Golden Year for Thailand!
Chess is doing great around the world amidst the pandemic. Such is very true especially for the Kingdom of Thailand!
The year 2022 saw great milestones for the country known as the Land of beautiful smiles!
Team Silver in SEA Games! Last May, in Hanoi, Vietnam , the duo of FM K. Thanadon and A. Tinnakrit won the bronze medal in the Team Rapid in a stellar field that includes GMs and IMs, truly an amazing feat!
Next? The philanthropic, valiant and esteemed Blue Chevaliers gang (who are mostly French nationals based in Southeast Asia like David Camhi, Nicolas Noel, Matthieu Penot, and of course the Australian Peter Frost and from the local end Bami Tanachaporn), successfully hosted another international event the Blue Chevaliers Open held in the very beautiful world- renowned resort city of Phuket which attracted a good number of international players as well as the finest players from the country.
And yes a silver medal in the Olympiad! The 44th Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India saw the Thailand Women’s Team snaring a silver medal in their bracket. The youngster laden women’s squad had fought tooth and nail against mighty opposition to cement such an awesome milestone that could go down as a beautiful landmark in the young but storied Thailand Chess history.
Greater heights ahead. This year’s Thailand’s Men Olympiad team is one of the youngest as to age average of the team members. Youngsters Prin L. and Shin Jingjang who are both under the tutelage of FM Deniel Causo, clearly signals a brighter future for Thailand Chess as they earned their coveted slots. One should not wonder anymore if the country will finally produce soon its first homegrown GM.
BCC International OPEN is back! Bangkok Chess Club headed by Mr. Kai Tourila is happy to welcome everyone especially from the International chess community as the 20th staging of the much adored BCC International will be stage from 22nd to 30th of October 2022, at the dazzling 5 star Shnagri-La Chiang Mai Hotel. I will take this opportunity to remind everyone that today is the last day for the early bird rate, so for those who haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for, click the link now: http://bangkokchess.com/20th.../20th-bcc-open-registration/
On another highlight, this one as to the officiating side. FM Poompong Wiwatanadate finally hurdled the highest title in officiating as he finally got the International Arbiter title from FIDE. Having a new IA of course augmented the country’s organizational and management capabilities even more.
Indeed, so many great things are happening in Thailand Chess. Chess classes, chess activities, events, tournaments and the like, courtesy of the very active chess academies which are mostly based in Bangkok to wit; Red Knight Chess, Double Bishop Chess, Big Rook Chess Academy, Jirapak Chess Academy, 101 Chess, IWICA, Happy Pawn...just to mention a few.
Soar high Thailand!
Chesserly yours,
NM Winston Joseph Silva
P.S.
this is just a narrative, maybe I’ll write soon an entertaining or anecdotal piece when I have the time.
