Cumulative Performance: The win brings the Malaysian Women to 12 Match Points (6 wins, 0 draws, 4 losses) and 25.5 Game Points through 10 rounds
The 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand is reaching the end and the big story to me is the Indonesia’s Women’s team which stated modest #35 seeds but they have posted a string of upsets against top-tier grandmaster opposition, catapulting themselves into the world’s elite top 10 with an astonishing #9 ranking. I first noticed the team all of whose members took part in the 21st Malaysian Chess Festival : SMS Deen Rapid Team tourney some weeks back. The girls actually beat one of the Men's team helmed by GM Priasmoro Novendra. All of them are in the winner's picture here except for WIM Chelsie Monica.
Indonesia’s defining masterclass occurred in Round 9 against 10th-seeded Germany. Helmed by team captain Lisa Karlina Lumondong, the Indonesian strategy relied on sharp board-management discipline to outmaneuver the formidable squad coached by German captain Zahar Efimenko. Facing a team boasting established Grandmaster and International Master talents, Indonesia orchestrated a calculated 2.5 - 1.5 victory.
| Board Number | Indonesia Player (Title & Rating) | Result | Germany Player (Title & Rating) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board 1 | WIM Diajeng Theresa Singgih (2280) | 0 - 1 | IM Dinara Wagner (2399) |
| Board 2 | WIM Laysa Latifah (2213) | 1 - 0 | GM Elisabeth Paehtz (2404) |
| Board 3 | WIM Shafira Devi Herfesa (2130) | 1 - 0 | WGM Jana Schneider (2325) |
| Board 4 | WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesias Sihite (2195) | ½ - ½ | FM Lara Schulze (2307) |
Indonesia's statistical profile reflects exceptional efficiency and performance density under the Swiss scoring system:
After Round 9, the top tier of the standings is heavily dominated by Asian federations:
Round 10 sets the stage for a high-stakes Southeast Asian derby as 9th-ranked Indonesia (14 MP, 24.5 GP) faces 8th-ranked Vietnam (14 MP, 25 GP, initial seed #21). Both teams enter the match deadlocked in match points, making this regional showdown a direct quarterfinal-level clash for potential Olympic medal contention.
Vietnam, managed by captain Vinh Bui (made me lose a RM 100 bet to Shin Azwan), comes into Round 10 with tremendous momentum after dismantling 11th-seeded Bulgaria 3.5 - 0.5 in Round 9. Vietnam showed lethal depth across their lower boards, securing full wins from WGM Vo Thi Kim Phung, WIM Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong, and WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, while IM Pham Le Thao Nguyen held the top board against IM Nurgyul Salimova.
To overcome Vietnam, Captain Lumondong’s squad will once again need to rely on their board-management discipline—stifling Vietnam’s aggressive middle boards while seeking decisive counter-punches.
The Malaysian Women’s team (initial seed #68, rating average 2009 Elo) has put together one of the most exciting runs of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Facing increasingly tough international opposition, the Malaysian squad showcased remarkable tactical sharpness, culminating in a historic top-board upset in Round 9.
Through 9 rounds, Malaysia sits at #59 overall in the world out of 189 competing nations, boasting 10 Match Points (5 wins, 4 losses) and an impressive 23.0 Game Points—comfortably outperforming their initial tournament seeding.
Here is the complete player-by-player breakdown across Rounds 7, 8, and 9.
In Round 7, Malaysia secured a hard-fought 2.5 – 1.5 match victory over Guatemala, earning 2 vital Match Points and climbing to #59 overall. The match demonstrated the squad’s balance, as contributions from the lower boards provided the decisive edge.
Carrying strong momentum into Round 8, Malaysia swept past Kenya with a convincing 3.0 – 1.0 match victory, vaulting into the Top 50 (#46 overall) worldwide with 10 Match Points and 21.5 Game Points.
