GM Parimarjan Negi of India and WGM Irene Sukandar of Indonesia emerged champions of the Asian Continental Open and Women’s championships, respectively, in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Above, Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan awards the gold medal to Irene Sukandar.



Asian Champion GM Parimarjan Negi, with second placer GM Yu Yangyi of China and third place GM Saleh Salem of the United Arab Emirates.



Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) and Secretary General Hisham Al Taher (right) with medalists and Vietnam sports officials.



GM Wesley So of the Philippines won the Asian Individual Blitz Championshp alone with 7.5 points followed by silver medalist IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam and GM Ding Liren of China for bronze with 7 points each. GM Zhao Xue, Wang Jue and WGM Tan Zhongyi, all of China, won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Asian Women's blitz with 7 points each.

Negi was assured of the title when second running Chinese GM Yu Yangyi drew with top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam after three hours of play. This was despite the last round loss of Negi to GM Saleh Salem of the United Arab Emirates.

Negi and Yu finished in a tie with 7 points each but Negi won by tie break over Yu Yangyi whom he had beaten in their individual encounter.

In the Women’s division, WGM Irene Sukandar beat IM Eesha Karavade of India to finish alone with 7 points for the title. Erstwhile leader Mary Ann Gomes of India was beaten by WGM Tan Zhongyi of China in the last round.