After months of preparation and hard work, the wait is finally over — the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 has officially begun! Hosted at Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the event runs from 8 to 17 November 2025, bringing together players, delegates, and officials from across the Commonwealth.
The championship was inaugurated with a friendly opening game between the President of the Commonwealth Chess Association, Mr. Bharat Singh, and the President of the Malaysian Chess Federation, Mr. Akhramsyah Muammar, marking a fitting start to an exciting week of chess ahead. A friendly draw was agreed after just a few moves — despite not meeting the minimum required move count — though this will be the only exception to the rule!
A Prestigious Return to Malaysia
Following last year’s successful edition held in the historic city of Melaka, the Commonwealth Chess Championship returns once again to Malaysia — this time at the very venue where Yeoh Li Tian completed his final norm to become the country’s first-ever Grandmaster. A meaningful homecoming for Malaysian chess indeed.
This year’s championship features both Standard and Blitz events, offering a total prize fund of RM95,000 (approximately USD22,900) — with RM85,000 (USD20,000) allocated to the Standard event and RM10,000 (USD2,900) for Blitz.
A total of 373 players from 16 federations are competing, including one of the largest contingents from South Africa with 47 players. Among the participants are 8 Grandmasters (GM), 3 Woman Grandmasters (WGM), 8 International Masters (IM), and 1 Woman International Master (WIM), promising an exciting and competitive field.
Categories and Round 1 Highlight
The championship hosts 12 age-group categories (U8–U18), divided into Boys and Girls sections, alongside the main Open category.
Round 1 saw a smooth start across most sections, with a few notable results:
In the Open section, Malaysian Lee Yun Rui held IM Raahul (India) to a draw — the biggest surprise of the round.
In the U18 category, Lee Tsuen Jin Aiesec (Singapore) defeated CM Jaidambareesh N R (India) in an impressive performance.
Check out the full results for all categories here:
Chess Results – Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025
Live Broadcasts
Catch the excitement live from Kuala Lumpur with 12 DGT boards live on Lichess and 40 ID Chess live games available for viewing:
Officials and Event Organization
The Players’ Meeting was held on 8 November, where participants were introduced to the tournament officials and briefed on key regulations.
Chief Arbiter: IA Amit Sharma (India)
Deputy Arbiters (Malaysia): IA Syawal Aqmar, IA Mok Tze Meng, and IA Sendy Yanty (also serving as Pairing Arbiter)
Pairing Arbiters (Malaysia): FA Wong Qi Hao, IA Sendy Yanty, IA Nurul Izani
Fair Play Arbiter: IA Sharma Naresh (India)
Head of Media: IA Ellie Emira (Malaysia)
DGT Operator: FA Emran Mohd Tamil (Malaysia)
A notable innovation this year is the use of NFC-integrated player name cards, which are scanned whenever players leave for the restroom. This thoughtful addition strengthens fair play and tournament integrity. The system was prepared by our talented member, Liew Jun Juin, with visual design for the name tags and related materials by NA Syaiful Asyraf.
Side Event: FIDE Preparation of Teachers (PoT) Program
Running alongside the championship is the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) Program 2025, scheduled from 12–14 November 2025 at De King Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
This three-day educational course is designed for teachers, educators, and chess coaches who wish to integrate chess into their teaching practices. Participants who complete the program and pass the examination will earn the FIDE School Instructor Certificate, officially accredited by FIDE.
The program will be facilitated by Mr. Jerry Nash, Chairman of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission (EDU), and aims to equip educators with practical strategies to use chess as a tool for developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and focus among students.
Stay Connected
As the championship unfolds, follow the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 pages for photos, & updates
throughout the event:
Facebook: Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025
Instagram: @commonwealthchess2025
Check-in, Checkmate, and Cheers from Kuala Lumpur!
As the first round begins, the Malaysian Chess Federation extends its warmest welcome to all players and delegates. May the spirit of sportsmanship, friendship, and fair play shine throughout the event.
Situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC) just steps away, participants are encouraged to enjoy not only the thrilling battles on the chessboard but also the vibrant culture, flavors, and hospitality Malaysia has to offer.
Here’s to a week of great games, new friendships, and memorable moments — may the best moves lead to victory!
#CommonwealthChess2025 #MalaysiaChess