| Event | Type | Sponsor | Dates |
| 1 | Rapid Team | SMS DEEN | Sep 12th & 13th, 2025 |
| 2 | Junior (Under-12) Rapid Team | Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 12th & 13th, 2025 |
| 3 | Blitz | - | Sep 13th, 2025 |
| 4 | Rapid Age-Group | Dato' Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 14th, 2025 |
| 5 | Open | Dato' Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 15th - 21st, 2025 |
| 6 | Challenge (for players below FIDE Rtg 2000) | Dato' Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 15th - 21st, 2025 |
| 7 | Seniors' | Dato' Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 15th - 21st, 2025 |
| 8 | Rapid Age-Group | Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation | Sep 16th, 2025 |
| 9 | Blitz | - | Sep 21st, 2025 |
| Rank | Name | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gadir Guseinov | 2692 | 2555 | 2709 | AZE | |
| 2 | Neuris Delgado Ramirez | 2651 | 2561 | 2651 | BRA | |
| 3 | Rafael Leitao | 2628 | 2628 | 2649 | BRA | |
| 4 | Renato Terry | 2577 | 2452 | 2472 | PER | AGM |
| 5 | Bogdan Lalic | 2569 | 2569 | 2424 | ||
| 6 | Timur Gareyev | 2553 | 2468 | 2617 | USA | |
| 7 | Farid Abbasov | 2527 | 2527 | 2527 | ||
| 8 | Alexey Kim | 2517 | 2517 | 2464 | ||
| 9 | Cemil Aghamaliyev | 2485 | 2485 | 2485 | AZE | |
| 10 | Bernardo Roselli Mailhe | 2477 | 2477 | 2442 | ||
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 50 | Dmitry Konenkin | 2307 | 2267 | 2295 | RUS | AGM |
| 100 | Cesar Henostroza | 2217 | 2149 | 2166 | PER | |
| 150 | Alen Yeremyan | 2159 | 2159 | 2287 | ARM | |
| 200 | Alex Pan | 2110 | 2110 | 2155 | ITA | AGM |
The buzz is over for the 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang. Over 400 players, lots of action. But among all the noise and excitement, two young brothers have been quietly making a big impression. That's because for most of the event, you'd have to "bump" into them because their seats were right at the entrance of the playing hall. Fixed table numbers.
The two brothers, Too Pi He, who’s 11, and his 13-year-old brother Pi Cheng, are both in wheelchairs, and this is their story.
 |
| Mickey looks on as Pi He waits for his opponent to move |
Okay, so—both boys were born healthy. Nothing out of the ordinary at first. But then, somewhere around one and a half years old, their muscles started weakening. Mobility went downhill fast. Their spines are now severely curved too. No official diagnosis yet—doctors think it's genetic.
It’s not just them, either. Two of their older sisters have the same condition. Only the eldest sibling seems unaffected. And honestly, what’s amazing is how their aunt, Mickey Too, stepped in. She's been their main caregiver for almost ten years now. That’s a full-time life commitment right there. Major respect.
Obviously, regular sports were out. Mickey thought, Hey, maybe they’ll like chess?. Both boys got into it pretty fast. Mickey started bringing them to tournaments just last year, driving all the way from Kulai, Johor. That’s... not a short drive.
Pi He—he’s in Standard Five at SJKC Lok Yu 2 in Benut, Pontian—already came in second in an Under-12 tourney for physically challenged players. He also got fourth place at a district-level event with more than 200 players. That’s impressive even for a fully able-bodied kid. Pi Cheng’s homeschooled, by the way.
In September last year, they were at a tournament in Pekan, Pahang, and that’s where they met Coach Jax Tham. He’s been coaching for 26 years, mostly able-bodied students. This was his first time working with disabled players, and get this—he did it pro bono. Just… offered to help.
Tham saw they had potential, said they already had the basics. His philosophy? If the kid has passion, just guide them right. Simple. And over the past nine months, he's been helping them improve a lot. Like, they’ve got FIDE ratings now. That’s not easy to get, especially not in less than a year.
