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Abu Dhabi won the bid for the Chess Olympiad 2028. The FIDE General Assembly, meeting online on 17th December 2023, voted 96 in favor of Abu Dhabi, UAE vs 60 for Genoa, Italy.

In photo, Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (seated, center) and to his right Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary H.E. Aref Al Awani made the presentation to the General Assembly. Standing at right is UAE Chess Federation president Taryam Matar Taryam. Seated at left is Abu Dhabi Chess Club Chairman Hussein Abdullah Al-Khoury. Standing behind H.E. Al Awani is Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher.

The bid to secure the rights to host the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2028, FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities 2028, and FIDE Congress 2028 was a joint effort by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Chess Federation. The proposed venue for these events is the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the largest of its kind in the Middle East.

FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan (center) and Secretary General Lukasz Turlej (second from right) during an inspection visit to Abu Dhabi.

Before the vote, FIDE conducted visits to both Abu Dhabi and Genoa to inspect the proposed venues and facilities. Official meetings were held with local and government authorities in both cities and with potential organizers.

In Abu Dhabi, meetings were conducted with prominent figures, including His Excellency Aref Al Awani, the General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the President of the Asian Chess Federation, H.E. Tarim Matar Muhammad Tarim, the President of the UAE Chess Federation, and Hussein Abdullah Al-Khoury, the President of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club.

FIDE’s inspection concluded that “Abu Dhabi presented a compelling bidding proposal, supported by the findings of the inspection visit on December 6th and 7th, 2023. The city boasts a robust transportation and accommodation infrastructure, a venue meeting top international standards, and experienced organizers capable of hosting world-class events not only in chess but in various other sports and spheres.”

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovic (left, background) visiting Asian Chess Federation President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (right, background).

This marks the second time that the UAE will host a chess Olympiad, following the event held in Dubai in 1986.

Abu Dhabi and the UAE have recently demonstrated a strong commitment to organizing numerous chess events. In 2023 alone, the country hosted the inaugural Global Chess League, the 29th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, and the Asia Chess Amateur Championship. The Emirate is hosting the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain.

Vietnam topped the Asian Youth Blitz Chess Championship yesterday, 17th December 2023, with three gold, four silver and 3 bronze medals. India followed with equal number of gold medals but without any silver or bronze. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final ranking. The event was supported by the FIDE Planning and Development Commission.

Awarding medals in photo above are, from left, UAE Chess Federation president Taryam Matar Taryam, Abu Dhabi Chess Club Chairman Hussein Abdullah Al-Khoury, Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary H.E. Aref Al Awani. (Photos by Hossam Eldin Mohammed).

Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia won the 11th edition of Kamatyas Invitational GM Tournament 2023 at the Grandmaster Eugene Torre Museum of Pan de Amerikana in Concepcion Dos, Marikina City Saturday, December 16, 2023. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final standings and to download games.

Megaranto took the crown with 6.5 points in this week-long FIDE Standard tournament jointly organized by International Master Roderick Nava (above photo, seated second from left) and National Master David Almirol of Kamatyas Chess Club.

Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and International Master Michael Concio Jr. of the Philippines came through with different results in the ninth and final round to finish tied for second.

International Master Michael Concio Jr. (left) versus Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia. Also in photo are International Arbiter Patrick Lee (left background) and International Arbiter Ricky Navalta.

Gomez downed International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia while Concio held Megaranto to a draw in the final round. Gomez and Concio ended up tied at No. 2 and No.3 placers with 5.5 points apiece.

International Master Daniel Quizon toppled Woman International Master Miaoyi Lu of China while International Master Paulo Bersamina drew with International Master Joel Banawa of the United States. They finished with five points apiece.
Grandmaster Tuan Minh Tran split the points with Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr.

