Singapore International Chess Festival

Singapore International Chess Festival (SICF) 2010 features 6 events of regional and world level.

The 1st Asean Chess Championships 2010 will have two categories, Open & Women. It takes place from 26-30 Dec over 9 rounds. It is a prestigious event with a prize fund of S$18,000. It will also serve as SCF’s 1st qualifying event for consideration for selection for the 2011 SEA Games. It also offers chances for various international title norms including Grand Master and Woman Grand Master.

The 1st Asean Open Championship has 27 participants, among them 8 Grand Masters (GM), 7 International Masters (IM), 6 FIDE Masters (FM) and 1 Candidate Master (CM). The average international rating of all participants is 2385. 5 Asean countries are represented: Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia & Malaysia.

The 1st Asean Women Championship has 14 female participants, among them 3 Woman Grand Masters (WGM, 3 Woman International Masters (WIM), 5 Woman FIDE Masters (WFM) and 1 Woman Candidate Master (WCM). The average international rating of all participants is 2160. 5 Asean countries are represented: Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia & Malaysia.

The Singapore Open 2010, open to all players, will be played 26th-30th December, with 9 rounds and a prize fund of S$ 6,000, and also offers opportunities for gaining WCM, WFM, CM & FM titles, and norms for WIM, IM, WGM and GM titles. It has 68 participants, among which 3 GM, 4 IM, 4 FM, 3 WFM and 1 CM. The average international rating of all participants is 1803. 14 countries are represented:

China, England, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka & Thailand.

Also part of the SICF is the Inaugural Singapore International Youth Chess Championships (26-30 Dec 2010). This event, also over 9 rounds, has 4 age group categories (U8, U11, U14, U17) played over Open and Girls subcategories. The SIYC offers a total prize fund of S$44,000, with a S$ 1,500 1st prize in each subcategory. GU8 section has 26 participants from 6 countries, U8 – 53 from 9 countries, GU11 – 46 from 7 countries, U11 – 82 from 6 countries, GU14 – 24 from 6 countries, U14 – 43 from 9 countries , GU17 – 7 from 3 countries and U17 – 19 players from 8 countries.

The 7th Singapore FIDE (World Chess Federation) Arbiters’ Seminar [26- 30 Dec 2010] offers training and international certification of chess arbiters. Lecturers are International Arbiters, with highest world-level expertise. The 6 participants hail from Macau, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The 7th Singapore FIDE Trainer’s Seminar [26-30 Dec 2010] offers training and international certification of chess coaches.

Lecturers/Seminar Leaders are FIDE Senior Trainers, with highest world-level expertise. There are 8 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, China and the Philippines.

A longstanding and keenly contested over-the-board rivalry will also be contested at the 21st Singapore vs Malaysia Chess Challenge (31 Dec 2010 – 1 Jan 2011). The traditional match will feature 38 players on 38 boards in 10 age-group categories, from Girls Under 8 up to Veterans above 55 years of age.

The 5 events will be hosted by Stansfield Residence, 27 Mount Vernon Road, Singapore 368052, with the Trainers’ Seminar being held in the premises of the Singapore Chess Federation, 51 Bishan Street 13 #02-01A SIGC, Singapore 579799.

All results with other information are available in full details at www.singaporechess.org.sg.