Day 2

Day 2 

Day 2 Report: 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships 2025

Overview

Day 2 at the Berjaya Hotel Penang saw the completion of Rounds 2 and 3 of Standard Chess across all age groups. With nearly 400 players from 21 countries, the tournament is already showcasing strong performances, upsets, and emerging leaders in each section.

Under 8

• Leaders: Several players from Vietnam and Malaysia have started strong, with perfect scores after three rounds.
• Highlights: Early rounds featured decisive wins by top seeds, but a few local Malaysians managed upsets against higher-rated opponents.

Under 10

• Leaders: Vietnam’s delegation dominates the leaderboard, with multiple players on 3/3. Indonesia and the Philippines also have contenders in the top ranks.
• Highlights: Notable upset by a Malaysian player against a top Vietnamese seed in Round 2.

Under 12

• Leaders: Nguyen, Quang Anh (Vietnam) and Chow, Yi Chen (Malaysia) are among those with perfect scores. The section remains tightly contested.
• Highlights: The Philippines and China have players in the chasing pack, with several games going down to the final minutes.

Under 14 (Girls)

• Leaders: Nguyen, Minh Chi (Vietnam) and Tong, Thai Hoang An (Vietnam) are leading with 3/3.
• Highlights: Indonesia’s Putri, Danesh Syauqina and Malaysia’s Shahar, Nur Ain are close behind, each scoring key wins.

Under 16

• Leaders: Tran, Ngoc Minh Duy (Vietnam) and Nguyen, Vuong Tung Lam (Vietnam) are at the top, both undefeated.
• Highlights: Malaysia’s Shen, Ree Herng and the Philippines’ Cabales, John Peter Allen are in the top five, with strong performances.

Seniors (50/65)

• Leaders: The senior sections are led by experienced players from Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
• Highlights: Several games featured dramatic time scrambles and endgame finesse, with the top seeds generally holding their ground.

General Trends

• Vietnam continues to dominate most age groups, with large delegations and many players on perfect scores.
• Malaysia and the Philippines are showing depth, with several players in medal contention.
• Upsets: Each section has seen at least one major upset, often by local players or those from dialogue partner countries.

Looking Ahead

With six rounds remaining, the competition is wide open. Tomorrow’s games will be crucial for medal hopes, and the leaderboard is expected to shift as top seeds face off.

Pictures from Day 2