Mickey still drives them up to KL about twice a month for coaching. That’s... again, a lot. She doesn’t complain. And just keeps doing it.
What’s really cool is how the boys have changed outside of chess too. Mickey says they used to be super shy—barely talked to people. Now they’re facing off against teens and adults at tournaments like it’s no big deal. Huge confidence boost.
Coach Jax is in awe of Mickey. "Caring for one physically challenged child is already hard. She’s doing it for two. For years." He’s not wrong. Support like that, makes all the difference.
Tham wants to coach them for the next 2–3 years. Long-term plan. He’s hoping they’ll get into Para Sukma, maybe even the Paralympics someday. It’ll depend on their effort, of course. He’s coached players who’ve gone to the Olympics and World Chess Championships, so… he knows what it takes.
And the momentum is there. In March 2025, both brothers did well at the WP Kuala Lumpur Open Circuit 2025 Circuit 3 (FIDE-rated) held at KL Chess Academy. Pi Cheng even won the "Best Para-Athlete" award. That’s a huge deal. Recognition like that means they’re on the radar now.
When asked what advice he’d give to other disabled individuals, Tham said something simple but solid: “If you love something—music, chess, whatever—go all in. Learn it. Be the best you can.”
For me. personally, this story kind of sticks with you. Two boys, facing something most of us can’t even imagine, finding their passion, and chasing it with everything they’ve got. It’s not just about chess. It’s about resilience. And the people behind them—Mickey, Coach Jax—they’re proof that having the right support can move mountains.
Also, amazing is that the brothers played both the standard and rapid event. A gruelling long chess game and the final one was quick chess which is extra challenging. They only skipped the blitz event which is understandable.
Watch these names. Too Pi He. Pi Cheng. You’ll be seeing them again.
Most of the background info was taken from another excellent article about them here:
https://www.buletinmutiara.com/siblings-in-wheelchairs-capture-hearts-at-asean-chess-tournament/
Get ready for the landmark 20th Malaysian Chess Festival 2025! That's right the 20th edition !!
This highly anticipated event, recognized as the region’s longest-running international open, will feature nine diverse tournaments over ten days.
The festival runs from September 12th to 21st, 2025, at the KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur. It's easily accessible via LRT. Organized by DAT Chess Centre (DATCC), the festival caters to all ages and skill levels.
Key events include:
• Team Championships: SMS Deen Merdeka Open Rapid Team and DTCN Merdeka Junior (Under-12) Team.
• Blitz Showdowns: Merdeka and Festival Blitz.
• Age-Group Competitions: DTCN Open Rapid Age-Group (U-06 to U-16) and DTCN Malaysia Day Age Group (U-8 to U-18), crucial for junior development.
• Premier Individual Opens: The flagship 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship (FIDE rated, open to all), the Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial Malaysia Chess Challenge (for players below FIDE Rtg 2000), and the Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors' Open (for players 50+/45+). Early bird discounts apply to these major opens.
This festival is a critical catalyst for local chess development and a tribute to the late Dato' Tan Chin Nam, the "father of Malaysian chess". It consistently attracts large numbers, with around 1,400 entries in 2024. A significant highlight was 15-year-old IM Poh Yu Tian becoming the youngest and first Malaysian to win the main event in 2024.
Download the details here
Online registration here
I've been "blogging" since 1999. I've seen my share of digital ups and downs.
This blog, GilaChess, hosted freely on Blogspot, is the oldest, proudly lasting 14 years online. It wasn't even my main website; my GilaChess.com was.
It’s a remarkable contrast to my experiences with paid-hosted blogs like GilaChess.com. Time and again, despite my best intentions, I fall victim to the dreaded late payment – a missed domain renewal or a forgotten hosting fee. Consequently, their lifespans are tragically short, typically fizzling out after just three or four years.
One example was a website made for the World Youth 2008, which I poured so much effort into, I didn't even have time to visit the beautiful beach at Vung Tau, Vietnam, where the event was held. The website is sad. now dead, expired. All content lost. I won't even go into how painful it was to lose content from GilaChess.com.
