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Oceania has sent the highest-ever 19 participants to this year’s 18th edition of Asian Schools Chess Championship taking place in Bangkok, Thailand – strongly contributing to the event’s own record of 555 participants across 31 countries in the region. This year’s event is hosted by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation.

In above photo are Guam national junior chess team at the 18^th Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.

Guam national junior chess team has fielded 12 competitors in almost every age category – and is led by the National Schools Chess Championship winner CM Tran Tuan An, playing in his last eligible tournament in the U17 category.

Serdar Bayramov of Turkmenistan playing versus Guam National Schools Chess Champion CM Tran Tuan An.

Other Guam team members include the National Schools Chess Championship winners Travis Wang (U7), Leo Lopatyuk (U9), Esther Combs (G9), Xian Chi Tran (G11) and Sarah Padrique (G17), as well as 2^nd-place medalists Daniel Combs (U11), Noah Combs (U17), Noelle Camacho (G13), Michael Angelo Mendoza (U15), and Natalie Camacho (G15). Aryan Dewan rounds out the team in the U13 category.

New Zealand Chess Federation is represented by 4 young talents, including the 2024 NZ Girls Champion WCM Luna Xu and expanding its presence from last year’s Asian Schools Chess Champion in Uzbekistan, where NZ had three players.

2023 and 2024 New Zealand age group champion Richard Liu (left) in action against Ramazan Tulegen of Kazakhstan.

WCM Xu (G11) is joined in Bangkok by the 2024 New Zealand age group champions Anne Guo (G9), Vera Xu (G7), and Richard Liu (U11).

New Zealand national junior chess team at the 18^th Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand: Richard Liu (U11), WCM Luna Xu (G11), Anne Guo (G9), Vera Xu (G7).  

Completing the Oceania contingent at this year’s Championship is the junior chess team sent by the Australian Chess Federation – comprised of the two Batyrbekov brothers: Kaisar (U9) and Aidan (U7).

2024 VIC State age category 2^nd runner up Batyrbekov Kaisar of Australia (left) vs Guam’s Schools Chess Championship age category winner Leo Lopatyuk.

Having won the qualifying zonal tournament, Kaisar and Aidan Batyrbekov had led their school team to a 2^nd runner up finish in the 2024 Victorian State Junior Primary Finals. Both have also finished as the 2^ndv and 1^st runners up, respectively, in the age group finals.

Team Australia at the 18^th Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand: Aidan Batyrbekov (U7) and Kaisar Batyrbekov (U9). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. (above center) regained his form coming from the loser brackets and edged National Master Jeremy Marticio 2-1 in the Single Knockout Armageddon Tournament (SiKAT) held December 6, 2024 at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Bernardino, a certified United States chess master, lost to Marticio in the first game and was relegated to the loser’s bracket.
But Bernardino, 47, a veteran sportswriter and radio commentator bounced back from the grave beating Juan Patallo, Roger Abisan, Candidate Master Genghis Imperial and National Master Romeo Alcodia, to move into the Finals.  Marticio had to beat all opponents including Imperial and Alcodia.

In the finals, Bernardino had to beat Marticio (above right) twice.
Bernardino playing black with 5 minutes drew with Marticio who had white and 6 minutes in their King’s Indian skirmish.
In Armageddon format, a player with the black pieces needs a draw to secure the win.
Then Bernardino with white and 6 minutes defeated Marticio with black and 5 minutes in their second game tie breaker of the Catalan Opening.
“‘I am very happy with the results. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome,” said the Quezon City and Mandaluyong City bet Bernardino, who just arrived in Manila December 2nd from a 15 days European sojourn.
Bernardino was the coach and delegation head of the PH chess team who won 2 golds and 1 bronze medal in the 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championship held Nov. 16-29, 2024 in Porto Santo Island, Portugal.
Among those who are supporting his chess campaign here and abroad are ALC Group of Companies Chairman and CEO D. Edgard Cabangon , Mayor Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV,  International Billiard and Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo, National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. , CEO/Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Mr. Jessie Villasin.
It shall be recalled that Bernardino achieved another remarkable victory by winning first place in the 3rd Laos International Chess Open 2024 held September 1 to 6 at the 2nd floor Parkson@ Naga Mall in Vientiane, Laos.
He is set to compete in the Penang International Open Chess Championship to be held on December 23 to 27, 2024 in George Town, Penang, Malaysia upon the invitation of Penang Chess Association President Atty. See Swee Sie.

 

Only Mu Wangxueyao (G13) of China and Bijesh Divi (G9) of India remain with perfect 6 point slates after six rounds of the Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Tbailand. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. The event is hosted by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. Here are the leaders in each age group:

 

The Asian Schools Chess Championship passed the halfway mark today 5th December 2024. All India Chess Federation President Nitin Narang makes the ceremonial moves opening round 5. Looking on are, from left, IA Haroon or Rashid of Bangladesh, IA Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan, Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Bharat Singh of India, Deputy Chief Arbiter IA Dharmendra Kumar of India and Chief Arbiter K.K. Chan of Hong Kong.

