9-year-old Krithik Muthukumar wins Challengers; Stany perfect in Blitz, Viani third; Kushagra Jain second in Rapid

The inaugural edition of the Kuwait International Chess Festival 2025 was a successful one for the Indian players. GM Stany G A made a brilliant start by scoring a double hat-trick 6/6. He was 1.5 points ahead of the rest at that time. In the seventh round he suffered a loss against the eventual runner-up, GM Shahin Lorparizangeneh (IRI). Still he was in the sole lead. A final round loss against GM Bilel Bellahcene (ALG) cost him the championship. Stany’s double hat-trick of wins came in the form of a win against the eventual champion, GM Adham Fawzy (EGY) in Round 6. 9-year-old Krithik Muthukumar scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win the Challengers event. Stany won the Blitz tournament scoring a perfect 9/9 and finishing ahead by two points. The festival witnessed the participation of total 297 players – 38 in Masters, 77 in Challengers, 22 in Ladies, 82 in Rapid and 78 in Blitz.

A total of 38 players including 6 GMs and 5 IMs took part from 14 countries across the world in the Masters (>1900) event. The nine-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Kuwait Chess Federation and Chess House Academy – Kuwait at Grand Hotel Kuwait in Salmiya, Kuwait from 5th to 13th January 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Classical

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A total of 77 players took part from 14 countries across the world in the Challengers event. The nine-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Kuwait Chess Federation and Chess House Academy – Kuwait at Grand Hotel Kuwait in Salmiya, Kuwait from 5th to 13th January 2025. The time control of the event was 60 minutes  + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Challengers

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A total of 82 players including 2 GMs and an IM took part from 14 countries across the world in the Rapid event. The two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Kuwait Chess Federation and Chess House Academy – Kuwait at Grand Hotel Kuwait in Salmiya, Kuwait on 9th and 10th January 2025. The time control of the event was 10 minutes  + 3 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Rapid

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A total of 78 players including 2 GMs, 2 IMs and a WGM took part from 13 countries across the world in the Blitz event. The one-day nine round Blitz Rating Open tournament was organized by Kuwait Chess Federation and Chess House Academy – Kuwait at Grand Hotel Kuwait in Salmiya, Kuwait on 9th and 10th January 2025. The time control of the event was 10 minutes  + 3 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Blitz

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