Live games will be daily on Chessdom in cooperation with Lichess.

Participants

Each federation may register any number of players in the Under 08, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18, and Under 20, with separate events for Open and Girls.
Players must not have reached the relevant age before 1st January 2016.

In addition, there shall be 2 categories for Senior >50 and Senior >60. These senior players must reach the age required during the year 2016. (7-round Swiss for Standard Chess.)

Players outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are welcome to play in this tournament.

Aerial view of The Dusit Thani Pattaya

National chess federations may send as many players as they wish, however, they shall be responsible for their own expenses.

Where possible, each category shall be conducted in the Swiss System of 9 rounds, using the Swiss Manager Program.
In the last 2 rounds, where possible, players from the same federation and who have more than 50% score shall not be paired to play each other.

Standard Chess: Each player is accorded with 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment (starting from move 1).
Rapid Chess: Each player is accorded with 25 minutes to complete the game.
Blitz Chess: Each player is accorded with 5 minutes to complete the game.
FIDE Law of Chess and Zero Tolerance shall apply.

The final ranking order of the players shall be determined by the number of points scored. If at the end of the tournament, two or more players are tied for the first place or for any prize, the tie shall be broken according to the following tie breaks in the order below:
Direct Encounter; Buchholz Cut 1; Buchholz; Greater Number of Wins with Black Pieces; Greater Number of Wins.

Medals shall be awarded to the top three positions in each event and category.
Team Medals shall be awarded based on the total score of the top three players of a Federation. Any Federation with less than 3 players shall not be eligible for a team award. In the case of tie, the tie-break scores of each player shall be determined.

For Individual Medals, where there is a tie, not more than 3 players shall receive the same colour medal. For each category, not more than 5 medals shall be awarded. Examples: If 2 players tied for first and 2 players tied for third, then, 2 Gold Medals shall awarded, and there shall be no Silver, but 2 Bronze Medals shall be awarded. If 3 players tied for first, then, no Silver and Bronze Medals shall be awarded. If more than 3 players tied for first, then, the 3 highest players based on the tie-break shall receive the God Medals and the Silver and the Bronze Medals shall not be awarded.

In the determination of FIDE Direct Title Awards, it is applicable to Standard Chess only, whereby the tie-break shall be used in the case of more than one Gold, or more than one Silver, or more than one Bronze were awarded. FM/WFM titles are awarded to the winners (regardless of ASEAN or Non-ASEAN players) of the youth categories. In the event of a tie, after the tiebreak, only the top three finishers shall be awarded. CM/WCM titles are awarded, after the tiebreak, to Silver and Bronze Medal winners, and not more than one title shall be awarded for each (2nd/3rd) position. IM/WIM titles are awarded for the ASEAN Under 20 category.

The Official Hotel is the 5-star Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel, Pattaya City, Chon Buri Province, Kingdom of Thailand.

The playing hall is at the Dusit Napalai Grand Ballroom, ground floor, Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel.

All players and accompanying persons shall have to be registered through the Organizer and are obliged to stay in the Official Hotel, Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel. Players or accompanying persons who stay outside the Official Hotel and not registered directly with the Organizer shall not be eligible to participate in this Tournament.

Full Regulations

Leader IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia had a half point lead and was paired with fellow countryman IM Paola Bersamina and despite their team leader and coach GM Jayson’s Gonzales assurance they would play the game fairly, most participants still saw the result as a forgone conclusion.

Garcia and Bersamina however drew their game, a result while opened the door for 13-year old FM Nguyen And Khoi and his coach, veteran GM Dao Thien Hai.

It was no surprise for Dao to win, even with the black pieces, against a determined by relatively inexperienced Yoseph Theofilus Taher who was not only the only untitled player but also the lowest rated.

But in a shock upset, Anh Khoi defeated GM Susanto Megaranto who till then had made 10 successive draws!

So three players tied for first place with 7/11 and after tie-breaks, it was Anh Khoi first, Dao second and Garcia third. In fourth, one point behind, also on tie-break over Bersamina was 16 year old Yeoh Li Tan who despite battled serious illness in the last few days came through with his first IM norm.

Despite his loss to Dao, Yoseph too was a happy young player as he also made an IM norm.

