♣ World Junior & Girls U20 Chess Championships 2017

The World Junior & Girls U20 Chess Championships 2017 was held in Tarvisio (Italy) from the 13th of November to the 25th of the same month. 

Four Southeast Asian countries took part of this world championships. These were Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Malaysia was represented by Sheng Liang Bernard Chan in the open division. The Philippines had three: IM Paulo Bersamina, FM Stephen Pangilinan and John Marvin Miciano. Singapore got IM Jingyao Tin while Vietnam was represented by GM Tuan Minh Tranh and IM Minh Thang Tran.

The Open division drew 148 chess enthusiasts from around the world while the girls U20 got 89 participants. 

Only Malaysia and the Philippines competed in the girls U20. Wei Xin Rosamund Koo represented Malaysia while Marie Antoinette San Diego and Francois Marie Magpily for the Philippines.

For the results, Aryan Tari of Norway took the title of the open division while our ASEAN players were unable to reach at least in the top 10.

Tuan Minh Tranh of Vietnam ended rank 14 with 7.5 points, Jingyao Tin of Singapore ranked #33 with 6.5 points, in 49th placed was Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines with 6 points, Minh Thang Tran (VIE) in 64th place also with 6 points, in 84th was John Marvin Miciano (PHI) with 5.5 points, Stephen Pangilinan (PHI) in 126th place with 4 points and Sheng Liang Bernard Chan (MAS) in 134th place with 4 points.

In girls U20, Kazakhstan's Zhansaya Abdumalik won the title. Philippines' Marie Antoinette San Diego finished in 47th place with 5.5 points, Wei Xin Rosamund Koo (MAS) in 70th place with 4.5 points and Francois Marie Magpily (PHI) in 73rd place with 4.5 points. 

Overall, the future of Southeast Asian chess players are very bright.