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12th Indian National Amateur Chess Championships 2025

West Bengal dominates the field, Vedant Ghadge scores a perfect 9/9

by Shahid Ahmed – 02/04/2025

The twelfth edition of National Amateur Chess Championships 2025 witnessed a total participation of 450 players from various states, union territories and units across India. Six new champions were crowned in six different rating categories. They are: Vedant Ghadge (MAH) – Below 1700 Open, Aayusree Sarkar (WB) – Below 1700 Women, Archisman Patra (WB) – Below 2000 Open, Marium Fatima (BIH) – Below 2000 Women, Utkrisht Tuli (PUN) – Below 2300 Open and WFM Bristy Mukherjee (WB) in Below 2300 Women. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹300000. It was organized by All Bihar Chess Association at Sambodhi Retreat in Bodhgaya, Bihar from 25th to 29th March 2025. Photo: All India Chess Federation

This was the first National title for all six champions. West Bengal dominated the field by winning three out of the six Gold medals. The remaining three Gold medals went to Bihar, Maharashtra and Punjab. In total, West Bengal won five medals – three Gold, a Silver and a Bronze each.

Champions of 12th National Amateur Chess Championships 2025 | Photo: All India Chess Federation

West Bengal won three Golds, a Silver and Bronze each, in total winning five medals, the highest among all States and units

Below 1700 Open

20-year-old Vedant Ghadge (MAH) scored a perfect 9/9 to clinch the Below 1700 Open championship. He finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the competition. This is his first rating tournament triumph of his career. Anshu Kr Pathak (UP) and Ganesan Bala (KER) scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund for the Below 1700 category was ₹80000. Top three prizes were ₹12000, ₹9000 and ₹7000 along with a trophy each respectively.

Champion in Below 1700 Open – Vedant Ghadge (MAH) 9/9 | Photo: Maharashtra Chess Association

Vedant Ghadge (MAH) scored a perfect 9/9, finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the rest and gained 68.4 Elo rating points

A total of 224 players participated in the Below 1700 Open section.

Final standings

Rk. SNo Name sex FED Rtg Club/City Pts.  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 K rtg+/-
1 10
Gadge, Vedant IND 1667 Maharashtra 9 49,5 54,5 54,50 0 9 20 68,6
2 46
AGM Pathak, Anshu Kr IND 1585 Uttar Pradesh 7,5 50 53 43,00 0 7 20 60,2
3 14
Bala, Ganesan IND 1656 Kerala 7,5 45,5 49,5 40,50 0 7 20 35
4 15
AFM Jayesh Mishra, IND 1654 Bihar 7 50 54 39,75 0 6 40 46
5 30
Vamsi Krishna R, IND 1620 Andhra Pradesh 7 49 53 39,25 0 6 20 38
6 8
Aatman Raval, IND 1667 Gujarat 7 48 52,5 39,75 0 5 40 57,6
7 16
Prashant Kumar Singh, IND 1651 Bihar 7 48 52,5 38,00 0 7 20 29,8
8 191
Mukesh Kumar Tarwe, IND 0 Bihar 7 46 50 37,75 0 6
9 12
Ripudaman Singh Brar, IND 1664 Punjab 7 45,5 49,5 37,00 0 6 40 44,4
10 11
Aole, Sangharsh IND 1664 Maharashtra 7 45,5 49,5 36,00 0 7 20 27,4

Details

Below 1700 Women

Aayusree Sarkar (WB), Disha U A (KAR), Kashvy Sabharwal (HAR) and Hunsika M (PUD) scored 7/9 each at 12th National Amateur Chess Championship Below 1700 for Women. The top seed Aayusree became champion on tie-breaks, the remaining three were placed second to fourth respectively. This is Aayusree’s first rating tournament triumph of her career. After starting with a hat-trick of wins, 12-year-old Aayushree lost the fourth round game against the eventual second runner-up, Kashvy. However, she scored 4 points in the next five games, drew with the eventual runner-up, Disha in the final round, to become the champion. The total prize fund for the Below 1700 category was ₹80000. Top three prizes were ₹8000, ₹6000 and ₹5000 along with a trophy each respectively.

