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Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship 2024 Kicks Off in Penang

Penang, Malaysia – The eighth edition of the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship (EAYCC2024) officially commenced today at the CitiTel Hotel in George Town, Penang. The event was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Yang Berhormat Puan Lim Hui Ying.

This year’s championship has attracted 364 players from 16 countries, competing across six age groups in both Open and Girls categories: Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18. Co-hosted by the Malaysian Chess Federation and the Penang Chess Association, the tournament runs from July 12th to 20th, featuring a main Standard Chess competition that begins today and concludes on Saturday.

Players will compete in nine rounds of Standard Chess, each with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The largest foreign delegation comes from China with 72 participants, followed by Singapore with 49, and Mongolia with 39. Malaysia, the host country, leads with 74 players.

Competitors are vying for trophies, medals, and opportunities to earn international titles and norms from the World Chess Federation (FIDE), including titles such as International Master (IM), Women’s International Master (WIM), FIDE Master (FM), and others.

Since the surge in chess popularity during the COVID-19 lockdown, young players have become dominant in the game. Notably, the tournament’s highest-rated player, 15-year-old FIDE Master Poh Yu Tian from Penang, aims for his International Master title.

This year’s EAYCC2024 is particularly significant as it marks 50 years since the first international chess tournament organized by the Penang Chess Association in 1974. That event was the First Asian Team Chess Championship, coinciding with FIDE’s Golden Jubilee. Now, as the association co-hosts the EAYCC2024, FIDE is celebrating its Centenary, and the Malaysian Chess Federation its Golden Jubilee.

The tournament’s opening day saw Malaysia secure three Golds and a Bronze in the Rapid Chess competition, placing the country second overall, just behind Vietnam. Malaysian teams excelled in the Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 Open categories, and achieved third place in the Under-8 category. In the Girl’s categories, Malaysia won a Gold, three Silvers, and a Bronze.

Additionally, Saturday, July 20th, 2024, is World Chess Day. In conjunction with FIDE’s Centenary celebrations, the Malaysian Chess Federation will join a global attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most chess games played in 24 hours. The final round of the Standard Chess competition and the subsequent Blitz competition will be part of this record attempt.

The Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship continues to be a premier event for young chess talents across the region, fostering international competition and camaraderie.

For further details, please refer to the official schedule and updates from the Malaysian Chess Federation and the Penang Chess Association.

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