A little question mark as per the regulations did not spoilt the day for Anh Khoi who also made his first IM norm as normally he would be awarded the IM title outright together with a 9 game GM norm but this matter is now for the organisers, Vietnam Chess Federation and FIDE to clarify.

In the Women’s category, WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung on 8.5/10 held a one point lead going into the last round and only needed a draw.

On her offer, WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham was more than happy to accept and than meant WIM Janelle Mae Frayna has nothing to play for either but to keep second place a point behind with 8/11 while WFM Shania Mae Mendoza took third place with her final WIM norm and the title with 7.5/11.

The closing ceremony again saw GM Utut Adianto as the guest of honour.

News and photos by Peter Long

In the last game to finish in the Open Championship, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia battled to a draw against IM Lufti Muhammad Ali to retain a half point lead on 6.5/10 going into the final round after his closest rival FM Nguyen Anh Khoi opted for a quick draw against IM Wynn Zaw Htun to ensure his first IM norm.

A completely out of form GM Darwin Laylo continued a miserable sequence of results with defeat against Yoseph Theolifus Taher, the young man rewarded with an IM norm, matching the breakthrough achievements of FM Nguyen and early leader FM Yeoh Li Tian.

With 8.5/10, WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung continued to dominate the Womens Championship with her closest rival WIM Janelle Mae Frayna still one point behind.

It was still good news for the Philippines as WFM Shania Mae Mendoza has completed the requirements for her third and final WIM norm and is now a WIM pending FIDE confirmation.

News and photos by Peter Long

The 16 year old Malaysian No. 1 has 2.5/3 after defeating fellow FM Nguyen Anh Khoi and IM Wynn Zaw Htun while holding a draw against IM Sean Winstand Cuhendi.

Half a point behind him are two other young players, IM Jan Emanual Garcia last minute addition Yoseph Theolifus Taher and one veteran in GM Dao Tien Hai and four others with 1.5/3.

Yeoh Li Tian

In the Women’s Section, three women (girls!) have impressed so far, WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and IM Janelle Mae Frayna, all with 2.5/3. Nguyen and Frayna have even met already with their hard fought draw being their dropped half point.

They are followed by WIM Chelsie Monica Shite and FM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham who are on 2/3 each.

News and photos by Peter Long

In his welcome speech, Agus Mulyano thanked the participants – both from ASEAN and Indonesia – for taking the time over the holiday period to come and play in the JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Championships 2015.

Senator GM Adianto then gave the keynote address before declaring the championships open. In his speech, Adianto acknowledged JAPFA’s long support for chess dating to 2000 with the now legendary Bali International Opens.

Adianto Key Note Address

He then went on to recognise the presence of each and every country participating and after thanking each, expressed his hope that with an improved economy next year Indonesia would be in a position to further organise and support chess in ASEAN.

SCUA’s Tournament Hall at it’s Headquarter Chess Complex in Bekasi, Jakarta is the venue of the JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Chess Championships to be held from 21-31 December 2015 with participants staying in the well appointed nearby Amaroossa Hotel.

The two main categories – ASEAN Open and ASEAN Women – are both 12 player 11 round robins with players from five of the 10 ASEAN member countries represented.

Players Group Photo

In the Open category, Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto is the top seed and he is expected to face serious competition from Vietnam’s first GM Dao Tien Hai and the Philippine’s highly rated GM Darwin Laylo.

Local hopes will be with fast improving IM’s Sean Winshand Cuhendi who has dominated the local scene this year and Lufti Mohammad Ali who is coming of a breakthrough victory in the Johor International Open.

Two of the best young Filipino hopes are also present in IM’s Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Paulo Bersamina while FM’s Nguyen Anh Khoi from Vietnam and Li Tian Yeoh from Malaysia have long been considered outstanding young talent.

Stage & Section of Playing Hall

Vietnam IM Nguyen Van Huy and Myanmar IM Wynn Zaw Htun are however the best bests to fight for top places as have long been expected to be their country’s next GMs. Rounding off the event in the absence of a Singapore entry is Indonesia’s Yoseph Theolifus Taher.

In the Women’s category, the Philippines’s has sent three of their best women players, all who are looking to make history by becoming their first country’s WGM and have the top seed in WIM Janelle Mae Frayna. WIM Bernadette Gallas and WIM Shania Mae Mendoza make up a highly regarded trio.