Champion in Below 1700 Women – Aayusree Sarkar (WB) 7/9 | Photo: Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha

Aayusree Sarkar scored 7/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and increased her Elo rating by 42.8 points

A total of 64 players participated in the Below 1700 Women section.

Final standings

Rk. SNo Name sex FED Rtg Club/City Pts.  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5
1 1
Aayusree Sarkar, w IND 1677 West Bengal 7 51 55,5 41,75 0 6
2 3
Disha U A, w IND 1643 Karnataka 7 49 53 40,00 0 5
3 4
Kashvy Sabharwal, w IND 1640 Haryana 7 49 51 38,25 0 5
4 16
Hunsika M, w IND 1520 Puducherry 7 43,5 46 32,00 0 7
5 5
ACM Maya Ameen, w IND 1635 Karnataka 6,5 46,5 47,5 31,75 0 5
6 9
Silarapu, Devi Dedipyasri w IND 1587 Andhra Pradesh 6,5 46 50,5 35,00 0 5

Details

Below 2000 Open

14-year-old Archisman Patra (WB) and Rohit Gurung (SIK) scored 7.5/9 each in the Below 2000 Open category. Archisman. Archisman became champion due to better tie-breaks, Rohit had to settle for the second place. They finished a full point ahead of the rest. Six players scored 6.5/9. Out of them, Pradeep Tiwari (DASCB) was adjudged third. This is his first rating tournament victory. Archisman defeated the eventual runner-up, Rohit in the sixth round and drew with the second runner-up, Pradeep in Round 7. The total prize fund for the Below 2000 category was ₹100000. Top three prizes were ₹16000, ₹14000 and ₹10000 along with a trophy each respectively.

Champion in Below 2000 Open – Archisman Patra (WB) 7.5/9 | Photo: All Bihar Chess Association

Archisman Patra scored an unbeaten 7.5/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 135.6 Elo rating points

A total of 71 players participated in the Below 2000 Open section.

Final standings in Open

Rk. SNo Name sex FED Rtg Club/City Pts.  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4
1 33
Archisman Patra, IND 1791 West Bengal 7,5 46,5 49 40,00 0
2 6
Gurung, Rohit IND 1902 Sikkim 7,5 45,5 50 40,00 0
3 1
Pradeep, Tiwari IND 1979 DASCB 6,5 48 52 37,50 0
4 23
Ayushman Mohanty, IND 1827 Odisha 6,5 46,5 50,5 33,25 1
5 22
Aman Balana, IND 1827 Rajasthan 6,5 46,5 50,5 33,25 2
6 39
Vikash Nishad, IND 1752 Uttar Pradesh 6,5 43 47 33,25 0
7 18
Piyush Kumar, IND 1836 Bihar 6,5 41 45 32,25 0
8 7
Chavan, Nameet IND 1887 Maharashtra 6,5 38,5 41,5 29,25 0
9 4
Ashutosh Kumar, IND 1923 Bihar 6 42 46 28,00 0
10 21
Srikanth, K. IND 1831 SSCB 6 42 45,5 27,50 0

Details

Below 2000 Women

The reigning Bihar State Junior Girls 2024 champion, Marium Fatima scored 6.5/9 to become the champion in Below 2000 Women. She finished a full point ahead of the competition. Suravi Bhattacharya (WB) and Diya Chowdhury (WB) scored 5.5/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund for the Below 2000 category was ₹100000. The top three prizes were ₹10000, ₹6000 and ₹5000 along with a trophy each respectively.

Champion in Below 2000 Women – Marium Fatima (BIH) 6.5/9 | Photo: All Bihar Chess Association

Marium Fatima scored 6.5/9, finished a full point ahead of the players in her category and gained 29.4 Elo rating points

A combined total of 33 players participated in the Below 2000 and 2300 Women section.

