It’s back again! Get ready for the 20th Malaysian Chess Festival! This year’s festival, one of Asia’s largest and oldest, is happening from September 12–21, 2025, at the KL Gateway Mall in Kuala Lumpur.
Whether you’re a beginner or a grandmaster, there’s a place for you at this ten-day event. Last year, we had over 1,400 players compete in nine different events, with everything from quick blitz rounds to intense classical games. We’ve got something for everyone, with categories for Open, Seniors, Juniors, and various age groups.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the board:
- September 12–13: SMS DEEN Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship & Dato’ Tan Chin Nam (DTCN) Merdeka Junior (Under-12) Team Chess Championship
- September 13: Merdeka Blitz Chess Championship
- September 14: DTCN Age-Group Chess Championship (Under 6/8/10/12/14/16)
- September 15–21: 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship, Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial Malaysia Chess Challenge & DTCN International Seniors’ Open Chess Championship
- September 16: DTCN Malaysia Day Age Group (Open, Under 8/10/12/14/18)
- September 21: Festival Blitz Chess Championship
We’ll be giving out medals, certificates, and other non-monetary prizes to celebrate your achievements. This festival is a true passion project, made possible by our amazing partners like SMS DEEN Jewellers, the Tan Chin Nam Foundation, and our official venue, KL Gateway Mall. We’re also proud to be endorsed by the Malaysian Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
For our titled players, you’ll be happy to hear that your entry fees are waived! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Organising Secretary, IA Hamid Majid, on WhatsApp at +6019 315 8098 or by email at aham@pc.jaring.asia.
Ready to play? Online registration is now open here.
Getting to the KL Gateway Mall is easy! It’s just a 1–2 minute walk from the Universiti LRT station via a covered pedestrian bridge. This makes it super convenient for everyone, and it’s a great starting point for exploring the rest of Kuala Lumpur.
So, mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate a love for chess, community, and competition with us this September.
Will I be there? I hope I am. If so, see you there!!