Chess on the Beach

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 


21st BCC Open registration list

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.


21st BCC Challenger


Room Reservations for 21st BCC Open

We now have the link for direct room reservations at the Sheraton Hua Hin, with a special rate for the days of the tournament. This is much lower than the regular rate over Songkran, and we encourage you to book early as they will fill up during this busy holiday period.

The room rates are:

  • Guest Room only, Single/Twin: 2,999 baht per night
  • Guest Room & Breakfast, Single/Twin: 3,400 baht per night
  • inclusive of service charge, VAT and complimentary in-room internet. Rates are nett/room/night
  • Important: these room rates are valid for booking by 30 March

Please note:

  • New bookings at the special rate are no longer available.
  • Garden View rooms which the Sheraton has given us the special rate on, are now fully booked for the period April 12-15 (Songkran). This means the special rates are only available for the period 15–21 April (6 nights). Premium rooms like the Lagoon View are still available at normal hotel rates for the entire tournament.
  • Sheraton Hua Hin is fully booked from April 22, so if you would like to extend your stay after the tournament, you will need to change hotels.

BCC Open goes to Hua Hin

We are delighted to announce that the 21st Bangkok Chess Club Open will take place at the beautiful Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, 13-21 April 2024.

This spectacular beach-front resort is close to Hua Hin, one of the top tourist destinations of Thailand from its great amount of attractions and activities. The city has many incredible beaches, mountains, viewpoints, temples, night markets, water parks, and fine dining for you to choose from and enjoy at any time of the year.

As before, the format will be a 9-round Swiss System classical tournament, with one round per day – and an opportunity to take a one-round bye with 1/2 point if you would like to explore the surrounding area.

There will also be a concurrent blitz championship played over two evenings, won in the 20th BCC Open by China’s GM Wang Hao.

A registration form will be available shortly, with early bird entry fees until March 15. Very advantageous room rates have been negotiated, but please note, you have to book by March 30th.

Links


21st Bangkok Chess Club Open will be held in April 2024

Happy New Year to all friends of BCC.

After getting a few hundred inquiries about the dates for the next BCC Open, we are finally happy to announce that the 21st Bangkok Chess Club Open will be held on 13-21 of April 2024

Venue and location will be announced once the details are finalised. At the same time we will publish full tournament regulations and registration form at www.bangkokchess.com.

Stay tuned, we look forward to seeing you in Thailand soon!

Thai chess competition in Korat

Demonstration Makruk Championship 2023

Date 21-22 Oct 2023 at The Mall Korat, Nakhon Ratchasima

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  1. Type of competition
    Types of people who are foreigners.
  2. Qualifications of the contestants
    Foreigners must have a passport.
  3. Documents for application
    2 Copies of Passport Documents (to receive prizes)
  4. Registration
    Entry is free. Register before 19 Oct 2023 by emailing makruk.demo@gmail.com
  5. Competition rules and regulations
    5.1 Swiss system competition 6-7 rounds (depending on the number of competitors, forexample, 6 rounds in the case of not more than 80 people, 7 rounds in the case of more than 80 people) without having to record check points, but athletes can choose to record check points. Yes, board 1-4 have cameras recording and broadcasting throughout the race.
    5.2 The time of the competition is 30/20 minutes per side per round.
    5.3 Player need to write notation on the scoresheet.
    5.4 Use the Thai Chess Competition Rules of the Thai Sports Association under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King B.E. 2561
    5.5 The judges’ decision is final.
    5.6 Late Competitors more than 20 minutes after the competition in that round has begun and if the athlete who is late does not report to the committee When the competition in Round 1 is over, that athlete is immediately removed from the competition.
  6. Dress Code
    The contestants dressed in modest clothes, closed-toed shoes or sneakers (shorts and flipflops are strictly forbidden).
  7. Program:
    Saturday 21 Oct 2023 (Day 1)

    Registration 08.30 – 09.30.
    Round 1: 10.00 – 12.00
    Lunch.
    Round 2: 13.00 – 15.00
    Round 3: 15.30 – 17.30
    Sunday 22 Oct 2023 (Day 2)
    Round 4: 09.00 – 11.00
    Lunch.
    Round 5: 12.00 – 14.00
    Round 6: 14.30 – 16.30
    Award ceremony
  8. Tiebreak
    Tie breaks are used to determine the result of a match only when the competitors have equal scores. in the order of the tie-break as follows
    8.1 The result of the match between the parties in the event that the main points are equal. (Head-to-Head)
    8.2 Number of wins
    8.3 Sonneborn-Berger
    8.4 Buchholz cut 1
    8.5 Play-offs
  9. Prize Fund
    The prize money for organizing the International General Public Chess Tournament is as follows:
    – The first prize in the amount of 10,000 baht with a trophy from the Thai Sports Association
    – 1st runner-up prize 5,000 baht with a trophy from the Thai Sports Association
    – 2nd runner-up prize 4,000 baht with a trophy from the Thai Sports Association
    – 3rd runner-up prize 3,000 baht with a trophy from the Thai Sports Association
    – 4th runner-up prize 2,000 baht
    – 5th runner-up prize 1,500 baht
    – 6th runner-up prize 1,000 baht
    – 7th-16th runner-up prize 500 baht

Notes

  • This tournament is a Swiss paring system and is certified as a national level tournament. country by sports association Thai Sports Authority of Thailand under Royal Patronage
  • Arrive to register 30 minutes before the start time.
  • All contestants receive certificates.