Tran, Garcia and Banawa were tied at 6th to 8th placers with 4.5 points each followed by Antonio who landed 9th with 3.0 points and Miaoyi at cellar dweller with 1.0 point.

by Marlon Bernardino
Final Standings and tournament payouts:
6.5 points—GM Susan Megaranto of Indonesia (($4,000 )
5.5 points—GM John Paul Gomez of the Philippines ($2,000), IM Michael Concio Jr. of the Philippines ($1,000)
5.0 points—IM Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines ($800 ) IM Daniel Quizon of the Philippines ( $700)
4.5 points—GM Tuan Minh Tran of Vietnam ($500),  IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia of the Philippines ($500), IM Joel Banawa of USA ($500)
3.0 points—GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. of the Philippines ($500)
1.0 points—WIM Miaoyi Lu of China ($500)

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan presided over a hybrid Continental Assembly on 16th December 2023 at the Al Ain Convention Center in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) addressing the Assembly in the Convention Center auditorium and by Zoom. From left are Executive Director Casto Abundo of the Philippines, General Secretary Hisham Al Taher of the UAE, Sheikh Sultan, Treasurer Sahapol Nakvanich of Thailand and Deputy President Bharat Singh of India. Absent with apologies was Vice President Xu Yuhua of China.

Asian Continental Assembly supported the proposal to remove term limits for FIDE Presidency. The body unanimously supported the Olympiad bid of Abu Dhabi 2028.

The Assembly discussed the 2024 calendar of tournaments and awarded the following:

Kazakhstan shall organize the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2024 for age groups under 8,10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 in July 2024 in Almaty.

Thailand shall organize the Asian Schools Chess Championship in December 2024.

Sri Lanka shall organize the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship for age group under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 scheduled 1-9 June 2024. Luxman Wijesuriya offered to host the under-20 if there was no organizer.

Tagaytay, Philippines shall organize the Asian Amateur Chess Championship November 2024 in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Indian children topped the Asian Youth Rapid Chess Championship held 13 December 2023 at the Al Ain Convention Center in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. India tallied four golds, three silvers and two bronze medals followed by China with three gold medals.

The event was supported by the FIDE Planning and Development Commission. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final standings.

In photo, Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) at the ceremonial opening moves assisted by Thailand Chess Federation president Sahapol Nakvanich (left) and Iraq Chess Federation president Dhafer Madhloom (right).

Russian children playing under the FIDE flag won one gold, four silvers and three bronze medals. Here is the medal tally.

Here are the medalists of each group. Due to the late hour, awards ceremonies were moved to the Cultural Night on 16th December 2023. (Photos by Hossam Eldin Mohammed).

National youth chess delegations have arrived in Al Ain for the Asian Youth Chess Championship with Rapid chess event starting 13th December 2023 at the Al  Ain Convention Center in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

In photo above are the members of the large Chinese Taipei delegation at the Dubai airport. Below are some of the Pakistan youth delegation payingat a courtesy call on honourable Governor Punjab Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman at Governor House Lahore. “This brilliant youth is the new face of Pakistani chess! Thank you Governor sb for the support to chess,” Chess Federation of Pakistan president Hanif Qureshi said.

“Governor Punjab is the constitutional Head of 130 million people province and Head of all universities. He has offered to bring chess in academic institutions, Hanif added. Visit X (formerly twitter) feed of Hanif Qureshi.

The Technical Meeting was held evening of 12th at the auditorium of the Al Ain Convention Center.

The meeting was held in hybrid style with some Heads of Delegations present below and others attending online as can be seen on the backdrop screen above.

Draw of lots for boys. Top seed India represented by GM Pravin Thipsay (right) selecting in the time honored way from outstretched hands by second seed Vietnamese Head of Delegation. Below is the draw of lots for girls.

An Asian Online Chess Workshop in English for Girls under-20 was held 8-10 December 2023.

Thirty four (34) players from nineteen (19) national federations participated in the workshop.

The project has been supported by the FIDE Development Fund.

 https://trainers.fide.com/2023/11/27/asian-online-chess-workshop-girls-under-20-english/

The Eastern Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championship 2023 which started on 1st December 2023 came to a conclusion yesterday at the Sabah Oriental Hotel in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and final rank.

