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Luxman Wijesuriya and his team were again unanimously re-elected to drive the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka for the next term at the Annual General Meeting of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

The Annual General Meeting of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was held ao 30^th of May 2024 at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo at 5.00 p.m. All the member institutions with the Sports Ministry representative and the Election Committee elected at a CFSL EGM earlier were present. Mr. Wijesuriya is serving as a counselor in the FIDE Chess in Schools Commission, General Secretary of the Commonwealth Chess Association and as a Vice President of the Asian Chess Federation as well.

Mr. Wijesuriya, two times National Chess Champion in 1996 & 2000 who has driven Chess to reach the Asian & World standard is totally committed for the game. He and his team have brought chess to a greater height touching all possible areas of the game, training National players, having numerous Chess events, representing all most all the official Chess events in Asia and the World. He also has brought many International Chess Tournaments to Sri Lanka, Now the Chess Federation is planning 4 official international events, Western Asian Youth Chess Championships 2024, Western Asian Junior Chess Championships 2024, Asian Corporate Event, and the Commonwealth Chess Championships 2024 to hold in this year.

The Deputy President, Deepthi Hewageegana, has represented Sri Lanka and serves as the CEO of the United Tractors Ltd. There are two former National Chess Champions, Rajeendra Kalugampitiya and Pramodya Senanayake while most of the others have played the game to certain level. The most of them are having high academic profile being graduates of main Universities in the country. We have no doubt that this team will bring our beloved game to the next level.

Newly Elected Executive Committee

1. President – Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya
2. Deputy President – Mr. Deepthi Hewageegana
3. Secretary General – Mr. Kanishka Welipitiya
4. Honorary Treasurer – Mr. Erosh Jayasinghe
5. Vice Presidents:

– Mr. R.S. Kalugampitiya

– Mr. Thushan Wickramarachchi

– Mr. Naditha Amarakoon

– Mr. Rajiv Thilakarathne

– Ms. Pramodya Senanayake

– Dr. Yasith Lasanga

6. Assistant Secretary – Ms. Washini Surasinghe
7. Tournament Secretary – Mr. Niroshan Chathuranga
8. Assistant Treasurer – Mr. Sanjeewa Anuradha
9. Committee Members:

– Mr. Werochana Perera

– Mr. Malith Akalanka

– Mr. L.V. Mudalige

– Mr. Lahiru Munasinghe

– Mr. Rahul Jeyanthan

– Mr. Vathanaruban Umaibalan

Panabo Knights Chess Club won the Association of Chess Amateurs of the Philippines, Inc. (ACAPI) 1st President’s Cup 2024 Online Chess Tournament and were honored at the online Awards ceremonies May 28, 2024.

The Panabo Knights led by National Master Henry Roger Lopez (photo above), won the championship in the Open Division and the Youth Division. They placed second in the Senior Division and the PWD Division.

“Due to the excellence shown by the Panabo Knights Chess Club , they were honored as overall champion with a corresponding prize in addition to the prize in each division,” ACAPI President Engineer Rey Cris Urbiztondo announced.

Also winning were the Davao Durianburg Stallions of National Arbiter Ely Acas, who won the PWD Division, second in the Open Division and third in the Female Division.

Coach Boyet Tardecilla’s Imus Cefag PPKGCC won the Female Division and placed third in the PWD Division.
The Las Pinas TFCC CMC of Coach Ferdinand Reyes placed second in the Female Division and third in the Open Division and Senior Division.

Tuguegarao A won the championship in the Under 12 Division and Tuguegarao C was third while IM Ronald Bancod’s Laoag Sunshine City placed second in the Under 12 Division.

The four-man Madridejos Knights Chess Club became the first ever senior division champion of the  President’s Cup online tournament.

Led by playing team owner Engr. Josito “Jojo” Clamor Dondon based in Texas, United States, the Madridejos Knights completed a clean sweep of Davao del Norte’s Panabo Knights Chess Club in their four-round championship match to clinch the historic crown.

ACAPI President AGM Urbiztondo expressed gratitude to all who participated as well as the composed officials of ACAPI for the successful online tournament.

