The Asian Senior Chess Championships 2025, held in the 50+ and 65+ categories, took place in Erbil, Iraq, from October 4–14. The competitions—nine-round Swiss-system tournaments with classical time control—were organized by the Iraq Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.
Over-50 category: Aziz Umarbekov crowned champion
In the Over-50 category, Aziz Umarbekov of Kyrgyzstan captured gold with a commanding 7.5/9, demonstrating remarkable consistency, composure, and tactical precision throughout the tournament.
Close behind, IM Hussein Ali Hussein Al-Ali of Iraq—the hometown favorite from Erbil—delighted local supporters with his resilient play, securing silver with 7 points. GM Ramil Hasangatin (FIDE), who led early in the event, suffered a loss in the penultimate round but finished strongly to claim bronze with 6.5 points. CM Marwan Aboudi of Jordan and CM Joseph Ebenezer of India both scored 6 points, rounding out the top five in a tightly contested field.
Adding to the host nation’s success, Iraqi players swept the Best Woman awards in the Over-50 category. Iman Mahdi Ahmed earned top honors with 4.5 points, followed by WCM Jwan Jamal Mohammed Ameen in second place (4 points) and Dilpak Ali Hamzah in third (3.5 points).
Over-65 category: Marat Primbetov claims gold
The Over-65 category witnessed equally fierce competition. Marat Primbetov of Kazakhstan clinched the title on superior tiebreaks with 6.5 points, edging out FM Hossein Aryanejad of Iran, who also scored 6.5 to take silver.
Randolph Schain of Cambodia completed the podium with 6 points, while Aliasghar Akhavan Rad of Iran and FM Ali Jalal Adil of Iraq followed closely with 5.5 points each.
The Best Woman in this category was WGM Galina Strutinskaia (FIDE), who scored 5 points in a highly competitive field.
Blitz Championship
The concluding blitz tournament merged both age groups, producing fast-paced excitement as players battled for final honors. Although the event combined the divisions, awards were presented separately by age category.
GM Ramil Hasangatin (FIDE) bounced back brilliantly to capture the Blitz Over-50 title with 7.5 points, sharing the top score of WGM Galina Strutinskaia (FIDE) and FM Hossein Aryanejad of Iran.
In the Blitz Over-50 section, Hasangatin took gold with 7.5 points. Hussein Ali Hussein Al-Ali of Iraq, maintaining his strong form from the classical event, earned silver, while CM Salih Al-Aqrabi of Yemen secured bronze—both finishing with 6.5 points after an intense race for the podium.
The Blitz Over-65 section brought another success for WGM Galina Strutinskaia, who captured gold with an outstanding performance of 7.5/9. FM Hossein Aryanejad of Iran, a former national champion, earned his second silver medal of the tournament, demonstrating impressive consistency across both formats. CM Abdul Kareem Kashush from Iraq completed the podium with 6 points, proudly securing bronze for the host nation.
In the Best Women blitz category, Iraqi players continued to shine: Dilpak Ali Hamzah won gold with 4 points, followed by WCM Jwan Jamal Mohammed Ameen (3.5 points) and Bayan Jamal Mohammed Ameen (3 points).
Special recognition
On the sidelines of the final rounds, Hisham Al Taher (second from left), General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation, accompanied by Dhafer Madhloom (left), President of the Asian Zone 3.1 and the Iraqi Chess Federation, and Dr. Dlzar Hama Salih Qadir (right), President of the Khanzad Chess Club, paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Rebar Ahmed, Minister of Interior of the Kurdistan Region.
During the meeting, Hisham Al Taher presented the Asian Personality of the Year award to Dr. Rebar Ahmed, in recognition of the late Barzani’s selection as Asia’s Personality of the Year, acknowledging his enduring legacy and support for regional development and culture, including the promotion of chess in Kurdistan and Iraq.
As the curtain fell on the Asian Senior Chess Championships 2025, Erbil reaffirmed its place as one of Asia’s most welcoming and vibrant chess destinations — where legends of the game continue to write new chapters in the timeless story of chess.
For full results, visit chess-results.com
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