For the Open event, it was a tight race between Filipino IM Quizon Daniel (above left) and Mongolian FM Amilal Munkhdalai with the latter edging the top spot going into the 8th round after Daniel lost to Indonesia IM Arfan Aditya Bagus in their 7th round encounter . However, FM Amilal was not able to seal the deal and had to be contented with a second place finish – having drawn both his remaining games, with IM Quizon Daniel winning both his remaining rounds to squeeze the top spot due a better tie break. Both Daniel and Amilal had 7.5 points from 9 encounters with 3rd placed Indonesian IM Arfan Aditya Bagus accumulating 7 points rounding up the podium slots. Malaysia’s top finisher in the Open Section was 12 year old Kavin Mohan in 7th place with 6 points.

On the Girls event, It was a close race between Indonesia’s WFM Singgih Diajeng Theresa and Mongolia’s WFM Altantuya Boldbaatar. After drawing their 4th round encounter, it was a foot race between the two with the Mongolian losing to local WCM Chua Jia-Tien in the 5th round, and 2 rounds later, Singgih lost to fellow countrymate WCM Liuviann Cecilia Natalie. After the dust settled, despite having accumulated the same 7.5 points each, WFM Singgih (below draped in Indonesian flag) was declared the winner due to a better tie break, with WFM Altantuya in the 2nd spot.

WCM Liuviann completed the podium slots with WCM Chua Jia-Tien – despite winning her last round encounter with WCM Liuviann, had to settle for the 4th spot as the top Malaysia performer.

Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi (right), giving presenting a token of appreciation to the Senior Private Secretary to the Sabah Chief Minister – Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun, who attended the event and gave away the main prizes to the winner. Also in the photo is Sabah Chess Association President – Muammar Julkarnain.

In the blitz championship FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca of the Philippines and WFM Boldbaatar altantya of Mongolia won the juniors and girls events, respectively.

Chief Arbiter IA K.K. Chan (seated center) with Arbiters and performers.

Datamatics chess team won the BPO Olympics Season 12 Chess Tournament after defeating the 5-time champion, Accenture in round 5 and 6, finishing with a perfect score of 35 wins, 0 draws, and 0 losses. Accenture A scored 30 wins & 5 losses, claimed the 2nd place; and Conduent secured the 3rd place.

In above photo are, from left: Stephen Manzanero, Jhulo Goloran, Glory Grace Branzuela, Marc Kevin labog, Tyrone Felos Santos and Jay-r Sumagang

Other companies who participated in the event were Accenture A, Accenture B, Asurion, Conduent, Teleperformance, and ISTA Solutions.
The BPO Olympics (formerly Call Center Olympics) is an annual event open for all BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing) and its employees and aims to promote fitness as well as sportsmanship and camaraderie among the players in the BPO Industry. This will also be a good venue for BPO employees to showcase their other skills and talents outside work. This year, the event was held on December 7, 2023 at Meralco Gym, Ortigas, Pasig City.
The prestigious tournament marked the first appearance of the DATAMATICS Team in events organized by Popcorn Events Production.
The DATAMATICS Chess Team was composed of the following:
Board 1 – Marc Kevin Labog
Board 2 – Don Tyrone Delos Santos
Board 3 – Jhulo Goloran
Board 4 – Stephen Manzanero
Board 5 – Jay-R Sumagang
Alternate – Glory Grace Branzuela (GMB)
Team Captain – John Mauricc Delos Santos
Coach – John Michael Magpily; Asst coach – Carlo Pelagio
Team Manager – Marvin Borabien

In a short interview the team’s coach, JM Magpily, stated “A very special thanks to our very kind and supportive manager, Ms. Glory Grace Branzuela, who has been there from the beginning to the end, valuing the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship with courage to fight for a win with a heart of Datamatician.” He also stated that Datamatics truly supports abilities of employees in different sports and passions, not just chess.

By Marlon Bernardino