master from Uzbekistan.

Based on the results of the matches played, the lead remains with the KPRF team. The juniors of the Ugra Chess Academy are ready to fight for the championship with them. The Airports Authority of India is on the third place. The Astana team is one line below, and the Ugra team does not want to give in to it. Uzbekistan and China are playing head-to-head. And the Mongolia team is still on the last place.

Players of the competition have two more rounds ahead. The battle for the champion’s title will take place on June 24. The team that scores the most points will be the winner of the Asian Club Chess Champions League. There will also be determined the winners in the individual standings.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Follow live broadcast on Lichess.

You can follow the tournament in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network ‘VKontakte’ (https://vk.com/chessugra). The tournament is being commented on by international grandmaster Sergey Shipov.

Source: Ugra Chess Academy