Final standings

2 5
Marium, Fatima w IND 1881 Bihar 6,5 48 51,5 34,75 0 6 20 29,4
8 20
Suravi Bhattacharya, w IND 1718 West Bengal 5,5 42,5 46,5 26,50 0 4 40 88
9 3
Diya Chowdhury, w IND 1939 West Bengal 5,5 39,5 43 25,00 0 4 20 -22,6

Details

Below 2300 Open

The reigning Jalandhar District Under-15 and Under-19 Open 2024, Punjab State Under-15 Open, State Senior 2024 and State Rapid 2025 champion, Utkrisht Tuli scored an unbeaten 7/9 to become the champion in Below 2300 Open. Kartavya Anadkat (GUJ), Ayaan Garg (CHAN) and Sham R (TN) scored 7/9 each. They were placed second to fourth according to tie-breaks. Only Utkrisht and Ayaan remained undefeated among them. The 15-year-old champion, drew with the eventual runner-up, Kartavya in the final round and defeated the second runner-up, Ayaan in Round 7. The total prize fund for the Below 2300 category was ₹120000. Top three prizes were ₹20000, ₹17000 and ₹14000 along with a trophy each respectively.

Utkrisht Tuli scored an unbeaten 7/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 40.4 Elo rating points

A total of 58 players participated in the Below 2300 Open section.

Final standings

Rk. SNo Name sex FED Rtg Club/City Pts.  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 K rtg+/-
1 4
Utkrisht Tuli, IND 2020 Punjab 7 49,5 53 40,00 0 5 40 41,2
2 1
Anadkat, Kartavya IND 2175 Gujarat 7 45 49 36,50 0 6 20 -5,8
3 7
Ayaan Garg, IND 1983 Chandigarh 7 45 48,5 35,50 0 5 40 50
4 2
Sham R, IND 2128 Tamil Nadu 7 41 44,5 33,00 0 7 20 -2
5 33
Manav Kumar, IND 1777 Rajasthan 6,5 43,5 46,5 31,25 0 5 40 116
6 3
Daksh Goyal, IND 2079 Delhi 6,5 40,5 44 29,75 0 6 40 -28,4
7 8
Mrityunjay Kumar, IND 1976 Bihar 6,5 37 40,5 30,25 0 6 20 -2,8
8 5
CM Reyan, Md. IND 2005 Bihar 6 42,5 46,5 30,00 0 6 40 -18,8
9 51
AFM Shahan Vohra, IND 1649 Haryana 6 40,5 44,5 27,00 0 5 40 159,6
10 23
Vidit Sethi, IND 1832 Uttar Pradesh 5,5 49 51 27,00 0 5 40 63,6

Details

Below 2300 Women

The Asian Junior Girls Blitz 2024 Gold medalist, West Bengal State Women 2024 and newly crowned State Blitz 2025 champion, WFM Bristy Mukherjee scored an unbeaten 8/9 to become champion in Below 2300 Women category. She won the tournament with a round to spare and finished 1.5 points ahead of the competition. Nivedita V C (TN) and WCM Aamuktha Guntaka (AP) scored 6/9 each. They were placed second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund for the Below 2300 category was ₹120000. The top three prizes were ₹10000, ₹6000 and ₹5000 along with a trophy each.

Champion in Below 2300 Women – WFM Bristy Mukherjee (WB) 8/9 | Photo: Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha

WFM Bristy Mukherjee scored an unbeaten 8/9, finished a whopping 1.5 points ahead of others and gained 30 Elo rating points

A combined total of 33 players participated in the Below 2000 and 2300 Women section.

Final standings

Rk. SNo Name sex FED Rtg Club/City Pts.  TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4  TB5 K rtg+/-
1 1
WFM Bristy Mukherjee, w IND 1985 West Bengal 8 46 50,5 44,75 0 7 20 30
2 2
ACM Nivedita, V C w IND 1950 Tamil Nadu 6 47 51,5 32,00 0 5 40 1,6
3 4
Aamuktha Guntaka, w IND 1910 Andhra Pradesh 6 47 51,5 31,75 0 5 40 15,2

Details

Group photo of various prize winners | Photo: All India Chess Federation

Vastu Vihar’s CEO – Sarthak Tiwari and the reigning National Under-13 Open champion, CM Md. Reyan made the inaugural first move | Photo: All Bihar Chess Association

The tournament hall at Sambodhi Retreat in Bodhgaya, Bihar | Photo: All Bihar Chess Association and All India Chess Federation

A total of 224 in Below 1700 Open, 64 in Below 1700 Women, 71 in Below 2000 Open, 58 in Below 2300 Open and a combined total of 33 in Below 2000 and 2300 Women took part from various states across the country. The five-day nine-round National Championship was organized by All Bihar Chess Association from 25th to 29th March 2025 at Sambodhi Retreat in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The time control for the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Visit Six new champions crowned at 12th National Amateur Chess Championships 2025 – ChessBase India

