Laos continues working to develop chess among younger generations.
A group of young Lao players has returned from Singapore with 12 medals after gaining international experience against competitors from across Asia and beyond.
Team Laos competed in the 24th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships from 7 to 17 August, earning wins across six podium finishes in Standard, Rapid and Blitz events.
The Lao delegation included 24 players, who competed against young chess players from Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, New Zealand and other countries.
In the Open U18 Standard team event, Kayden Sunjon Nguyen, Michael Sean Manalo and Kaysone Thongmanivong won bronze.
The Girls U18 team of Alana Kittikhoun, Ryzia Lei Zheysha Suelo and Sisouda Vanthanavong also won bronze in both the Rapid and Blitz team events.
Suelo Merlinda added three individual medals, winning silver in the Women’s 50 Rapid and Blitz events and bronze in Standard.
Where it All Started
For many of the young players, chess started at home, at school, or through pure curiosity.
Sean was introduced to the game by his peers, as chess became increasingly popular among his friends.
Kayden discovered it through chess content online, while Kaysone’s interest grew after watching The Queen’s Gambit in 2020.
“Around 2020, I was influenced by a show called The Queen’s Gambit”, Kaysone said. “I stopped for a while until I got into 7th grade. Playing on a physical board deepened my interest in chess.”
Meanwhile, for Lei, chess was part of family life from an early age. Her father was a coach, while other members of the girls’ team said family members encouraged them to take up the game.
That mix of family influence, school friends and online content has helped bring more young people into the chess world.
From Online Games to International Competitions
The young players have a set of training routines that they worked on before the Singapore competition.
“I mainly play online and do frequent puzzles,” Sean said. “I also learn certain chess patterns, as competing on a physical board is different from playing chess on your phone.”
Coach Robert has also provided the children with online learning materials.
For several young players, the tournament was their first opportunity to compete internationally, drawing different reactions from each player.
“For me, since I saw my dad play all the time, I don’t really feel nervous or pressured,” Lei said. “I mostly just have fun in tournaments, as the people I played against turn out to be my friends.”
“It was still nerve-wracking despite my years of competing experience, but it was fun nevertheless as I got to play with ‘the best of the best’,” Sean said.
Beyond the Board
For some, the tournament’s most memorable moments took place away from the board.
Players said they met competitors from other countries, made new friends, and received advice from more experienced players.
“Going to Singapore to compete was really great, as I got to explore a new country and its shopping district like Orchard,” Alana said.
Kaysone mentioned he remained in contact with friends he met during the championship.
The students also linked chess to skills used in school and daily life.
They said the game had helped them develop focus, patience, logical thinking, and the ability to manage setbacks, coming back to Laos with a more mature mindset.
“It’s actually a privilege for us to play against strong players, despite the difficulty of the competition”, said Lei. “You don’t get to play with them all the time”.
One player said competitive chess had helped him become more mentally resilient and better able to accept losses.
“Playing against stronger players changes your thinking and maturity over time”, Sean said.
Meanwhile, Kayden said chess supported logical thinking in subjects such as mathematics and physics.
“It helps me find various solutions to real-life problems,” Sisouda echoed. “If one doesn’t work out, there will always be alternatives.”
Laos’ Next Generation of Players
For Laos’ young chess players, the Singapore championship is only one step in a longer development path.
“For many chess players, competing at the Olympiad is a dream,” said Coach Robert, emphasizing the importance of exposing young players to international competition.
The delegation is expected to represent Laos at the 2026 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
