📍 KOTA KINABALU – Pinoy FM Nelson Villanueva wins the Open as Chess fever hit the EPF Building hard over the long weekend, with a staggering 564 players from Sabah and beyond battling it out at the Sabah Electricity Kaamatan Chess Festival 2026 (May 1-3).
From lightning-fast Blitz to school team showdowns, this year’s fest had it all: Open, U-20 Boys, U-20 Girls, Secondary and Primary School team events (boys & girls separated, no mixing chaos here), plus the crowd-favorite Blitz.
🎉 Fourth time’s the charm
First launched in 2023, this annual brain-buster is a joint project between Sabah Electricity and the Sabah Chess Association. And guess what? It’s about to go global.
“Next year, we’re taking this to international level,”
declared Sabah Chess Association President Muammar Julkarnain during his closing speech.
His message to Sabah’s young guns: Step it up. You need to hold your own against outside players — and soon, the whole world.
👏 EPF: More than just a building
EPF Sabah and Labuan Deputy Director Peter @ Awg Damit Mahmud, who officiated the event, said EPF is always open to keeping the venue in tip-top shape. He also admitted he was blown away by the strong turnout from the Philippines, Brunei, and all over Sabah.
🏆 THE CHAMPIONS CIRCLE
Open Category
🥇 Nelson Villanueva (Philippines)
🥈 Kenneth Lo Wei Jun
🥉 Muhd Saifullah Al Murishi
full results here
U-20 Boys
🥇 Nor Hadif Nor Azman
🥈 Muhd Haikal Syafwan Hajan
🥉 Md. Danish Zaqwan Md. Hadi
full results here
U-20 Girls
🥇 Izz Aflah Wardina Hilyadi
🥈 Anis Daniella Jupineh
🥉 Ivory Ann Jason Jouil
full results here
Boys’ Primary School Team
🏆 JRR Team
full results here
Girls’ Primary School Team
🏆 Buayan Branspark Strategist
full results here
Boys’ Secondary School Team
🏆 Player Kampungan (yes, that’s the name — and they earned it)
full results here
Girls’ Secondary School Team
🏆 SMK St Paul Beaufort
full results here
Blitz Category
🥇 Awang Mohd Syafie Mohd Kifflee
🥈 Muhd Tirmidzi
🥉 Abdul Shukor Arajah
full results here