Favorites Take Early Lead in Asian Zonal 3.4

On 2 April 2025, the Asian Zonal 3.4 Chess Championship – a qualifier for the World Cup – kicked off in Pavilions 7 and 8 of the Atakent Exhibition Centre in Almaty.  The Asian Zone 3.4 includes six countries from the expanded Central Asian region: Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. A total of 131 players (87 men and 44 women) are competing for seven spots in Batumi and New Delhi. Visit chess-results.com

In May 2023, when the previous qualifier took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, only three World Cup spots were available – two for men and one for women. Those places went to Assel Serikbay and Alisher Suleymenov from Kazakhstan, and Nodirbek Yakubboev from Uzbekistan. This year in Almaty, players will vie for three spots in Batumi (Georgia), which will host the Women’s World Cup from July 5-29, and four places in New Delhi (India), where the Men’s World Cup will take place from November 1-26.

The opening ceremony featured welcoming speeches from Mukhtar Mukanov, Acting Head of the Sports Division at the Almaty Sports Department; Gulmira Dauletova, Executive Director of KazChess (photo above); Husan Turdialiev (Uzbekistan), President of FIDE Zonal Council 3.4 and Chief Arbiter of the tournament; and Baglan Musin, President of Freedom Shapaghat.

Symbolic first moves were played on the first two men’s boards by Raushanbek Matchanov, Consul General of Uzbekistan in Almaty, and Zhenishbek Asankulov, Consul General of the Kyrgyz Republic in Almaty, and by Nurymyrat Rozyjumaev, Counsellor-Consul of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Kazakhstan, and Zhanibek Saurbek, entrepreneur and Chairman of KazChess for Almaty Oblast. And with that, the game began!

The first major upset occurred in the men’s category: 18-year-old FIDE Master (FM) Yerlan Tleukhanov (2143) held Uzbek Grandmaster (GM) Abdimalik Abdisalimov (2525) to a draw – from a position of strength.

The other top seeds, including GM Mukhiddin Madaminov (2536), GM Ortik Nigmatov (2501), and International Master (IM) Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov (2469) from Uzbekistan, along with IM Saparmurat Atabayev (2530) from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan’s GM Alisher Suleymenov (2478), IM Zhandos Agmanov (2470), IM Aldiyar Ansat (2469), IM Arystanbek Urazayev (2467), and GM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (2462), all lived up to expectations and secured victories.

In the women’s section, the top-ranked players on the first seven boards – WGM Alua Nurman (2347), IM Meruert Kamalidenova (2342), WGM Xeniya Balabayeva (2285), WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva (2249), and WIM Assel Serikbay (2235) from Kazakhstan, along with Uzbekistan’s WIM Afruza Khamdamova (2326) and WIM Umida Omonova (2263) – all won their games. However, some had to battle hard for their victories, particularly Balabayeva, whose encounter with the experienced Anel Muratova (1900) concluded close to 8:30 PM Almaty time.

Two other interesting results stood out. WCM Yasmina Alemanova (1844) and WFM Zarina Nurgaliyeva (2199), both 15 years old, faced off in the first round. Though Zarina is two months older and already knocking on the door of Kazakhstan’s senior national team as a FIDE Master, while Yasmina is just a Candidate Master, it was Zarina who had to fight for a draw and reached it by a perpetual check.

Meanwhile, in another matchup with a greater age gap, 18-year-old WFM Ayaulym Kaldarova (2179) also had to settle for a draw against WCM Deniza Kurmanalina (1837).

Standings, pairings and results

Photos: Yevgeniy Kim

Visit Asian Zonal 3.4 Championship: First round, first sensations – International Chess Federation

2nd (JCI Senate Lipa) Lipa Foundation Day Chess Festival

JCI Senate Lipa is proud and excited to welcome you back for another thrilling chess experience! Building on the fantastic success of our inaugural event, we invite the chess community to join us for the 2nd (JCI Senate Lipa) “Lipa Foundation Day Chess Festival” chess festivities, held once again in celebration of Lipa City’s Foundation Day.

