With recent World Blitz and Rapid team over, I now look at what we have for our local scene that is similiar.
The most notable is PMX Trophy — 3rd National Open Team Chess Championship, which just concluded a couple of weeks back.
Not to worry, we still have the SMS Deen for the next major team rapid in Malaysia. Here's a quick comparison of what we Malaysians care about. How much to pay to enter, and what are the prizes :)
There may be errors so please inform me if I made any mistakes.
My personal challenge is to capture the excitement a team event like this brings. In the past, it has been pictures and videos, as well as some DGT live game broadcasts by our master broadcaster, Norazwan Kamarulzaman, also better known as Shin Azwan. Nothing earth-shattering, but recording and adding some highlighted games would be nice for a change.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | PMX Trophy (National Open Team) | SMS Deen Rapid Team (Merdeka Fest) |
|---|---|---|
| Champion Prize | RM 6,000 | RM 3,000 |
| 2nd Place | Not publicly detailed | RM 2,000 |
| 3rd Place | Not publicly detailed | RM 1,000 |
| Total Prize Fund | RM 30,000 | RM 24,000 |
| Registration Fee | RM 700 (Open, all-Malaysian) | RM 450 (Open) |
| Foreign Player Surcharge | +RM 100 per foreign player | Not specified |
| State Team Fee | RM 400 (max 2 per state) | N/A |
| Format | Standard (90m + 30s) | Rapid (20m + 5s) |
| Rounds | 7 rounds Swiss | 9 rounds Swiss |
| Team Size | 4 players + 1 optional reserve | 4 players |
| Team Cap | 60 teams | 50 teams |
| Dates (2026) | May 29 – June 1 | August 28 – 29 |
| Venue | AEON Mall Shah Alam, Selangor | KL Gateway Mall, KL |
| Organiser | Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) | DAT Chess Centre (DATCC) |
Detailed Breakdown
1. PMX Trophy — 3rd National Open Team Chess Championship
Organised by MCF and held at AEON Mall Shah Alam, this is the premier national team chess event in Malaysia.
Registration Fees:
- RM 700 — all-Malaysian Open team
- +RM 100 per foreign player (e.g. a team with 4 foreigners pays RM 1,100 total)
- RM 400 — State teams (limited to 2 per state)
- +RM 100 late fee for entries after 22 May 2026
Prize Fund — RM 30,000 total:
- Champion: RM 6,000
- Full breakdown of remaining prizes not published in the official announcement; distributed among top finishers and special categories (e.g., Best State Team, Best Junior)
Format: 7-round Swiss, Standard time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move)
Team: 4 main players + 1 optional reserve. Limited to 60 teams, with priority given to state associations.
2. SMS Deen Merdeka Open Rapid Team Championship — 21st Merdeka Chess Festival
Organised by DAT Chess Centre (DATCC) and held at KL Gateway Mall, this opens the annual Merdeka Chess Festival (Aug 28 – Sep 6, 2026).
Registration Fee:
- RM 450 — Open team
- Late entries after 21 August 2026 incur a surcharge or double fee
- Name/board order changes: RM 50 per change
Prize Fund — RM 24,000 total:
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Champion | RM 3,000 + Challenge Trophy + 4 Medals |
| 2nd Place | RM 2,000 + 4 Medals |
| 3rd Place | RM 1,000 + 4 Medals |
| 4th Place | RM 750 |
| 5th Place | RM 500 |
| 6th–10th Place | RM 400 each |
| Best Malaysian Team | RM 2,000 + Trophy |
| 2nd Best Malaysian Team | RM 1,500 |
| 3rd Best Malaysian Team | RM 1,200 |
| Best State Team | RM 1,000 + Trophy |
| Best Junior Team (U16) | RM 500 + 4 Gold Medals |
| Best Ladies Team | RM 500 + 4 Gold Medals |
| Special Categories (Govt / IPT / School / Family / Veteran) | RM 400 each (min. 3 teams, 50% score required) |
Format: 9-round Swiss, Rapid time control (20 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move)
Team: 4 players. Hard cap of 50 paid teams. Average team rating must not exceed 2,250.
Key Takeaways
The prize gap between the two events is much narrower than often assumed — RM 30,000 vs RM 24,000. The SMS Deen event actually has a more detailed and generous prize structure across categories, rewarding Malaysian teams, state teams, juniors, and ladies separately. The PMX Trophy carries a higher registration cost and uses the slower classical format over 4 days, while the SMS Deen event wraps up in just 2 days at a rapid pace, making it accessible for more casual or club-level teams.
And for you guys planning to take part, START TRAINING NOW !!!!
