Iniyan Pa becomes Indian National Rapid 2025 Champion

by Shahid Ahmed – 24/03/2025

GM Iniyan Pa (TN), GM Pranesh M (TN), GM P Shyam Nikhil (TN) and GM Diptayan Ghosh scored 9/11 each at National Rapid Championship 2025. Iniyan won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively. Only Iniyan remained undefeated among them. Top 17 finishers are only GMs and IMs. That certainly speaks volumes about the strength of the event. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹400000. The top three prizes were ₹75000, ₹60000 and ₹50000 along with a trophy each. The three-day rapid rating tournament was organized by Ranchi District Chess Association from 20th to 22nd March 2025 at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This is Iniyan’s fourth tournament triumph of the year.

Top four score 9/11

GM Iniyan Pa (TN) and GM Pranesh M (TN) were coleaders 8.5/10, heading into the final round. Six players – IM Srihari L R (TN), GM Raja Rithvik R (TEL), IM Aronyak Ghosh (RSPB), GM P Shyam Nikhil (RSPB), GM Sayantan Das (RSPB) and the defending champion, GM Diptayan Ghosh (RSPB) were trailing by a half point at 8/10 each. Aronyak and Sayantan drew with Pranesh and Iniyan respectively. Srihari lost to Shyam. Iniyan became champion, Pranesh second and Shyam third.

Champion – GM Iniyan Pa (TN) 9/11

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd GM P Shyam Nikhil (RSPB) 9/11, 1st GM Iniyan Pa (TN) 9/11 and 2nd GM Pranesh M (TN) 9/11 | Photo: Navjot Alang
GM Iniyan Pa (TN) scored an unbeaten 9/11, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 8.1 Elo rating points

Players in action | Photo: IA Jayant Kumar Bhuyan

Arbiters’ team | Photo: IA Jayant Kumar Bhuyan

The tournament hall at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, Jharkhand | Photo: IA Jayant Kumar Bhuyan

A total of 296 players including 11 GMs, 24 IMs and 3 WGMs took part from all over the country in this three-day eleven-round Swiss League Rapid Rating tournament. It was organized by Ranchi District Chess Association from 20th to 22nd March 2025 at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The time control was 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

From Iniyan Pa becomes National Rapid 2025 Champion – ChessBase India