21ST Malaysian Chess Festival
28th AUGUST – 06 SEPTEMBER 2026
The Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DAT Chess Centre), with endorsement from the Malaysian Chess Federation, will be organizing the 21st MALAYSIAN CHESS FESTIVAL 2026, comprising the following events as per the details below: All the events will be held in KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
FIDE OPEN Aid PROJECT
EVENT 1) SMS DEEN MERDEKA OPEN RAPID TEAM CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2026
Dates: 28th – 29th August 2026 (Friday & Saturday) – Type: Rapid, Time Control: 20 minutes + 5 seconds to finish
No of Rounds: 9 (nine), Team Swiss System – (Total Prizes: RM 18,000)
EVENT 2) DTCN MERDEKA JUNIOR TEAM (U-12) CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: 28th – 29th August 2026 (Friday & Saturday) – Type: Rapid, Time Control: 20 minutes + 5 seconds to finish
No of Rounds: 9 (nine), Team Swiss System – (Total Prize Fund: RM 9,000)
EVENT 3) MERDEKA BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP – (Saturday, 29th Aug 2026)
Dates: 29th August 2026 (Saturday) – Type: Blitz, Time Control: 3 minutes + 2 seconds to finish
No of Rounds: 7-9 rounds, Swiss System – (Prize Fund: RM 2,500)
EVENT 4) DTCN Age-Group Chess Championship 2026
(UNDER 06/08/10/12/14/16) – Dates: 30th August 2026 (Sunday)
Type: Rapid, Time Control: 20 minutes + 5 seconds to finish – No of Rounds: 6 Round Swiss
EVENT 5) 21st DATO’ ARTHUR TAN MERDEKA OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: 30th Aug (Arrival) – 07th Sep 2026 (Departure) – 9 Rounds Swiss – Type: Rated Standard, Time Control: 90 min + 30 sec increments from move 1 to finish – (Total Prizes Fund: RM 55.000)
EVENT 6) DANIEL YONG CHEN-I MEMORIAL – MERDEKA CHESS CHALLENGE
Dates: 30th Aug (Arrival – 07th Sep 2026 (Departure) – 9 Rounds Swiss – Type: Rated Standard, Time Control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 to finish – (Prize Fund: RM 15,000)
EVENT 7) DTCN INTERNATIONAL SENIORS’ OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: 30th Aug (Arrival) – 07th Sep 2026 (Departure) – 9 Rounds Swiss
Type: Rated Standard, Time Control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 to finish – (Prize Fund: RM 12,000)
EVENT 8) DTCN MERDEKA DAY AGE GROUP (OPEN, UNDER 6,8,10,12,14 & 18)
Dates: 3rd Sep 2026 – Type: Rapid, Time Control: 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment to finish
No of Rounds: 6 Round Swiss System – (Prize Fund: RM 1,800)
EVENT 9) FESTIVAL BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dates: 06th Sep 2026
Type: Blitz, Time Control: 3 minutes + 2 seconds to finish – No of Rounds: 7-9 (nine), Swiss System – (Prize Fund: RM 2,500)
KL Gateway Mall,Lot L3.01 & 02, 2, Jalan Kerinchi, Kampung Kerinchi,
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan