Round 3 of the Bangkok Chess Club Open witnessed several closely contested, heavyweight encounters, as the Elo gap between opponents continued to shrink.
The round was brutal, with upsets on Board 3 with Subhayan Kundu defeating Chinese GM Peng Xiongjian, and Board 5 with FM Manon overcoming GM Lalit. Only two Grandmasters retain their places in the top 15 for Round 4.
Yesterday, a twelve year old boy defeated an International Master. (Add video link maybe), after which he shared in his dream of becoming World Champion someday.
This conjures up memories of a juvenile Gukesh overjoyed upon defeating 3-time BCC champion Nigel Short here in Thailand a few years ago.
Why Gukesh and fellow former BCC contestants Praggnanandhaa and his sister Vaishali elected to travel to Toronto’s unending winter instead of this tropical paradise of Hua Hin, we may never know (but then again, we might).
All the same, don’t conclude that there are no superstars at the BCC Open this year. We guarantee you will find some hidden gems here.
Round number two saw the Bangkok Chess Club Open rapidly gather steam. After an initial day in which most of the favourites emerged unscathed, the first skirmishes between titled players took place this Sunday.
Notable performances on the top boards include the Indian junior Ajay Santosh holding GM Samant Aditya to a draw on Board 5
Elsewhere, the only two French players in the Open section – one a real estate tycoon, the other a software wizard – were pitted against each other in a battle that started like fierce duel worthy of Alexandre Dumas himself, but concluded as peacefully as an Armistice Day commemoration atop the Maginot line.
On a nearby board, the battle of the organisers lived up to its billings, with BCC tournament director Kai Tuorila trying to overcome the stubborn resistance of Blue Chevaliers Chess Tournament mastermind Peter Frost, but ultimately conceding a hard-fought draw.
In other news, the celebrations surrounding the Thai New Year or Songkran are in full swing, meaning that even those players who were able to keep their calculations watertight over the weekend may not be as lucky if they venture out to town over the coming days.
Round one of the 21st edition of the Bangkok Chess Club Open is underway at the Sheraton Resort and Spa in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Hua Hin, while not quite exactly on the same footing as the French Riviera, the Bahamas or other locations popularised by the Beach Boys and related artists, has become a magnet for local tourists and Western retirees alike.
The open and challenger sections of the tournament are hosted separately in two dazzling ballrooms boasting huge chandeliers, not dissimilar from the Hua Hin beach sunrise. Hyperbolic? Maybe, though not that much if you are, like most chess aficionados, used to playing chess in taverns, school cafeterias or multi-sport halls. But we digress.
This year, a total of over 300 participants hailing from close to fifty different countries have congregated to Thailand, making the BCC open once more a staple of Asia’s chess calendar.
While this number is not in itself a record, what is remarkable about the 2024 edition is the sharp increase in players representing India. More than a hundred showed up in Hua Hin, representing the bulk of titled players in attendance.
Good thing is, we are told, this particular hotel specialises in large Indian weddings. Although it can be expected that, in this particular instance, most participants will have slightly different mating patterns on their minds.
As a fairly uneventful first round unfolds, one is tempted to reflect on the event’s longevity and consistency, over a period of 23 years only briefly interrupted by the Covid pandemic. Or receive an initiation to the local variant of chess, which is endemic to Thailand and Cambodia, courtesy of the Makruk Association. Or get ready for happy hour by the pool bar. Take your pick, and join us at this year’s Bangkok chess club open. Or if you can’t, do check out the games from the top boards on chess.com.
This week marks the start of Songkran, the water festival that is the biggest holiday of the year in Thailand.
It is also when the most popular chess tournament in Southeast Asia takes place in the beautiful setting of the Sheraton Hua Hin. More than 300 chess enthusiasts, young and old, are traveling from nearly 50 countries to test their wits against the Grandmasters that will be taking part.
“This will be our 21st edition of the Bangkok Chess Club Open, and it is shaping up to be the best yet,” notes Kai Tuorila, the Tournament Director. “After all the difficulties over the past few years, we are delighted to see so many of our regulars as well as new visitors coming together in a spirit of friendship and competition.”
The tournament takes place over 9 days, with all players taking part for the whole tournament. There is also a short Blitz Tournament taking place, with games that take only ten minutes to complete. “The Open is not a knockout tournament, all participants will have chances right to the end of the tournament,” Kai added. “In the Blitz, the Juniors can really challenge the older players, even the Grandmasters.”
Nicolai Mitchell, General Manager at the Sheraton explained that this a unique new experience for them. “We are very popular for weddings and corporate events, and this new sporting event should help us reach a wider audience via the Marriott Bonvoy programme, particularly as there are more than 100 chess players coming from India.”
The tournament runs from 13-21 April, and spectators are welcome – but should note that no electronic devices including mobile phones are allowed in the playing hall. Games from the top boards are broadcast live on the international chess website www.chess.com
09/04. Online payments are now closed. All outstanding entry fees can be paid in cash on signing in at the tournament, latest by 12 noon on April 13.
01/04. 251 entries in the Open section and 96 in Challenger, with over 100 titled players. Updated with the latest FIDE ratings.
16/03. We are heading for a record entry to the 21st BCC Open, with 220 in the Open section and 91 in the Challenger, with new entries coming in every day. Bangkok Chess Club is really looking forward to welcoming many new players as well as our regulars to the 21st edition in Hua Hin.
14/03. Over 200 competitors in the Open section now, and 77 in the Challenger, in the latest update. For the players that wish to stay at the Sheraton, please make sure to make your reservations as soon as possible as the hotel is approaching capacity.
13/03. There are now over 250 chess enthusiasts registered to play in the BCC Open and Challenger. The two groups will be playing in adjacent high quality ballrooms, with plenty of space between boards and tables. There will be a snack bar with coffee, soft drinks and light meals available throughout the tournament, as well as free iced water. Please note that anti-cheating measures will be in effect, including a strict ban on all electronic devices in the playing halls. An analysis room will be available.
11/03. The Challenger is becoming a challenging tournament with 61 players up to nearly 2000 rating, and there are over 170 players including 18 GMs in the open section. Last few days before Early Bird closes.
09/03. We now have 214 players from 40 countries, with 75 titled players: 18 GMs, 17 IMs, 14 FMs, 4 WGMs, 9 WIMs, and 6 WFMs
07/03. More than 200 chess enthusiasts have registered for the 21st BCC Open & Challenger, with 72 titled players including 18 Grandmasters and 17 IMs. Don’t forget to register before the Early Bird registration ends on March 15.
05/03. Updated directly from the Chess-Results list, so the names are now in the FIDE format. Also ratings below 2000 have been adjusted upwards by FIDE, with the new rating floor of 1400.
02.03. If your name does not appear in the tables below, please check the complete list on chess-results.com: Open | Challenger
02.03. Registrations reach 172 players from 33 countries already!
29.2. We now have 158 registrations from 30 countries, including 64 titled players
28.2. Now 61 titled players, including 16 GMs and 14 IMs. Next week the registration lists will be available on chess-results.com
26.2. Quite a few registrations today, so another update done. Make sure to register before our March 15 early bird deadline, and also make hotel reservations as the tournament period takes place during Thailand’s biggest national holiday.
25.2. There are now 15 Grandmasters and 4 WGMs in a total of 118 players.
21.2. Registrations hit 100 players from 24 different countries and 43 titled players (including 11 GMs, 11 IMs, 10 FMs, 4 WGMs) – a great opportunity for title norms! List for the Challengers now included.