The 19th IGB Malaysian Chess Festival 2024 is scheduled 13 – 23 September 2024 at the Cititel Midvalley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Festival comprises nine events, namely the Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation Merdeka Junior Under-12 Team Championship, Merdeka Blitz Chess Championship, Age Group Chess Championshp Under 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16, Malaysian Open Chess Championship, Daniel Young Chen Memorial, Malaysia Day Age Group and Festival Blitz Championship.

https://register-datchesscentre.com/

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KEorMlyGoh8

Eighteen-year-old GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran topped the 7th Sharjah Masters held 14-22 May 2024 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He scored 6.5 points in the 9-round Swiss, in a tie with three other players but prevailing in the tie break. Visit chess-results.com for round by round standings and to download games.

Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher making the opening moves at the Sharjah Masters.

In photo are, from left, Tournament Director Abdulla Murad, Electronic Board Arbiter A, deeb Zehrawi, Vice President Omran Abdulla, Sharjah Masters Champion GM Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran, Sharjah Challenger Champion IM Deshmukh Divya of India, Sharjah Chess Club President and Arab Chess Federation President Sheikh Khaled Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Sharjah Futures Champion FM Agshin Alizada of Azerbaijan and UAE Chess Federation President Taryam Matar Taryam.

International Master Deshmuth Divya of India won the Sharjah Challengers with 7 points and the better tie break over International Masters Leya Garifullina of Russia and Sina Movahed of Iran.

Agshin Alizada of Azerbaijan won the Sharjah Futures with 7.5 and better tie break over Safarulfakhan Safin of India.

Asian Chess Federation will organize an online International Organizers Seminar in Arabic 2-6 August 2024 by Zoom to educate organizers how to handle an International Event and the regulations necessary for the event to be FIDE certified. Applicants for the FIDE International Organizer title are required to attend a seminar and pass an examination in order to obtain their FIDE IO title. Certificates of Completion will be awarded to successful participants.

Lecturer is FIDE lecturer IA/IO Mahdi Abdulrahim (UAE), Chairman of Asian Chess Federation Arbiters Commission. Contact mahdi.abdulrahim2020@gmail.com

See FIDE Events Commission

Tasmanian Championship prize winners. Clockwise from back row left: Will Rumley, Kevin Bonham, Fabian Ivancic, Anya Song, Himash Keerthiratne, James Banbury, Noah Carpenter, Ian Rout, Chris Shepherd, Carl Gorka and Zach Lim.

2024 TASMANIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Chris Shepherd’s report, courtesy of the TCA site:

Traditionally Launceston Chess Club (LCC) hosts the Tasmanian State Championships, over the long weekend in March. Geographically, Launceston sits in between the southern state capital Hobart and the North coast cities of Devonport and Burnie. This was my sixth consecutive year of traveling up the National Highway 1 to take part, having made my debut in the 2019 event, drawn by the star power of Grandmaster David Smerdon who took part that year.

Since the closure of the YMCA in Launceston, the LCC have been looking for a new home for the State Champs. After a trip out to Carrick in 2023, this year’s event was hosted in Rocherlea Memorial Hall, in the outer northern suburbs of greater Launceston. The success of this year’s event hopefully means the State Champs have found a new home for 2025 and beyond.

The rude health of chess in Tasmania was evidenced by a near record breaking field taking part this year. There was some talk that we might break the long-standing record of 32 players who contested for the title in 2007. In the end several late withdrawals reduced the field to 30. However, three players made the trip from the big island to take part. Friend of the tournament Miles Patterson from Canberra, Darryl Ross of NSW and Ron Kuypers from Queensland. It was also good to see a healthy number of young people on the start list, with just over 50% of the entries aged between 16 and 39.

In an echo of the 2023 Tasmanian Open, the oldest player David Ratkowsky was drawn against the youngest Karl Lee in the final round. I also played Karl in round 4, a nerve-racking experience, because I coach Karl and a cohort of his fellow pupils at the Calvin school in Kingston and I was therefore extra keen not to lose.

After seven rounds of hard-fought chess Carl Gorka retained his title of Tasmanian State Champion, finishing on a score of 6 out of 7 (5 wins and 2 draws). Kevin Bonham, Zach Lim and Fabian Ivancic all finished equal second on 5 out of 7.

In addition to Carl’s achievement, history was also made in Tasmanian chess by Anya Song who finished equal 5th on 4.5/7. I understand this is the highest score by a female player in Championship history. Anya was awarded a cash prize very kindly donated by Carl Gorka.

