2 August, 2025
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The Region’s Longest-Running International Open Chess Festival
Get ready for the landmark 20th Malaysian Chess Festival 2025! This highly anticipated event, recognized as the region’s longest-running international open, will feature 9 diverse tournaments over 10 days, catering to chess enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.
When: September 12 – 21, 2025
Where: KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur (Conveniently accessible via LRT)
Where: KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur (Conveniently accessible via LRT)
Organized by DAT Chess Centre (DATCC), the festival is a key chess event in Malaysia, fostering local talent and celebrating the game in a friendly and competitive environment.
Key Events & Tournaments
- 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), vital for junior chess development
- Premier Individual Opens:
- 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship (FIDE rated, open to all)
- Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial Malaysia Chess Challenge (for players below FIDE Rating 2000)
- Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open (for players 50+/45+)
“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 from the previous year was 15-year-old IM Poh Yu Tian becoming the youngest and first Malaysian to win the main event in 2024.
Chess Tournament Schedule
| Date & Day | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 12th September | SMS Deen Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship | |
| Team Managers Meeting | 2:45 PM | |
| Round 1 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | |
| Round 2 | 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM | |
| Round 3 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation Merdeka Junior (U-12) Team Chess Championship | ||
| Team Managers Meeting | 7:45 PM | |
| Saturday, 13th September | Round 1 | 8:00 PM – 8:50 PM |
| Round 2 | 9:00 PM – 9:50 PM | |
| SMS Deen Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship | ||
| Round 4 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | |
| Round 5 | 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM | |
| Round 6 | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | |
| Lunch | ||
| Round 7 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | |
| Round 8 | 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | |
| Round 9 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | |
| Prize Giving | 5:30 PM | |
| Merdeka Blitz Chess Championship | 6:30 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation Merdeka Junior (U-12) Team Chess Championship | ||
| Round 3 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | |
| Round 4 | 10:10 AM – 11:15 AM | |
| Sunday, 14th September | Lunch | 12:00 PM |
| Round 5 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | |
| Round 6 | 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM | |
| Round 7 | 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM | |
| Prize Giving | 5:30 PM | |
| Merdeka Blitz Chess Championship | 6:30 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation Age-Group Chess Championship (U-06/08/10/12/14/16) | ||
| Round 1-3 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | |
| Monday, 15th September | Lunch – Time Chess Lecture | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Round 4-6 | 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | |
| Prize Giving | 5:00 PM | |
| 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 1 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 2 | 3:00 PM | |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Tuesday, 16th September | Round 1 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 2 | 3:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 1 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 2 | 3:00 PM | |
| 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 3 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 4 | 3:00 PM | |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Wednesday, 17th September | Round 3 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 4 | 3:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 3 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 4 | 3:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam Foundation Malaysia Day Age Group | ||
| Rounds (3) | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM | |
| 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 5 | 9:00 AM | |
| Thursday, 18th September | Round 6 | 3:00 PM |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Round 5 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 6 | 3:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 5 | 9:00 AM | |
| Round 6 | 3:00 PM | |
| 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 7 | 9:00 AM | |
| Friday, 19th September | Festival Blitz Chess Championship | 2:00 PM |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Round 7 | 9:00 AM | |
| Festival Blitz Chess Championship | 2:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 7 | 9:00 AM | |
| Festival Blitz Chess Championship | 2:00 PM | |
| Saturday, 20th September | 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship | |
| Round 8 | 9:00 AM | |
| Prize Giving | 2:00 PM | |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Round 8 | 9:00 AM | |
| Sunday, 21st September | Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | |
| Round 8 | 9:00 AM | |
| Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial – Malaysia Chess Challenge | ||
| Round 9 | 9:00 AM | |
| Prize Giving | 2:00 PM | |
| Dato Tan Chin Nam International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship | ||
| Round 9 | 9:00 AM | |
| Prize Giving | 2:00 PM | |
| Festival Blitz Chess Championship | ||
| 2:00 PM | ||
Or weekly view format:
KL Gateway Mall is easily accessible by LRT. Universiti LRT station connects directly to the KL Gareway Mall via a pedestrian bridge. Distance: 1-minute walk.
Category: Announcements