This stark difference highlights the inherent stability and cost-effectiveness of platforms like Blogspot, proving that sometimes, the simplest and free solutions offer the most enduring digital presence.
I look like a cheapskate, but for the ASEAN+ Age Group recently concluded event, I'll just post all the content I have into blogspot again, hosted for free, for posterity and longevity's sake.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18nkLgK195/
| Johor Open 2025 (RM) | Johor Challenger 2025 (RM) | Penang Open 2024 (RM) | Penang Challenger 2024 (RM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | 10,000 | 1,300 | 10,000 | 1,300 |
| 2nd Place | 6,000 | 1,000 | 6,000 | 1,000 |
| 3rd Place | 4,000 | 800 | 4,000 | 800 |
| 4th Place | 3,000 | 700 | 3,000 | 700 |
| 5th Place | 2,000 | 500 | 2,000 | 500 |
| 6th Place | 1,200 | 400 | 1,200 | 400 |
| 7th Place | 1,000 | 300 | 1,000 | 300 |
| 8th Place | 800 | 300 | 800 | 300 |
| 9th Place | 700 | 300 | 700 | 300 |
| 10th Place | 600 | 300 | 600 | 300 |
| 11th-12th Place each | 500 | 300 | 500 | 300 |
| 13th-20th Place each | 500 | - | - | - |
| Best Lady 1 | 300 | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best Lady 2 | 300 | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best Veteran (>65) | 300 | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best Veteran (>50) | 300 | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best PCA 1 | - | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best PCA 2 | - | - | 300 | 200 |
| Best PCA 3 | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Best PCA 4 | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Best PCA 5 | - | - | 200 | 200 |
| Best JCA1 | 300 | 200 | - | - |
| Best JCA2 | 250 | 200 | - | - |
| Best JCA3 | 200 | 200 | - | - |
| Best JCA4 | 200 | 200 | - | - |
| Best JCA5 | 200 | 200 | - | - |
| Total | 31,550 | 6,400 | 31,400 | 6,400 |
The 11th Johor Open Rapid 2025 spiced things up as part of the larger Johor Open 2025 chess extravaganza! Held between rounds of the main Open Classical event, it was organized by the Johor Chess Association and was FIDE-rated. The event used a Swiss-System format with 7 rounds, each featuring a time control of 20 minutes per game. Players from far and wide gathered at Fairview International School in Johor on January 19th, 2025, for this thrilling contest. The tournament saw an average player rating of 1592 and an average age of 19. Richard Tan Wuu Chyau, the Johor Chess Association's President (who also moonlights in the Malaysian Ministry of Housing and Local Government), was there to award the prizes.
Held in the afternoon and evening between rounds 2 and 3 of the main Johor Open Classical and Challenger sections, the Rapid tournament was a roller-coaster ride for participants. Usually, players would rest between such intense rounds, but not this time! Defying the tiring schedule and expectations, a record-breaking 185 players took part, surprising even the organizers. This included 36 players from the total of 84 in the Open section and 46 players from the total of 105 in the Challengers section.
GMPriasmoro Novendra (INA) - RM 1,200
"Priasmoro Novendra faced his wife WIM Dita Karenza. With a Centre Counter defense, the game seemed balanced until move 20, but Dita blundered at move 22, losing the exchange and resigning immediately."
CM Kamalsyah Muhammad (INA) - RM 800
IM Polschikov Alexey (RUS) - RM 600
FM Cahaya Satria Duta (INA) - RM 250
FM Rudin Hamdani (INA) - RM 250
Other top ten finishers included: FM Kakavand Ramtin (IRI), GM Iniyan Pa (IND), WIM Karenza Dita (INA), Lasama Claudio Vargues Vasco (INA), and GM Nguyen Van Huy (VIE). The prize money for positions 6th-10th ranged from RM 120 to RM 200.
