THE 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships (AAGCC) will kick off in Penang for the first time tomorrow, with host Penang Chess Association (PCS) expecting about 500 participants from 21 countries competing across various categories.
PCA president See Swee Sie said her association was honoured to be entrusted by the ASEAN Chess Confederation (ACC) to host the championships at the Berjaya Georgetown Hotel, Penang, from July 1 to 11.
In a press statement issued by PCA, See highlighted the event’s significance, especially as Malaysia served as the Chair of the 46th ASEAN Summit held on May 26 this year.
“For the first time in the tournament’s 23-year history, FIDE, the World Chess body, will confer official FIDE titles to winners in the Over 50 and Over 65 categories.
“This rare recognition has only been awarded for World and Oceania events. As such, we expect the appearance and participation of several Senior International Chess Masters in our event. We are also honoured that FIDE president, Mr Arkady Dvorkovich, has indicated his support,” said See.
The Youth categories will be divided into eight age groups – Under 6, Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 for Open/Boys and Girls. The Senior categories include 50-65 years and Over 65 years.
Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, the Malaysian Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation (FIDE), the tournament will offer Direct Title(s) for International Master/Woman International Master and FIDE Master/Woman FIDE Master in the Under 20 category.
See also expressed gratitude to the Penang State Sport Council, state Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi and other partners for their continued support in enabling the association to organise major chess competitions.
The tournament is open to all countries within ASEAN with extended invitations to Australia, China, Hong Kong, China- Macau, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the USA, hence the symbol “+” in “ASEAN+”. Mongolia has also been invited.
“A championship like this provides players from Penang and other states in Malaysia valuable exposure to international-level competition. It helps nurture and unearth potential world-class players,” See said.
Last year, PCA successfully hosted the Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championship (EAYCC) at Cititel Hotel in Penang, which drew 363 players from 16 countries.
This year, local attention will be on Ainul Mardhiah, who topped the Girls’ Under 14 category, CM Kavin Mohan, runner-up in the Under-14 category, and CM Chow Yi Chen, the runner-up in the Under-10 category, at the 2024 EAYCC.
PCA is also pinning its hopes on one of its brightest sparks, 20-year-old Loo Pin Xie, who won the 2024 Asia Pacific Deaf Championship, to shine on home ground.
Another rising star to watch is eight-year-old Ratmir Soldatikhin, a Russian national studying at Pelita International School in Penang.
According to his father, Ilia Soldatikhin, Ratmir discovered his love for chess three years ago, shortly after the family moved to Penang due to Ilia’s work assignment.
Ratmir clinched the Under 9 title at the Penang Age Group Chess Championship (PAG) 2024, organised by the Penang Chess Association (PCA).
“It was at his school’s chess club that he first picked up the game,” Ilia told Buletin Mutiara in a recent interview.
“At the same time, Penang has a supportive environment for aspiring chess players, which helped nurture his interest in the sport. Once I saw how much he enjoyed the game, I knew he needed a coach.”
Ratmir shared that he particularly enjoys the rapid format and dreams of one day competing against the world chess champion, currently Gukesh Dommaraju of India.
“I like playing chess because it makes me think about how to move the pieces, and it is fun. I play chess for one hour every day, and I aim to do my best at the ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships,” he added.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter and K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi