FIDE World School Championships 2015

The Dusit Thani Pattaya one of Thailand’s best known beach resorts.

Chess players do not need much – a set of pieces, a table, a comfortable chair, and a spacious hall.

The playing hall, one of the best tournament venues I have ever seen.

The official clock

Officials, FIDE Delegates, guests and organizers during the opening ceremony

The President of the International School Chess Union, Mr. Alexander Kostyev, during his opening speech.

I think these young kids are the real ambassadors of the game and tournaments
such as this provide a great platform for them - and help to make a world class sport.

I think this U-7 player, Nikolay Solovyev of Russia resembles the young Carlsen.

6-year old Evelina Zavivaeva from Russia.

It’s not only chess for Jung Ryan from South Korea

Ezizova Hatija from Turkmenistan, U7

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Sourya Jain from India, started in the U13-Open and won 87 Elo-points

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Was it really too cold in the hall? The Sri Lankans seem to have thought so.

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Chess is demanding. But what is wrong with a quick nap?

The right approach is important – but sometimes it takes time to find it.

“Stay positive and enjoy the game“, inspiring words of a father to his son.

Lakshyesh Mohan Gupta (left), the world’s youngest player with a rating,
just won against his elder brother Madhuresh (right). Their mother Soumya Gupta is impartial.

Mahdi Abdulrahim from the United Arab Emirates, former Technical Director of the UAE federation,
Chairman of Arbiter’s Council of the UAE federation, member of the FIDE Arbiters’ Council,
and Chief Arbiter of the World Schools Chess Championships 2015.

Sometimes the arbiters need a translator to understand the claims of the young players.

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And not every decision is clear.

You never know when critical situations may arise.

The arbiter checks that everything is okay.

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After six rounds the players and parents had an entertaining “Social Night”
which brought the different cultures together (Photo: Kristianus Liem).

Dinner is ready! (Photo: Kristianus Liem)

Saokham Siwabannakorn from Thailand won a prize for his Nanchaku performance.

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But to my surprise I saw the next day that he is partially blind
and had to use a magnifying glass to write down his moves.

Boeru Dragos-Matei from Romania

The Winners

U7 Girls: Leyla Budagova from Azerbaijan (center) won gold, silver went to
Kurmanalina Deniza from Kazakhstan, and bronze to Unurzul Davaakhuu from Mongolia.

U7 Open: Bao Jin, Hong Kong, won gold, Ansat Aldiyar from Kazakhstan silver,
and Azjargal Erdenebat from Mongolia bronze.

U9 Girls: Gold went to Amina Kairbekova from Kazakhstan, silver was won by Davaakhuu Munkhzul (Mongolia),
and bronze by Enkhsaran Batsaikhan (also from Mongolia).

U9 Open:  Ilya Makoveev from Russia won gold, Iulian-Mihai Anghel from Romania silver,
and Michael Deng Yu Dong from Hong Kong won bronze.

U11 Girls: Ning Kaiyu from China won gold with 7.0/9, Cai Boheng from China won silver,
and Nurgali Nazerke from Kazakhstan won bronze.

U11 Open: Here gold went to Amartuvshin Ganzorig from Mongolia.

U13 Girls: Mekanova Annagozel from Turkmenistan won gold, Mordido Kylen Joy
from the Philippines silver, and Zhang Xiao from China bronze.

U13 Open: Gold went to Yu Kaifeng (China), silver to Peng Hongchi (China),
and bronze to Gilbert Elroy Tarigan (Indonesia).

U15 Girls: Tejaswini Sagar (India) won gold, Irina Barbaeva (Russsia) silver,
and Nur Abidah Shanti (Indonesia) bronze.

U15 Open: John Merill Jacutina (Philippines) won gold, Anand Nadar (India) silver,
and Chit Wong Yee (Singapore) bronze.

U17 Girls: Gold: Mendoza Shania Mae (Philippines) won gold, Sapale Saloni (India) silver,
and Jiang Zhaoyi (China) bronze.

U17 Open: IM Saiyn Zhanat (Kazakhstan) won gold, Bersamina Paulo (Philippines) silver,
and Urazayev Arystanbek (Kazakhstan) bronze.

Classical Thai dance at the closing ceremony, performed by Khun Bowtie K. Puttarak

Organiser Panuprand Vijjuprabha (right), secretary of the Thailand Chess Association.

Chief Organizer, IA Ignatius Leong, director of the ASEAN Chess Academy Singapore.

Official tournament site