FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2026 Kicks Off in Klang, Malaysia

Tournament Begins in Klang

The FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship 2026 opened its boards on November 5 at the KSL Esplanade Hotel in Klang, Malaysia. The event, organized by the Selangor Chess Association under the auspices of FIDE and the Malaysian Chess Federation, drew 392 participants competing across three rating sections: Under-2300, Under-2000, and Under-1700.

Each section features separate Open and Women’s 9-round Swiss tournaments played under classical time control. Competitors also included disabled players from Malaysia’s para-multisport contingent.

Royal Opening

His Highness Tengku Amir Shah ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, Crown Prince of Selangor, officially opened the championship as Royal Patron of the Tournament. During the ceremony, the Crown Prince played a friendly blitz game against FIDE Representative and British Grandmaster Nigel Short, which ended in a draw.

Host Nation Impresses

Malaysian players made an immediate impact in the Open Under-2300 section, upsetting top seeds on multiple boards. Nik Ahmad Farouqi (1999) claimed victory with the black pieces against Hungary’s top seed FM Gyula Mester (2277). Tin Shan Wen (1998) defeated Colombia’s second-seeded FM Ramon Junior Gonzalez Parejo (2261) playing White. CM Shen Ree Herng (1976) added a third win for Malaysia on board six, overcoming FM Ammar Sedrani (2223) of the United Arab Emirates.

In the Women’s Under-2300 championship, WCM Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan of Malaysia, WCM Kristina Kim of Kazakhstan, and WCM Mumtozbegim Mansurova of Uzbekistan each scored a full point in the opening round.

Tournament Schedule

The championship features nine rounds of play. A rest day is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, with the final round and closing ceremony set for Thursday, November 12.

Highlights

• 392 players competing across three rating sections
• Separate Open and Women’s tournaments in each section
• Malaysia upset top two seeds in Open Under-2300
• Crown Prince of Selangor opened event as Royal Patron
• Disabled athletes from Malaysia’s para-multisport team participating

Source

This report is based on information published by FIDE — International Chess Federation.

Official source: https://www.fide.com/crown-prince-of-selangor-opens-fide-world-amateur-chess-championships-in-klang-malaysia/