Indonesia will be looking to WIM Ardhiani Anastasia Dewi Citra to lead the local challenge in the absence of their two WGMs, PERCASI deciding to look to blood emerging young prospects WFM Shanti Nur Abidah, Amanda Suci Fitriyani, and WFM Dita Karenza.

Two top young Vietnamese players, WIM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y will be serious challengers for top honours and the experienced Malaysian sisters, WFM Nur Najiha Azman Hisham and WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham cannot be written off.

News and photos by Peter Long

Selfie – Indonesia

Selfie – Malaysia

Selfie – Myanmar

Selfie – Philippines

Selfie – Vietnam

Senator GM Utut Adianto

VIPs Signing National Anthem

JAPFA is sponsoring an international chess tournament recognised by FIDE as the JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Chess Championship 2015. This event supported by JAPFA at the end of the year is the third edition and will see the participation of chess players representing ASEAN nations.

“The support given by JAPFA for this competition is its ongoing commitment towards the development of young Indonesian talent’ stated R. Artsanti Alif, Vice President Head of PR JAPFA and then added. “We will continue to support the development of the game of chess in Indonesia through competition”.

JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Chess Championship is only open to players from the ten ASEAN nations which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This time around five nations are represented and they are Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, dan hosts Indonesia. Until now countries like Singapore have yet to enter players while some other do not have players that meet the eligibility requirements or players than are ready for this level of competition

“We selected the official championship of ASEAN because in this tournament GM and WGM norms are available for the winners” explained GM Utut Adianto, Head of JAPFA Chess Club and main representative of the PERCASI (Indonesian Chess Federation) Executive Committee.

There are three categories in the JAPFA 3rd ASEAN Chess Championship which are the ASEAN Open, ASEAN Women, dan Challengers. For the ASEAN Master dan ASEAN Women, each country is limited to a maximum of two entries except of course the host nation. The participants in the ASEAN Open must have a rating 2300 and above while the participants in the ASEAN Women need to have a rating 2100 and above. Men with ratings below 2300, and women with ratings below 2100 can only play in the Challengers.

PERCASI which is actively supporting its chess players in pursuit of GM and WGM norms and titles will field its best young talent who in the recent 45th National Championship was a huge sensation. IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi, then just 17 years of age, emerged as 2015 national Champion. He was also the winner of the JAPFA GM Chess Tournament held in April 2015.

In the ASEAN Women category, PERCASI has entered the winner and runner up of the national Championships, WIM Chelsie Monica Sihite, 20 years of age, and WFM Shanti Nur Abidah, 15 years of age. Chelsie has already one WGM norm from the Istanbul Olympiad in 2012 while Shanti is a young talent who has recently blossomed and was a medalist at the World Schools Championship held May this year in Pattaya, Thailand.

Prepared by Kristianus Liem and Peter Long

It has been four years since the championship has been held and is very timely indeed with the ambitious plans of the ASEAN Chess Confederation to refocus on helping the region’s best young players build on their success at the ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships.

JAPFA has long sponsored an annual chess festival for Indonesian players to showcase their talent and is taking a step up to do the same for the region.

Grandmaster Utut Adianto, an elected Senator, is also both the Deputy President of ACC (ASEAN Chess Confederation) and of PERCASI (All Indonesia Chess Federation), and the driving force behind the revival of the championship and who has also pledged Indonesia’s support for the new ASEAN Young Masters Cup – the brainchild of ACC founder Ignatius Leong – which is expected to give international title norm opportunities for even younger talents.

The ASEAN Championships will be limited to players 2300 and above in the Open Championship and to players 2100 and above in the Women’s Championship but will be concurrently organising a Challengers event for those who do not yet qualify.

As in all official FIDE (World Chess Federation) events, registration has to be through their respective National Chess Federations.

The ASEAN Championship is also restricted to representatives from the ten FIDE member ACC countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – are eligible to participate.

See attached prospectus (PDF) with the rules and regulations and the entry form.

Contact persons:

1. Novian Siregar, Vice Secretary General of Indonesian Chess Federation. Email: mn_noviansiregar@yahoo.com. Mobile: +62 815 7323 6974
2. Alip Prihantoro, Secretary Committee. Email: bhasudewa@gmail.com. Mobile: +62 816 714 697
3. Yoseph R. Majella, Vice Secretary Committee. Email: yoseph.majella@gmail.com. Mobile: +62 813 8836 2333

The official Website is www.aseanchess.org
Official Facebook Page is www.facebook.com/aseanchessconfederation/

News by Peter Long

The country with the largest delegation won the most medals and the statistics are staggering. Vietnam’s 68 Golds are more than the second to eighth ranked countries combined and their total haul of 141 medals more than the rest combined!

