Nation Thailand
Thailand makes chess history as Magnus Carlsen wins Asean E-Sports Chess Cup 2026
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 outlet. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
BANGKOK – Thailand marked a major milestone in international chess by hosting the inaugural ASEAN E-Sports Chess Cup & Mentorship 2026, the first international esports chess tournament in Southeast Asia.
Key facts
- Beyond crowning a champion, ASEAN E-Sports Chess Cup & Mentorship 2026 represents an important step in Thailand's efforts to integrate sports, technology, and education while strengthening its position as a regional hub for chess, esports,
- the tournament brought together 22 players, including world-class grandmasters, leading regional competitors, and emerging talents from across the region
- The event concluded with world No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway claiming the championship title after defeating Russian grandmaster Andrey Esipenko in a dramatic Armageddon playoff, becoming the first-ever winner of the ASEAN E-Sports Chess
- One of the tournament's standout moments came from Thailand's own Pakornnarong Liwkasemsarn , a 10-year-old chess player who stunned spectators by defeating Esipenko during the group stage
Summary
PR news
Held under the theme “Strategy Connects Asia,” the tournament brought together 22 players, including world-class grandmasters, leading regional competitors, and emerging talents from across the region. The competition was played in a rapid chess format, featuring group-stage matches in the morning followed by knockout rounds in the afternoon.