Bangkok: The Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office expressed hopes of leveraging Thailand's hosting of the International Chess Championship to elevate Thai athletes to the international scene. Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, together with Mr. Sahaphol Nakwanich, President of the Chess Federation of Thailand, and Mr. Santi Lohthong, President of the E-Sports Association of Thailand, inaugurated the ASEAN E-Sports Chess Cup 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.
According to Thai News Agency, the competition has attracted elite chess players from Europe, the Middle East, and champions from 11 ASEAN countries. Among the participants are world-renowned players Magnus Carlsen from Norway, ranked number 1 globally, and Fabiano Caruana from the United States, ranked number 2.
The Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office highlighted the significance of Thailand being selected by the World Chess Association to host this major event. The opportunity allows Thailand to conduct an international chess tournament in an e-sports format for the first time. This initiative is expected to provide the Thai chess community, including its players, with valuable experience and recognition on the global stage, fostering the development of their skills to reach top-tier status in the chess world.