ASEAN+ age group chess

From informal gatherings like this, ambitious projects sometimes emerge. The Penang Chess Association recently held a casual mid-morning breakfast at a local timsum outlet in George Town to discuss a potential project. We were later joined by two notable old friends, Ignatius Leong from Singapore and Hamid Majid from Kuala Lumpur.

It may still be early days, but I can confidently say that the association will organise the 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championship here in Penang on 1-11 July this year. Invitations will soon be extended to the national chess federations of the ASEAN member countries—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Timor-Leste—as well as its dialogue partners: Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States. As host, the association will also duly inform the Malaysian Chess Federation and extend invitations to the various state chess associations in the country.

This event comes at a particularly fitting time, as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship for 2025. It will not only highlight the Penang Chess Association’s experience in organising international-level competitions but also showcase Penang’s famed tourist attractions and vibrant street food scene. So watch this space for further announcements down the road!