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21-year-old Filipino David Sarmiento wins Rapid Chess Championship in Emden, Germany

By Marlon Bernardino
David Ray Sarmiento, 21-year-old chess prodigy from Nueva Ecija, Philippines, won the 50th Anniversary Emden Chess Club Rapid Chess Championships held September 14, 2025 at the Culture Center in Emden, Germany.
Sarmiento was undefeated with an impressive score of 6.0 points from 5 wins and 2 draws.
David Ray Sarmiento’s triumph is a proud moment for the Philippines. It shall be recalled that Sarmiento finished second place at the B division of the Grenke Chess Open held from April 17-21, 2025 at the Kongresszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany. Sarmiento had 8.0 points on account of 7 wins and 2 draws, in a tie with Tim Lehmann of Germany, Daniel Aziz of the Netherlands, Elman Tariverdiyev of Germany and David Tulchnysky of Germany. The Filipino won runner-up honors after the tie break points were applied to bring home the 1,500 euros for his efforts.

Asians Lead FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, Qualification Chances in Men’s

GM Rameshbabu Vaishali of India (left) beat GM Mariya Muzychuk (right) of Ukraine to tie Kateryna Lagno of Russia for the lead after the penultimate round of the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The top two qualify into the Women’s Candidates Tournament.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings.

In the FIDE Open Grand Swiss, Asian men are within striking distance to finish in the top two who will qualify into the FIDE Candidates Tournament.

The exciting last round matches are:

 

IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central Win 3×3 Chess Tournament

By Marlon Bernardino
The IIEE Northern Cotabato, composed of team captain Aneano Bejec Jr., Richard James Mendoza, Reinheart Pillo, Randy Belarmino and Irenio Butigan, captured the crown last September 13 at Koten, Pasay City, Philippines.
This team from Kidapawan were the first team who qualified in the Visayas-Mindanao leg as they won the Southern Mindanao regional elmination last October 2024.
In 3×3 chess, the troika of Randy Turreda, Ronald Donasco and Evaristo Tizon captured the overall championship sweeping the IIEE National Championship. The team represented the IIEE Metro National Region as regional champion last November 2024.
It was a gruelling 30 games each interspersed with exhibition games. Kenji Ting beat influencer vlogger Hamtime in a one-on-one with score of 10-9.
The tournament was organized by IIEE Golden Sports chairman Andy Lim, vice chairman Ervin Fernandez and Adviser FPres Allan Alvarez with chess arbiters NM Marlon Bernardino and Ferdie Reyes Sr.
In photo doing the chess ceremonial moves (from Right to left pairing) are PCAP President Paul Elauria vs IIEE Golden Sports Chairmam Andy Lim, Malou Doles of Koten vs NM Dennis Guitierrez, IIEE Former President Jojo Padua vs Bulacan Chapter President Michael Angelo Licuanan with IIEE FPres Allan Alvarez (standing)

Registration for Asian Schools Chess Championship in Full Swing

Registration for the Asian Schools Chess Championship scheduled 24th October to 2nd November 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is now in full swing. Usernames and passwords have been sent to the official emails of national federations in Asia for the registration link https://ascc2025.chesstournament.org/

Download 19th Asian Schools Chess Championship 2025

Visit Join Asian Schools Chess Championship in Mongolia

Kazakhstan Children Joining Asian Schools in Mongolia

The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has registered 24 children to the event together with parents and other accompanying persons. Above is photo of a children’s tournament in Kazakhstan. Their boys and girls participating in Ulaanbaatar are

Moldagali Akerke G13
Zhubatkhan Assylym G7
Nurmukhamet Sara G7
Yerzhan Bibisara G13
Zhakisheva Venera G7
Issatay Aiziya G9
Mamakova Aknur G13
Japparbekova Malika G15
Abdullayeva Rusalina G17
Zhetpis Symbat G11
Zharas Aldiyar B13
Kaliakhmet Elsultan B13
Zhubatkhan Nuraly B9
Adilbekuly Altair B17
Makhsatuly Rakhim B11
Tulegen Ramazan B11
Abdikayim Muhammedgali B9
Omurzakov Altair B9
Mubarak Yerassyl B15
Daulet Alikhan B17
Chernyshov Makar B7
Nurshin Nurali B9
Akhmet Suleyman B13
Kabinazar Nurmukhammed B15

