Malaysia’s 16-year-old chess player Genivan Genkeswaran has won the 19th Asian Schools Chess Championships 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, taking first place in the Under-17 Open category against participants from 16 countries.
Picture Courtesy: Chess Master Journey
The victory earned him the FIDE Master (FM) title, a prestigious honour awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to gold medallists in the U13, U15, and U17 categories. Genivan, who previously held the Candidate Master (CM) title, secured Malaysia’s top finish after nine rounds of standard play.
The championship, organised by the Mongolia Chess Federation under the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and FIDE, saw Genivan outperform Aldar Burentegsh of Mongolia and Artem Mescheryakov of Russia, who placed second and third respectively.
“We are truly proud of Genivan’s remarkable achievement. This new title will be the driving force for him to move forward with confidence towards his dreams and goals. It’ll be the beginning to a meaningful journey ahead,” said Selvi Shanmugam, his mother and manager, who is also a FIDE Arbiter and Chess Trainer.
Selvi added that she hopes for Genivan’s continued growth “not only as a chess player but also as an individual who contributes positively to society.”
Picture Courtesy: Chess Master Journey
Genivan trains under Chess Master Journey, a Malaysian chess academy founded by his father Genkeswaran Muniyan, a former SEA Games bronze medallist. The school has produced numerous national representatives and promotes chess as a tool for discipline and personal transformation.
Genivan’s victory adds to Malaysia’s growing list of achievements in international youth mind sports, highlighting the country’s rising presence in the Asian chess scene.
