Event 1 Report - SMS Deen Team Open Rapid

372 players from 12 countries

The SMS DEEN Merdeka Open Rapid Team Chess Championship was one of the biggest team events held in Malaysia, with 372 players from 12 countries, such as Australia, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Netherlands, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and New Zealand taking part.

Results and pictures here.
Detail Chess-Results here.

a team fom Penang

Title	Count
GM	5
WGM	2
IM	16
WIM	3
FM	14
WFM	4
CM	9
WCM	2
Total	55

Hilton's Friend with GM Alexei Barsov on board 1

Not only the biggest it's also the strongest team event ever held in Malaysia for the year and it is consistently so for previous years too which explain it's popularity.

1. Home Field Advantage? Not So Much.

all 9 rounds over but these players can't get enough and continue playing blitz

Of the 372 players who competed, a staggering 283 hailed from the host nation, Malaysia. But as history has shown it is the foreigners who always take the crown year after year and this year was no different. Last year however, with multiple events clashing with the festival, a Malaysian team made history by winning it for the first time in it's 19 year history.    

the winning team SKUA GADING SERPONG from Indonesia

This year returned to its traditional winners of the event - Indonesia. The Indonesian team, SCUA GADING SERPONG, clinched the title. One thing to note is that the players from these teams came here just for the team event and left right after. Most of them did register for Blitz but had to cancel as they didn't have time to play,

as well as make it to the airport in time.

The "Best Malaysian Team" prize went to APEX CHESS ROYALE (SELANGOR), which finished 10th in the overall final rankings.

Best Malaysian Team

2. A Superstar Player Isn't a Silver Bullet.

The event featured a roster of titled players, but none were rated higher than Australian Grandmaster (GM) Smerdon, David C, who entered with a formidable 2541 rating. His presence on the top board of team DATCC LOYALISTS seemed to signal a deep run.

Instead, his team finished in 24th place. The data tells us why. While GM Smerdon put up a solid 6.5/9 points, the team's results on lower boards were mixed, including a score of just 2.5/9 on board three

3. An All-Female Squad Outplayed Dozens of Top Teams.

One of the most impressive performances of the championship came from the PHILIPPINE ARCHERS-TAMARAWS CHESS TEAM. This all-female squad, featuring titled players like Woman International Master (WIM) Bernadette Galas and Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Shania Mae Mendoza, navigated a highly competitive field to secure a remarkable 6th place finish in the final standings.

Their outstanding result not only placed them ahead of dozens of other teams but also earned them the "Best Ladies Team" special prize. Their performance was a standout achievement, proving their strength and skill in a demanding open tournament format.

4. The Tournament's Top Scorer Landed in 7th Place.

If the tournament had an award for individual dominance, the data leaves no doubt who would win it. International Master (IM) Ervan, Mohamad, playing for team SCUA MASTER, achieved an incredible individual score of 8.5 points out of a possible 9 games.

Despite this near-perfect performance, his team finished in 7th place overall. Of course, this highlights again that it is the collective score that ultimately determines who stands on the podium.

5. The Team Names Tell a Story of Community and Fun.

Beyond the intense competition, the data reveals a vibrant and fun-loving community. A quick scan of the team list shows a flair for creativity and humor, with memorable names like HANS NIEMANN FANS CLUB, THE GEEZER GAMBIT, and NOT GOOD BUT NOT BAD.

This spirit was formally celebrated through a diverse array of special prize categories that went beyond pure performance. Awards for "Best Family Team," "Best Veteran Team," "Best School Team," and "Best Under 16 Team" show that the tournament was as much about celebrating the community as it was about crowning a champion. Most notably, the inclusion of a "Best OKU Team" prize for players with disabilities underscores a powerful commitment to inclusivity and the shared love of the game.

Malaysia Vietnam Friends

Best Under 16 team