The 20th edition of the Malaysian Chess Festival, which first began in 2004, is set to take place at KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur, from 12th to 21st September 2025.
This acclaimed ten-day chess festival is thoughtfully designed to engage chess enthusiasts across all age groups and skill levels. Nine exciting chess events will be held concurrently and consecutively throughout the festival, including classical, rapid, and blitz formats suited for Open, Senior, age-group, and junior categories. The lineup of key events includes:
- SMS DEEN Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship (12th–13th September)
- Dato’ Tan Chin Nam (DTCN) Merdeka Junior (Under-12) Team Chess Championship (12th–13th September)
- Merdeka Blitz Chess Championship (13th September)
- DTCN Age-Group Chess Championship (Under 6/8/10/12/14/16) (14th September)
- 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open Chess Championship (15th–21st September)
- Daniel Yong Chen-I Memorial Malaysia Chess Challenge (15th–21st September)
- DTCN International Seniors' Open Chess Championship (15th–21st September)
- DTCN Malaysia Day Age Group (Open, Under 8/10/12/14/18) (16th September)
- Festival Blitz Chess Championship (21st September)
Alongside monetary rewards, medals, certificates, and additional prizes will be distributed, continuing the festival’s reputation as one of the region’s most rewarding chess competitions.
Titled players enjoy entry fee exemptions. For further information, participants may contact the Organising Secretary, IA Hamid Majid, via WhatsApp at +6019 315 8098 or email aham@pc.jaring.asia.
Online registration is now open at : https://datcc.net
The playing venue itself KL Gateway Mall is extremely easy to reach—just a 1–2 minute walk from the Universiti LRT station via a direct pedestrian bridge. It is not only convenient for players and visitors, but also serves as a gateway to Kuala Lumpur’s city center by it's high frequency trains.
Join us at the KL Gateway Mall from 12th to 21st September 2025 for a celebration of chess, camaraderie, and competition that continues to inspire Malaysia and the region’s chess community.
