Bali to Host the 2022 AYCC Youth Chess Championship, 400 Participants from 20 Countries Will Compete

General Chairperson of PB Percasi GM Utut Adianto (third from the left) and other management at the 2022 Asian Youth Championship (AYCC) /ANTARA conference

JAKARTA - Indonesia has the honor to host the 2022 Asian Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) which will be held at Grand Inna Kuta, Bali, October 13-22.

More than 400 chess players from 20 countries will compete in the first and largest international chess championship to be held in Indonesia after the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Chairman of the Executive Board of the All-Indonesian Chess Association (PB Percasi), GM Utut Adianto, said that countries that were strong in chess also sent representatives.

"China did not participate because of their policy not to send players until 2022 ended. However, competition is also fierce because the strong countries in Asia are India, Vietnam, Mongolia, and the Philippines", said GM Utut at a press conference at the Proclamation Manuscript Formulation Museum, Menteng, Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, October 9.

In addition, Utut continued, there were also representatives from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong, Iran, and the Maldives.

"With careful preparation, I am optimistic that Indonesian chess players can perform well. Don't waste an opportunity like this because a golden opportunity usually only comes once", said GM Utut.

In its implementation, the AYCC 2022 competes in six age groups, namely, KU-8, KU-10, KU-12, KU-14, KU-16, and KU-18 both in the male and female sectors. They will compete in 9 rounds of classical chess and 9 rounds of rapid chess.

Previously, the Chair of the 2022 AYCC Committee, Dwi Hatmisari Ambarukmi, said that convincing participants from various countries were not easy because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many are still doubtful, but we continue to try to take a more intense approach and as a result, almost all countries can take part in this tournament", said Dwi Hatmisari.

In addition to international tournaments, other activities held in AYCC 2022 are training for referees and coaches.

"In addition, there will be a one-day holiday and participants will be invited to travel assisted by the Bali Provincial Government. After all, this has not yet entered the profession and must be happy", concluded GM Utut.