Japanese players, from left, Itokazu Antonio (U9), Akiyama Kairi (U9), Nishida Eito (U9), Ta Viet Phong (U11), Endo Shuma (U13) and Rolston Daniel Haruma (U15)

Leaders were trimmed down after three rounds of the Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. A record 555 players from 31 countries are competing in age groups U7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 for boys and girls. The event is hosted by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Here are leaders after three rounds.

The 14th Edition Year-End Kamatyas Rapid Chess Championship dubbed as Fusion of Flash and Iron gets underway on December 14th 2024 at the SM Southmall in Las Piñas City, Philippines.
The 9-round Swiss System tournament, organized by International Master Roderick Nava and National Master David Almirol Jr. of Kamatyas Chess Club, dangles a top purse of P30,000 plus trophy.

“Free registration and lunch to all participating 200 players,” announced IM Nava.
The second placer to fourth placer will have P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000. Fifth up to 10th placers will receive P2,000 each while 11th to 15th placers will earn P1,000 each.
Consolation awards await the top scorers in the following categories: Kiddies, Juniors, Seniors and Ladies.
It shall be recalled that Grandmaster Daniel Quizon reigned supreme in the 13th edition of Kamatyas Rapid Chess Championship  dubbed as “Blast of Mind Power” was held at the ICON Isabela Convention Center, Cauayan City, Isabela last November 2, 2024.-Marlon Bernardino-

The fourth edition of the Qatar Masters International Open started in Doha, capital of Qatar. Some 300 players, including world’s most prominent grandmasters are competing from December 2-12 in the event organized by the Qatar Chess Association (QCA). Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Watch live games in chess.com.

In phot are Qatar Chess Association President Mohammed Al Mudahka (centre) and QCA Executive Director and Tournament Director Hamad Al Tamimi (right), during a press conference.

Regarded as one of the premier global chess tournaments, offering a prize purse of $108,000, the event is taking place at Aspire Zone in Doha.

Mohammed Al Mudhahka revealed that players from 25 countries will compete in the tournament which returns following its successful editions in 2014, 2015, and 2023, with India fielding the largest delegation of 110 participants this time.

“The tournament will also feature regional stars, including Qatar’s International Master Hussein Aziz and Emirati champion Salem Abdulrahman, who has claimed the Best Arab Player award four times,” Al Mudhahka said.

“Other notable Arab players include Egypt’s Adham Fawzy, ensuring a strong representation from the region,” the QCA President said.

He also highlighted that top-ranked female players, International Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh, along with compatriot Vantika Agrawal will also compete.

However, Al Mudhahka said there will be two notable absentees this time, the World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, who had been part of all three previous editions of the highly successful tournament, along with his American rival Hikaru Nakamura.

“We would be missing Carlsen, Nakamura and the Dutch-based Anish Giri due to prior international commitments, but efforts are on regarding the participation of some top-ranked players. All players are keen to confirm participation, with the winner set to receive $25,000,” Al Mudhahka added.

The QCA President also revealed the hosting of the International B Championship that will be held simultaneously.

“The Qatar team will be represented by 20 players at the B Tournament. The organization of the tournament aims to provide an opportunity for many players to raise their level of classification and interact with different chess schools in the world,” added Al Mudahka who thanked the Ministry of Sports and Youth for its support.

From Doha ready to host Qatar Masters International Open | The Peninsula Qatar

Top seeded players lead after two rounds of the Asian Schools Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. A record 555 players from 31 countries are competing in age groups U7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 for boys and girls. The event is hosted by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Here are leaders after two rounds.

An Asian Chess Federation Arbiters’ Workshop was held in the Chess Academy of Uzbekistan on 28th and 29th November 2024 with participants from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Russia and host Uzbekistan. In total, 14 arbiters took part in the Workshop.

Lecturer was IA Ashot Vardapetyan of Armenia. Representative from host Federation and Lecturer’s Assistant was President of 3.4 Asian Zone, FIDE Lecturer IA Husan Turdialiev (UZB).

The Workshop was held over two days (12 hours). The program of the seminar included the following subjects: a) Laws
of Chess (including Rapid, Blitz, etc), 3 hours; b) Tournament Rules, 1 hours; c) System of Games, tie breaks, 2 hours; d) Swiss system and Pairing rules, 1 hours; e) Regulations for the rating and the over‐the‐board titles, 2 hours; f) Regulations for the titles of the Arbiters, 1 hour; g) Anti cheating guidelines for Arbiters 2 hour.

All Arbiters, who participated in this Workshop got certificates from the President of 3.4 Asian Zone.

The List of participants of the Workshop is below.

The Asian Schools Chess Championships started today, Tuesday 3rd December 2024, with a record 555 players from 31 countries participating. The event is hosted by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. There are twelve groups, namely under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 for both boys and girls.

The first two rounds of standard time control are going on today under the revised schedule as follows:

Thailand Chess Association president Sahapol Nakvanich (center) welcoming players at the Pathumwan Institute of Technoloy in Bangkok. At right is Chief Arbiter K.K. Chan of Hong Kong and at left is Deputy Chief Arbiter Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan.

Sri Lanka Delegation