The National Open Chess Championship 2025 brought together 24 participants from diverse backgrounds in the capital on Saturday. Players competed in six intense rounds, showcasing their strategic skills. The winners and runners-up were awarded trophies and certificates.
The Bhutan Chess Federation organised the tournament using the Swiss system format, ensuring fair competition without early eliminations.
Players competed in all six rounds, with matchups based on their performances. Round one featured random pairings, while from Round two onward, players faced opponents with similar scores.
This year’s championship saw participants as young as eight years old and as experienced as 44 years old. Two competitors with physical challenges also put up an impressive fight.
Fifteen-year-old Lhundrup Namgyal Dorji from Thimphu dominated the tournament, winning all six rounds. He has represented Bhutan in four international tournaments and holds a 1698 FIDE rating.
“I am extremely happy to have won this tournament, especially because this is my first national championship title in the open category. Becoming a national champion is a great achievement for me. In the past, I finished as the second runner-up, so finally securing the championship feels incredibly rewarding.”
13-year-old Tshenden Pema and 16-year-old Thinlee Wangyel, siblings from Zhemgang, travelled from Sarpang to compete, leaving a strong impression. Tshenden, a Class 8 student at Choekhorling Middle Secondary School, won the Best Female Player award, while Thinlee, a Class 11 student at Losel Academy, secured the 1st runner-up position.
Tshenden started playing chess last year and competed in the National Youth Chess Championship, while Thinlee, who started playing chess at seven, has participated in numerous national tournaments.
“This was my second time participating in the tournament, and I’m thrilled to have secured first place in the girls’ category. Winning this trophy has motivated me even more, and I feel encouraged to compete in future tournaments.”
“I came here with my younger sister, and we both participated thanks to the support and encouragement of our parents. They motivated us to take part in this competition and explore the game. Chess is a game of strategy and knowledge, and it has helped us develop our skills and talent,” said Thinlee Wangyel, runner-up, National Open Chess Championship.
The Bhutan Chess Federation believes that with young talents emerging and competition growing tougher each year, Bhutan’s chess community is gaining momentum.
The Federation remains committed to nurturing future champions and is optimistic about building a strong national team by 2030.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Phub Gyem