IM Oliver Dimakiling Wins the Chess Hub Rapid tournament at Sahara Centre

The newly formed Chess Hub concluded its first series of events with tournaments for up-and-coming juniors and veteran players alike over the weekend of 6th and 7th September 2025 at the Sahara Center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

IM Oliver Dimakiling (third from right), one of the coaches at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club, CM Allayar Shirliyev of Turkmenistan, and Meghan Gabrielle Olandag led the winners of the two-day competitions.

Dimakiling topped the five-round rapid tournament with 4.5 points, while Shirliyev had 6.5 points to rule the blitz event. Olandag also had 4.5 points to win the U16 junior tournament. AIM Reggie Mel Santiago and Marvin Marcos completed the top 3 in the rapid tournament, while Santiago and Dimakiling took the second and third spots in the blitz event. Olandag also received the top lady special awards in both rapid and blitz events.

India’s Udiavar Pragun Pai and Prashant S placed second and third in the junior tournament, respectively. Iran’s Nicky Ebrahimian, on vacation in the UAE with her family, and Sarangi Rakesh of India took the top girl participant and top U12 special awards respectively.

The tournaments were held at The Chess Hub, a new chess centre located at Sahara Centre on the Dubai-Sharjah border. The Chess Hub plans to hold weekly events, including a rapid chess tournament on Saturday (Sept 13) for U1900 player

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament


by Marlon Bernardino
The Barangay 449 squad reigned supreme in the Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso Inter-Barangay Rapid Chess Team Tournament held September 8, 2025 at the Coleseo de Manila, Vistas Street in Tondo, Manila, Philippines.
Playing for Barangay 449 Chess Team were Board 1 GM candidate Ronald Dableo (5.0 points), Board 2 Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim Iii (5.0 points), Board 3 Marco Jay Mabasa (6.0 points) and Board 4 Arnold Dableo (4.5 points). The Barangay 449 Chess Team finished with six wins and one loss for 12.0 match points and 20.5 game points in seven outings to receive the top purse of P150,000.
“I’m very happy about this achievement,” said Dableo, who got his his third and final GM result or norms during the Dato Arthur Tan-Malaysian Open Chess Championship at the Ballroom, Cititel MidValley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia wayback August 30, 2009.

But to become a full-fledged GM and join 18 others in the elite Filipino grandmasters list, Dableo needs to jack up his Elo rating to at least 2500.


The Barangay 52 (11.0 match points, 22.0 game points) placed second.
They included on Board 1 GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (5.5 points), Board 2 Robert Cacho (5.5 points), Board 3 Sherwin Gian Romero (5.0 points) and Board 4 Ruel Nisperos (6.0 points).

The 63-year-old former University of Manila standout Antonio said in an interview after the event “I would like to thank Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and the Manila Sports Council (MASCO) headed by Mr. Dale Evangelista for supporting Philippine chess,” added Antonio, the top board best player who is set to represent the country in the upcoming 33rd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships (50+ and 60+) to be held October 20 to November 2 in Gallipoli, Italy, and the III Open Internacional de Ajedrez on November 8 to 16  in Alicante, Spain.

Placing third was the Barangay 410 (11.0 match points, 19.5 game points). The Barangay 410 is composed of Board 1 IM Michael Concio Jr. (5.5 points), Board 2 Genghis Imperial (4.5 points), Board 3 Mark Oliver Ingcad (4.5 points) and Board 4 Princess Nicole Ballete (5.0 points).
GM Antonio’s team received P100,000 while the IM Concio squad earn P70,000.
Rounding up to the top 10 were Barangay 48 (fourth), Barangay 46 (fifth), Barangay 4 (sixth), Barangay 53 (seventh), Barangay 431 (eight), Barangay 265 (ninth) and Barangay 592 (tenth).-Marlon Bernardino-

James Padua Wins Marikina Rapid Chess Championship

by Marlon Bernardino
James Padua won the Barangka Rapid Chess Tournament held 7th September 2025 at the Barangka Elementary School in Marikina City, Philippines.
Padua, tied for first place with John Narito at 6.0 points apiece. With the higher tiebreak points, Padua took the title while Narito finished second. Time control was 15 minutes plus 5 seconds increment per move for each player.