The Junior prize was shared between Will Rumley and Himash Keerthiratne. In addition, Himash shared the under 1800 rating prize with Noah Carpenter. Finally, James Banbury was awarded the under 1500 rating prize.

The Tasmanian Senior Champion title is shared between Ian Rout and me (Chris Shepherd).

Full results: 2024 Tasmanian Championships Launceston Mar 9-11 – Page 2 (chesschat.org)

The Doeberl Cup attracted a strong, record-breaking entry of 416 national and international chess players. Defending Champion Hrant Melkumyan of Armenia headed a field including current Australian Champion, Rishi Sardana of Australian Capital Territory (ACT), three Indian Grandmasters, in form former title holder Victorian James Morris and Junta Ikeda of ACT.

Players representing Serbia, China, Brazil, Mongolia, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore joined the contest for their share in the total prize pool of over $25,000. Australian players were vying for selection in the Australian team for the Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September. International Masters were looking for strong performances to advance towards Grandmaster titles.

GM Hrant Melkumyan recorded his 3rd Doeberl Cup tournament win in a row, after a dominant performance in the 2024 edition. Going into the final round a full point ahead, he drew with GM Mitrabha Guha to reach 8/9. IM Peng Cheng also drew on board 2, to take 2nd place on 7/9. IM Arghyadip Das defeated FM Albert Winkleman on board 3 to take a share of 2nd, also ending Winkelman’s chances of scoring an IM norm in the process.

The Major was won by Bryan Yang on 6.5/7. He finished a point ahead of Elliot Wong, Ethan Chang and Daniel Wang. The Minor was shared between Austin Chen and Chee Seng Lue, who both scored 6/7. The Mini saw Aden Power finish with a perfect 7/7, a full point ahead of Alexander Warne. The U1200 event was won by Harry Phillips with 5.5/6.

Anton Smirnov won the 120 player Open blitz with 8/9, ahead of a field that included GM Mitrabha Guha, IM James Morris, IM Mihajlo Radovanovic and WIM Heather Richards.

The U1600 blitz was won by Benjamin Martin with 7/7. Second was Woo Jun Ki on 6, third equal were Kotaro Inukai and Sitong Hao on 5.5. With 60 players.

Based largely on reporting by Paul Power and Shaun Press)

IM Firman Syah Farid of Indonesia won the Hanoi IM chess tournament held May 21 to 26, 2024 at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center in Hanoi, Vietnam with 6.5 points in the 9-round RR. Ivan Travis Cu of the Philippines finished runner-up with six points. In photo are, from left, Maung Maung Lwin, president of Myanmar Chess Federation, awarding medals to Firman Syah Farid, Ivan Travis Cu and third placer Duong Vu Anh of Vietnam.

The 15-year-old Cu, in photo receiving his silver medal from Chief Organizer Bui Vinh, is an incoming Grade 10 student of Xavier School San Juan. He gained 44.4 ELO points which will be added to his current rating of 2266 as of May 1. Thus, Cu broke the 2300 barrier to complete his requirement for the FIDE Master title.

Among those who are supporting his chess campaign here and abroad are Xavier School, its administrators and alumni, San Juan City LGU led by city leaders Mayor Francis Zamora, VM Angelo Agcaoili, Congresswoman Bel Zamora and Coun. Herbert Chua of Addition Hills, PAGCOR, Go For Gold PH, NCFP, under the leadership of Cong. Prospero Pichay and GM Jayson Gonzales and other sponsors.
Cu defeated FM Masruri Rahman of Indonesia, IM Angelo Abundo Young of the Philippines,  IM Dao Minh Nhat of Vietnam, IM Farid Firman Syah of Indonesia and CM Aashman Gupta of India.
He split the points with IM Ricardo De Guzman and FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca of the Philippines.
He lost to ACM Duong Vu Anh of Vietnam and FM Vrashank Chouhan of India.
Cu is playing under the guidance of Xavier School San Juan coach International Arbiter Rolando “Rolly” Yutuc and International Master Jan Emmanuel “Jem” Garcia.

The Vietnam Youth Chess Championship is being held May 24, 2024 to June 5, 2024 in Bac Giang including age groups 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20. The event has attracted 3,035 girls and boys for standard, rapid and blitz events. At stake is the Doppelherz Cup. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings.