MCF has concluded its Grand Prix series for 2025, and 32 players have been identified and contacted to participate in the first-ever MCF National Grand Prix Chess Championship 2025. Most players have already confirmed their participation, and once all the acceptances (or rejections) are received, MCF will proceed to outline the playing bracket for the 32-player playoff table scheduled to start at 9:00 am this Saturday, 31st January 2026 at MCF Office in Seri Kembangan
Players will be ranked based on their January FIDE Rating and paired according to the playoff table that was shared earlier last year. Playing slots for the player who has declined the invitation will be left vacant, providing automatic progression to the second round for their opponents.
For the first playoff Round of 32, each pair of players will play a game each as white and black, using a Rapid time control of 15 mins + 10 seconds increment. For the first game, the higher-ranked player will start as white, and will be assigned as black in the second game. If the game ends in a 1-1 draw, both players will continue to play against one another using a Blitz time control of 3 mins + 2 seconds increment. And if the game continues to end in a 1-1 draw, an Armageddon-style tie breaker will be used to decide the winner. As advertised, all losers from the first playoff round will earn RM250 for their effort.
A similar format will be used for the second Round of 16, with the only change being the losing player earning RM500 for their effort.
For the Quarterfinal round on Sunday, 1st February 2026, the remaining 8 players will play using the Standard time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment. Again, both players will play each color once and if the games ends in a tie, the tie breaker will proceed with Blitz and if need be, to continue with the Armageddon tie breaker.
Both Semifinal and Final (including the introduction of the 3rd and 4th place playoff), will be staged on the 14th and 15th of February using the same Standard time control, and the same playoff of Blitz and Armageddon-style faceoff.
All players must complete their games – including any playoff game that needs to be completed to claim their prize fund. MCF is also exploring to see if all the games played can be submitted to FIDE as FIDE-rated games.
As advertised, players losing in the first round will earn RM250, and players losing in the second round will earn RM500, and players dropping out at the Quarterfinal round will earn RM1,000 each.
After the Semifinal, there will also be a playoff for the 3rd/4th spot with the each receiving RM2,500 and RM1,500 respectively. For the final, the Runner Up will earn RM4,000 and the GP Champion will earn RM10,000 – the highest purse ever offered for a local event, and a Challenge Trophy.
MCF is excited to introduce this first-ever Playoff World Championship style format, with the hope that it will continue to invigorate the development and growth of chess in the country. MCF will continue to promote the GP event for 2026 but with some changes and tweaking to the point format to ensure a better distriution of points for players playing in small events.
MCF also welcomes organizers who want to include their event as a Grand Prix event for 2026 but the offer is limited to Classical/Standard time control (FIDE-rated), and a joining fee is required before the event can be included as a GP event.
For now, all MCF Office events including the Monthly and Quarterly events are marked as GP events including Malaysian Chess Championship, National Challenger, Malaysian Amateur, National Open Team Chess Championship, National Seniors Open, to name a few.