Hong Kong chess players are stepping up preparations for the 15th National Games in November by leveraging international competitions and elite training camps to sharpen their skills for the nation’s premier sporting event.
As one of the 23 mass participation events at the national multisport meet, the chess competitions will be staged in Shenzhen from Sept 23 to 28.
A 10-member Hong Kong chess team, selected from over 60 candidates, has been formed to compete in the National Games.
A crucial warm-up for the city’s chess aces was the inaugural Hong Kong edition of the Asian Amateur Chess Championships held from Aug 1 to Saturday at Kitty Woo Stadium in Wong Tai Sin.
The event, with a prize pool exceeding HK$200,000 ($25,478), drew over 400 players from nearly 30 countries and regions, setting a new participation record in the championship’s 15-year history.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Geoffrey Kao, honorary president of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation and leader of the Hong Kong chess team for the National Games, emphasized the importance of high-level exposure for local players.
“Hosting more international events is key to supporting them,” he said. “The federation has organized several tournaments, and has begun sending players to the Shanghai Chess Academy for training since last year.”
Three weeks ago, Hong Kong’s National Games chess squad underwent a five-day intensive camp in Shanghai, coached by world champions Ding Liren and Ju Wenjun.
“Shanghai boasts a strong chess tradition with established coaching systems, and our players gained immensely,” Kao said.
“Our opponents (in the National Games) are seasoned masters, and scoring even half a point would be an achievement.”
Among the line-up is Henry Ho In-hei, founder of a local chess trainer Kidult Chess Academy, who ranked 24th in the AACC Hong Kong edition’s U2300 category.
“I’ll study our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses to tailor my training accordingly,” he said. Reflecting on the training in Shanghai, he called the Chinese mainland’s structured training system a “model” Hong Kong could learn from, although local constraints like limited facilities and players balancing studies or careers pose challenges.
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Another coach-player, Tong Ho-man, defeated higher-ranked rivals in the U2000 group, finishing the AACC Hong Kong edition 18th out of 90 -- a performance that was beyond expectations.
Tong described the Shanghai training camp as “extremely precious”, particularly the opportunity to learn from grandmasters through specialized lectures, adding that he embraces a “learning-over-results” approach for the National Games.
Tong also regarded the AACC as a key platform to maintain competitive sharpness, while his focus in the coming month will shift to studying and developing strategies against specific opponents expected at the National Games finals.
Both players noted the rapid growth of chess culture in Hong Kong in recent years, with an increasing number of major tournaments and international events being held in the city, while youth participation, in particular, has seen a significant boost.
“The frequent hosting of large-scale competitions demonstrates the federation’s ability to attract players from around the world,” Tong said.
Kao’s federation has set ambitions to further elevate the city's status in chess with two international events under planning.
“We’re bidding to organize a world rapid chess team championship in 2026,” said Kao. “If approved, we expect over half of the world’s top 200 players to compete in Hong Kong, making it a major spectacle.”
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Looking ahead, the federation plans to hold a world amateur championship in 2027. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a youth training program for veteran players to mentor the next generation.