In Round 9, Malaysia was paired against 34th-seeded Austria (average rating 2200+ Elo). Although Malaysia narrowly lost the match 1.5 – 2.5, the round featured the single most spectacular individual result of the Olympiad for Malaysian chess.
| Round | Opponent | Match Result | Malaysia Rank | Cumulative Match Points | Game Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 7 | Guatemala (GUA) | 2.5 – 1.5 (Win) | #59 | 8 MP | 18.5 GP |
| Round 8 | Kenya (KEN) | 3.0 – 1.0 (Win) | #46 | 10 MP | 21.5 GP |
| Round 9 | Austria (AUT) | 1.5 – 2.5 (Loss) | #59 | 10 MP | 23.0 GP |
As the Olympiad enters its final two rounds, the Malaysian Women’s team has established itself as one of the standout overperformers in Samarkand:
The Malaysian Open team (initial seed #67, rating average 2360 Elo) has reached the final stretch of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is gruelling. It is tiring. Well at least, I imagine it must be. Facing an intense three-round stretch—including back-to-back clashes against 2500+ European grandmaster powerhouses and a high-stakes Round 9 encounter—Malaysians showcased stamina and grit, scoring 11 Match Points and 21.0 Game Points through Round 9.
Here is the complete player-by-player breakdown of the action across Rounds 7, 8, and 9.
In Round 7, Malaysia was paired against Switzerland (average rating 2519 Elo). Outrated on every single board, the Malaysian squad delivered an exceptional defensive and tactical performance to hold the Swiss team to a 2–2 match draw, earning 1 Match Point and jumping to #52 overall in the global standings.
Riding high on momentum, Malaysia faced Sweden (#36 seed, average rating 2515 Elo) in Round 8. In a edge-of-your-seat battle that went down to the final clock minutes, Malaysia narrowly lost 1.5 – 2.5.
Refusing to let the narrow loss to Sweden dampen their spirits, Malaysia bounced back forcefully in Round 9, overwhelming Zambia with a commanding 3.0 – 1.0 victory to claim 2 crucial Match Points.
| Round | Opponent | Match Result | Malaysia Rank | Cumulative Match Points | Game Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 7 | Switzerland (SUI) | 2.0 – 2.0 (Draw) | #52 | 8 MP | 16.5 GP |
| Round 8 | Sweden (SWE) | 1.5 – 2.5 (Loss) | #73 | 9 MP | 18.0 GP |
| Round 9 | Zambia (ZAM) | 3.0 – 1.0 (Win) | #59 | 11 MP | 21.0 GP |
With only two rounds remaining in Samarkand, the Malaysian Open team sits in a prime position to deliver one of its most successful Olympiad campaigns in recent history:
Malaysia's Open team is having a great run at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. We started as the #67 seed, and after seven rounds of the 11-round event we're sitting 52nd.
It hasn't been a smooth climb. We jumped to 47th after Round 1, then dropped all the way to 111th after Round 2 once the pairings got tougher. From there we slowly recovered: 87th, 100th, 82nd, 59th, and finally 52nd. Going from 100th to 52nd in three rounds is a big swing.
The highlight was Round 7, when we drew 2-2 with Switzerland, the #33 seed, whose average rating is over 2500. That result took us to 9 match points and 16.5 game points. Holding a team that strong also helps our tiebreaks and keeps us in the upper half of the pairings.
Credit goes to the whole lineup. IM Tan Jun Ying on Board 1 and IM Chan Kim Yew on Board 2 have been taking on much stronger opposition, which lets the rest of the team play with a bit more freedom. CM Chow Yi Chen on Board 3 has been good at turning level positions into winning chances, and FM Lim Zhuo Ren on Board 4 has been picking up the wins that turn draws into match victories.
Regionally, the Philippines (#29), Vietnam (#31), Indonesia (#34) and Singapore (#43) are all still ahead of us, but they're mostly sitting close to where they were seeded. Our move from #67 to #52 is a gain of 15 places, which looks like the biggest jump in Southeast Asia.
Next up is Sweden, the #36 seed, in Round 8. A good result there could push us into the top 50.
Malaysia's women are having a solid run at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. After seven rounds, they sit 59th out of 189 teams, a nice jump from their starting seed of 68th. They've won four matches and lost three, for 8 match points and 18.5 game points overall.
The standout so far is WFM Ainul Mardhiah Mohd Afif on Board 4. She's scored 4 out of 5 with a performance rating of 2153, easily the best result on the team.