Best Lady: WIM Karenza Dita (INA) - RM 200
Best Rating Prizes:
Rating <1800: 1st Simanihuruk Nathanael Dieudonne B (INA) - RM 200, 2nd Yu Shi (CHN) - RM 150, 3rd Lau Sau Ching (MAS) - RM 100
Rating <1700: 1st Muraley Rittesh (MAS) - RM 200, 2nd Wong Ming Yau (MAS) - RM 150, 3rd Mohd Shohod Shahrulnizam (MAS) - RM 100
Rating <1600: 1st Lim Kian Guan (MAS) - RM 200, 2nd AIM Saajid (SGP) - RM 150, 3rd Imanuel Martogi (INA) - RM 100
Rating <1500: 1st ACM Joseph Samuel Alexander (INA) - RM 200, 2nd Gultom Almagro Hasian (INA) - RM 150, 3rd Goh Jing Hee (MAS) - RM 100
Rating <1400: 1st Toh Ding Yu (MAS) - RM 200, 2nd Vivaldy Jonathan Charmian (INA) - RM 150, 3rd Sarawana Kumar Darsvin Kumar (MAS) - RM 100, 4th Khaw Wei Zhe Jayden (MAS) - RM 100, 5th Ruzaidi Muhd Fakhrurozzi (MAS) - RM 100, 6th Wildan Muhammad (INA) - RM 100, 7th Tan Yean Shin (MAS) - RM 100, 8th Sai Jia Chun (MAS) - RM 100.
U12 Boys: Choong Ee Jay (MAS) and Wee Yu Heng Lucas John (SGP)
U10 Boys: Vishwakarthi Vikram (SGP)
U10 Girls: Xu Ruixi (CHN)
U8 Girls: AIM Theng Hillary Rooca (INA)
One to watch: FIDE Master Cahaya Satria Duta from Indonesia, the 5th place winner, just 16 years old! A rising star on the chessboard. Interestingly, the top seed in the main Open tournament did not clinch the rapid event, finishing in seventh place—a surprise to many.
Organizers: Johor Chess Association, Federation Malaysia (MAS)
Tournament Director: IA Abd Hamid Bin Abd Majid
Chief Arbiter: IA Ariff, Syawal Aqmar Shahrir
Arbiters: Kwan Nam Sang Eddy, Gerijan Dinesh, and others.
Appeals Committee: Abd Hamid Majid, Leong Ignatius, Bunawan Bong
FIDE Event ID: 395150
Direct Encounter (DE)
Buchholz Tie-Break Variable (2023) (Gamepoints, Cut1)
Buchholz Tie-Break Variable (2023) (Gamepoints)
"The Rapid was held between the Classical Open rounds, which was unusual as the classical is more serious with bigger prize money, so many players were expected to rest."
"However, a surprising 185 players took part in the Rapid—a record and a number unexpected by the organizers."
"That is why many opt not to participate in the Rapid—it’s hectic and tiring. Nonetheless, 46 players from the Open joined the Rapid!"
"FIDE master Cahaya Satria, the 5th place winner, is only 16 years old from Indonesia and a player to watch out for."
Unexpected Success: An impressive turnout despite the taxing schedule, showing strong interest in rapid chess.
International Participation: Diverse players from Indonesia, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Emerging Talent: Young talents like Cahaya Satria Duta hint at promising future chess stars.
Community & Leadership: With the Johor Chess Association at the helm, the event highlighted great community involvement and leadership. Special shout-out to Richard Tan Wuu Chyau for presenting the awards!
Among the sixteenth Penang Heritage City International Chess Festival 2024 events, the Open section, which took place from December 23–27, Malaysian International Master Poh Yu Tian emerged victorious. A large number of participants from around the world showed up to the tournament, even though it was held at the less-than-ideal time of Christmas. There are four events—the Penang Open, the Challengers, the Penang Team League, and the Blitz—that make up the Penang Chess Festival.
Like a caveman I arrived at Cititel last month for the #MYchessFestival meeting confused about where the hotel parking space has gone. As ...