In second place was the Philippines with 26 Golds and for the first time Singapore is third but with 11 Golds.

Final medal tally: Rank / Country / Total
1 Vietnam: 68G, 44S, 29B
2 Philippines: 26G, 42S, 17B
3 Singapore: 11G, 11S, 22B
4 Mongolia: 10G, 16S, 15B
5 India: 9G, 4S, 3B
6 Indonesia: 5G, 1S, 6B
7 Malaysia: 4G, 1S, 4B
8 Myanmar: 2G, 0S, 0B
9 China: 1G, 1S, 4B
10 Thailand: 0G, 2S, 1B
11 Nepal: 0G, 1S, 1B
12 New Zealand: 0G, 1S, 0B

Before the opening ceremony started IM Tan Lian Aun from Singapore was given the award “Knight of ASEAN Chess” for his contributions as a player, official and now sponsor of chess, only the third ever recipient after GM Utut Adianto from Indonesia (2006) and GM Eugene Torre from the Philippines (2010).

Report by Peter Long

PL: Hi Jingyao, Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and congratulations on winning yet another Gold Medal! Let’s start by asking if this event is your most memorable.

TJ: Yes, I have two IM norms from my last two tournaments, the Zonal Championships and the HD Bank Cup, both in Vietnam earlier this year, and it was nice to get the direct title by winning here and of course also getting a GM norm.

Tin Jingyao

PL: Are there any other special moments you remember in your short chess career?

TJ: My breakthrough event was actually the ASEAN Age Group Championships in 2010 where by winning the Open U-10 I became an FM even if my rating was just 1680. I am very proud this time to have won the first ever U-20 Championship for Singapore.

PL: Five years later your rating is now over 2400 and so you have increased it by 750 points so what do you attribute your success to?

TJ: I started playing at around 8 years old from a computer game where I learned the moves and so my father arranged lessons for me at Intchess which at that time was the place to go to for chess as that had over 40 trainers and 80 percent of the schools. Around 9 year I started taking some private lessons and was first helped by GM Saidali Yuldashev, I soon had my FM title success and by the end of 2012 my rating was 2000 when I started playing other international tournaments and a year later reached a 2300 rating.

PL: It seems that notwithstanding that you have constantly made rating jumps, there has been a big leap from 2300 to 2400.

TJ: GM Yuldashev was a very early trainer and for a short time but until a years ago I was getting help from IM Andrey Kvon but the biggest difference is being included in the National Team Training Program where I have had the chance to play a lot more events while working with my other team members. Most of the work I do myself but now I also analyse with them and that is both useful and certainly more interesting!

PL: Although very modest you seem to be a very confident young man and I have to ask if you expected to win the ASEAN+ Age Group Championships.

TJ: I was hopeful and now happy to have succeeded. It helped that with a strong field that some favourites had early set backs and so I did not have to play all of them and I also managed to have a good finish but even in the last round I had to win to be sure.

PL: So what is next for you? The GM title?

TJ: I am now 15 and have to realistically until 18 to achieve the GM title given the demands of school and then National Service followed by University and I hope to be able to do this in the next 1-2 years.

PL: What would you need to improve your chances?

TJ: I will continue as I have been doing and I think playing 6-8 good tournaments a year is possible. But so far I am limited by doing most of this during my school term breaks. I am also happy with the help from the National Team Training Program where I get to analyse with others.

PL: Well, there is the Asian Continental Championships in August and the World Junior Championship in September as well as the revived ASEAN Championships in October and then the new ASEAN U-20 Masters Cup in November which all seem to fit your requirements! But do you feel that you need more coaching or to have a personal trainer?

TJ: Of course a trainer is always useful as a guide and for example I improved my openings when GM Zhang Zhong pointed out some of what I played did not suit me but I had to find the solution myself by studying and selecting other openings. But as in this case and for everything else the player has to do the work himself.

PL: Thank you for sharing and I wish you every success!

TL: You are welcome!

Interview by Peter Long