She's had good backing, too. WCM Chua Jia-Tien has picked up 3 points from 5 games, and Ashwiniy Kumaran has been superb off the bench with 3 out of 4. WFM Tan Li Ting and WFM Chong Kai Ni Agnes have held things together on the top boards.
Within Southeast Asia, Malaysia is holding its own. With 18.5 game points, the team is ahead of Singapore (16.5) and keeping close to the regional front-runners.
The latest round saw Malaysia whitewashing Nicaragua 4-0.
There are still 4 rounds to play, but it's been a strong start for the team.
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Crossing the halfway mark, the dust settles on Round 6, the 11-round Swiss-system "pressure cooker" has begun its ruthless sorting of the 2026 field. Also, apt is the rest day today which must be needed by all the 205 countries taking part.
Malaysia’s campaign is consistent as in past Olympiads, we go up, then we go down. That is why, I am only looking at starting rank vs the final round rank to see our performance.Entering as the 67th seed (SNo 67), the Malaysian squad found themselves languishing at Rank 82 after a bruising fifth round. However, the team successfully clawed back from that slump with a decisive surge in Round 6, catapulting up the standings to Rank 59. Now if we can only stop the ping pong effect and keep our improved rank and/or improve on it!
Malaysia have now surpassed their initial seeding by 8 places. While their match record of 4 wins and 2 losses (8 match points) keeps them in the thick of the mid-table battle, an expert eye looks to their 14.5 game points (Tie Break 3). This figure suggests a team that is fighting for every half-point on the lower boards, a necessity for maintaining upward mobility as the pairings become increasingly difficult.
The most electrifying story of the tournament’s first half involves the Philippines and Vietnam, both of whom have effectively broken into the "Elite" tier. By the end of Round 6, these teams have positioned themselves in contention for prestigious Category Awards, which are often the true measure of success for rising chess nations.
Both nations boast identical match records that underscore their consistency:
Indonesia (Seed #52) has provided the most dramatic arc of the regional cohort. After Round 5, Indonesia occupied the dizzying heights of Rank 13, flirting with the tournament's absolute elite. However, Round 6 saw a correction, with the team shifting to Rank 34.
From an analytical perspective, this tumble is less a collapse and more a symptom of the Swiss-system’s ruthlessness. Having reached the top 15, Indonesia was inevitably paired against a top-10 powerhouse; their subsequent drop is the standard "tax" paid for facing elite opposition. Despite this, they remain 18 spots above their initial seeding with a healthy 16.5 game points, keeping them well within striking distance of a top-20 finish.
Singapore (Seed #50) is the picture of consistency , recovering from a Round 5 dip (Rank 56) to secure Rank 43. Beyond the primary seeds, the regional depth is further evidenced by:
The lone outlier in this regional success story is Thailand (Seed #104), which has struggled to find its rhythm. Sliding to Rank 125 (-21 Net), the Thai squad stands in sharp contrast to the otherwise "green" status of its neighbors.
The following data reflects the standings of the eight specified regional teams at the conclusion of the sixth round:
Team | Starting Seed (SNo) | Rank after Round 5 | Rank after Round 6 | Net Seed Change (SNo vs R6) |
Philippines | 57 | 49 | 29 | +28 |
Vietnam | 47 | 46 | 31 | +16 |
Indonesia | 52 | 13 | 34 | +18 |
Singapore | 50 | 56 | 43 | +7 |
Malaysia | 67 | 82 | 59 | +8 |
Chinese Taipei | 83 | 65 | 70 | +13 |
Hong Kong | 108 | 76 | 88 | +20 |
Thailand | 104 | 97 | 125 | -21 |
The "honeymoon phase" of the tournament is over. The final five rounds in Samarkand will test the psychological depth of these teams as the pairings tighten and every game carries the weight of history. Philippines and Vietnam are hoping to consolidate their top-30 positions.\
Malaysia hope is to continue its upward trajectory.
Like a caveman I arrived at Cititel last month for the #MYchessFestival meeting confused about where the hotel parking space has gone. As ...