The Rapid chess tournament was organized by the Barangka Chess Club headed by its president Restie Roxas in cooperation with Marikina Chess Association President and Sportsman Johnny “Joel” Gaudia.

Anthony Avellaneda finished the tournament with 5.5 points for solo third place.

Rounding up the top 10 were Magnus Bragais (4th), John Poquiz (5th), James Vito (6th), Anthony Libramonte (7th), Lohan Yauder (8th), Diosado Balanlay (9th) and Warren Pajo (10th).

Adjudged category winners were Simone Esperanza (Top Lady), Diosdado Balanlay (Top Barangka), Magnus Braguis (Top Kiddie), Light Maranan (Top 2 Kiddie), Prince Cuario, (Top 3 Kiddie), Jeremy Esperanza (Top Lady Kiddie) and John Basiya (Top Barangka Kiddie).

Earlier, Marikina Chess Association President and Sportsman Johnny “Joel” Baylon Gaudia and Barangay Barangka SK chairwoman Nyra Alyza Calalin Centeno made the ceremonial moves ushering in the one-day event. Also gracing the tournament was Pastor Ranier Bonoan Pascual. -Marlon Bernardino-

FIDE Grand Swiss Starts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Round one of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss ended with a high number of draws in the Open section. By contrast, the Women’s Grand Swiss delivered early drama as several top seeds were upset by lower-rated opponents.

The first games of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss started at 3 PM local time in Samarkand. Now in its fourth edition, the event has drawn many of the world’s strongest players – including the world champion, Gukesh D – to compete in what is widely seen as the most gruelling Swiss System tournament of the year.

The round began with the traditional ceremonial first move on the top boards. Alisher Sadullaev – the First Vice-President of Uzbekistan Chess Federation and CEO of the Youth Affairs Agency of Uzbekistan – made the ceremonial move on board six, featuring Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Sadullaev was joined by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and Chief Arbiter of the event, Laurent Freyd.

The opening rounds of Swiss System tournaments, especially round one, usually feature a significant number of victories, as the strongest players are pitted against the lower-rated ones. But the Grand Swiss is different: there are no weak opponents and anyone can win – and lose. It is not surprising then that the majority of the games in the Open event ended in draws.

On board one, top-ranked player R Praggnanandhaa drew with Jeffery Xiong in the Exchange line of the French. “Getting Jeffrey [former World Junior Champion] is unlucky, but everyone is strong here, and you don’t really have easy games,” said Praggnanandhaa after the game. The 19-year-old Indian shrugged off suggestions that he felt any pressure as the top-rated player in the tournament.

On board two, Arjun Erigaisi drew with Maksim Chigaev, while rising stars Ediz Gurel and Vincent Keymer split a point in the Ruy Lopez. GM Gabriel Sargissian – a highly successful member of the Armenian chess team – had a winning position against none other than Hans Niemann, but let the advantage slip into a draw.

Among the notable winners in round one are the World Champion Gukesh D who overcame the seasoned French GM Étienne Bacrot on the black side of the Caro-Kann. Anish Giri defeated Armenia’s Robert Hovhannisyan in the Najdorf line of the Sicilian.

The winner of the 2023 Grand Swiss, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, also started with a victory against Alexander Donchenko, following time trouble. Alireza Firouzja managed to score against Bassem Amin after the Egyptian GM made a crucial mistake in an equal endgame late in the round.

Uzbekistan’s biggest hope in this tournament, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, defeated Serbia’s Velimir Ivic. In the Najdorf, Abdusattorov created a passer on the a-file and gradually increased pressure on Black. The opponents traded mistakes in time trouble before the time control, but Velimir was last to err.

The game between the winner of this year’s Women’s World Cup Divya Deshmukh and her Indian compatriot Puranik Abhimanyu brought the first real spark in the tournament.

The Women’s Grand Swiss

The women’s event saw a completely different start, with upsets across the top boards.

On board one, top seed Anna Muzychuk lost on time to 18-year-old Hungarian WGM Zsóka Gaál – despite holding a clearly better position deep into the game.

Former world champions also had a poor start. On board two, Tan lost to Olga Girya. In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Tan created a strong position, making an advance on the queenside. However, towards the end, she miscalculated, lost a pawn and ultimately conceded her defeat.

Another former world champion, Mariya Muzychuk, also lost – misplaying an endgame as Black against lower-rated Xeniya Balabayeva.

In another upset, IM Polina Shuvalova lost as White to 100 points lower-rated Azerbaijani player Ulviyya Fataliyeva.

There was another surprise earlier in the day when Chinese Woman GM Zhai Mo – the Women’s Chinese Chess Champion in 2018 – was the first to win a full point. She completely outplayed the nearly 100-points-higher-rated Leya Garifullina, forcing her to resign or get checkmated.

On the other hand, the 2023 winner Vaishali Rameshbabu started with a victory, making a good start on her goal to qualify for the Candidates. Among the top boards, Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Estonia’s Mai Narva with the white pieces. Nurgyul Salimova split a point with Kateryna Lagno on board four.

The full results of Round 1 and Round 2 pairings can be found here:

Women – grandswiss2025.fide.com/grand-swiss-women/

Open – grandswiss2025.fide.com/open/

Round 2 starts at 3 PM local time on Friday, 5th September.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Michal Walusza

Official website:  grandswiss2025.fide.com 

University of the Philippines Wins Quezon City Grand Finals

By Marlon Bernardino
The varsity chess team members of the University of the Philippines won the Quezon City -Wide chess team tournament (Grand finals, Battle of the District Champions) held August 30, 2025 at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City, Philippines.
Francis Apollo “Kiko” Magpily, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) bannered the Barangay UP campus squad that bagged the title of this prestigious tourney featuring the best athletes in Quezon City.
Joining Magpily in the winning team were Cyrus Vladimir Francisco, Mark Nuella and rookie Daniel Tagufa.
Barangay UP campus, District 4 ended up in the rapid competition with 9 match points, 15.5 game points to clinch the title and take the championship trophy plus the top purse of P50,000, backed up by Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.
The Barangay UP campus, District 4 squad’s closest competitor was Barangay Holy Spirit, District 2, who finished the tournament with 9 match points, 13.5 game points.
Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa, District 1, placed third with 4 match points, 9.5 game points while Barangay Sta. Lucia, District 5 and Barangay Matandang Balara, District 3, ended up in fourth and fifth place, respectively with similar 4 match points, 8 games points. Barangay Baesa, District 6 placed sixth with 5.5 game points.
The Barangay UP campus squad scored victories over Barangay Matandang Balara (Round 1), Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa (Round 2), Barangay Sta. Lucia (Round 3), and Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa (Round 4).
The Barangay UP campus squad split the points with the Barangay Holy Spirit in the fifth and final round.
“This outstanding accomplishment is a testament to the UP’s long-standing dedication in fostering excellence in the field of mind boggling chess game,” said University of the Philippines coach FIDE Master Leonardo Carlos.
-Marlon Bernardino-

FIDE Arbiters’ Commission Meets in Fujairah, UAE

The FIDE Arbiters Commission, headed by Chairman Ivan Syrovy, held a meeting 1st September 2025 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates during the Fujairah Global Masters tournament there.

Clockwise from left are Fujairah Board Member Ibrahim Jalal, FIDE Management Board COO Sava Stoisavljevic, Fujairah Manager Mohamed Abdulghani, Arbiters Commission Secretary Nebojsa Baralic, Chairman Ivan Syrovy, Fujairah Deputy President Mohamed Abdulla, Fujairah Chess Club president Dr. Abdulla AlBarkat, Counsellor Abdulrahim Mahdi, Counsellors Chanda Nsakanya and Han Yajun.