Total Cash Prize: P354,000.00

Mark your calendars for an exciting weekend of strategy, skill, and sportsmanship on June 14th and 15th, 2025, at the Lipa Academy for Sports, Cultures and Arts (LASCA), located in Barangay Dagatan, Lipa City.

This year’s celebration features three distinct rapid chess tournaments/divisions:

The Open Rapid Division (June 14, 2025)
The Open Under 14 Rapid Division (June 14, 2025)
The 3v3 Open Rapid Team Division (June 15, 2025)

Prepare your best moves and join fellow enthusiasts for a memorable weekend honoring Lipa’s heritage through the timeless game of chess. We look forward to seeing intense competition and great camaraderie unfold over the boards!

Visit 2nd Lipa Foundation Day Chess Festival – JCI Senate Lipa

 

2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship opening ceremony

The official press conference and opening ceremony of the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship took place today in Shanghai, set against a prestigious backdrop befitting such a significant event.

At approximately 16:00 local time, journalists gathered in the Grand Banquet Hall on the fifth floor of the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai, eagerly awaiting the start of the official opening press conference for the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship Match.

The press conference was divided in two segments – the first featuring officials and organizers, and the second with the players. Grandmaster Ni Hua, who recently served as Ding Liren’s second during the 2024 World Championship in Singapore, moderated the first half of the proceedings. The panel comprised Victor Bologan, FIDE Management Board Executive Director; Song Hui, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports; Du Xueyong, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Administration of Sports; Xu Yuhua, Deputy Director of the Chess Department of China Qi-yuan and General Secretary of the Chinese Chess Association; Liu Shizhen, Director of the Shanghai Board and Card Games Administrative Center; and Huang Bo, Director of the Chongqing Board and Card Games Administrative Center. Translation between Mandarin and English was provided throughout.

 Xu Yuhua presented the match details, after which Victor Bologan expressed FIDE’s gratitude to the organizers and emphasized the event’s significance, describing it as a “Celebration of Chess and China.” The floor was then opened to journalists for questions. Soon after, the stars of the event; Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi, arrived. Questions centered on how the players felt and what the match meant to them. Both appeared in excellent spirits, smiling and responding to questions with enthusiasm.

The atmosphere soon shifted to celebration as guests moved to the other side of the Grand Banquet Hall. With elegantly decorated tables filling the space, the setting perfectly reflected the grandeur of the occasion. The ceremony began with a promotional video that captured the intensity and drama of the championship about to commence. This was followed by introductions of the players and guests, and the playing of both the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China and the FIDE anthem.

Xu Bin, Director General of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, delivered a welcome address, stating: “We are delighted to host the FIDE Women’s World Championship Match once again. Ju Wenjun will defend her title as reigning champion against Tan Zhongyi, marking their second showdown in this Championship Match. I believe that this world-class event will reignite Shanghai’s passion for chess once again, and further promote the popularity and development of the sport.”

Next, He Fengxiang, President of China Qi-yuan, spoke about the prestige and legacy of chess in China: “As a brilliant crystallization of human wisdom, chess has always resonated with the development of the times since its introduction to China. From Xie Jun winning first world champion in 1991, which ushered in a new era of women chess in China, to Ding Liren’s historic breakthrough in winning the men’s champion in 2023, generation after generation have devoted unremitting efforts for 34 years to compose a magnificent chapter by presenting ‘the shining stars of the chess king and queen’ in the chess world.”

Victor Bologan then read a letter on behalf of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who was unable to attend. “The match between Tan Zhongyi and Ju Wenjun is not only a milestone for chess but also for China,” he began, highlighting the nation’s legacy in the sport: “My dear friends, this year marks 50 years since China joined FIDE. Today, China is one of the world’s great chess nations. It has produced world champions in both the open and women’s competitions, holds the record for the most Women’s World Champions (six, ahead of the USSR’s five), and boasts numerous players in the world’s top 100. With such success comes great responsibility—to promote and expand the game. FIDE and the global chess community are deeply grateful for China’s contributions and hopeful that we will see even more investment in chess, more events, and an even brighter future for the game in this country.”

Then came the eagerly awaited drawing of lots. Two bouquets were placed in front of the players, where the chief arbiter placed two silk bags in each and invited the World Champion to choose her bouquet. Ju Wenjun picked the flowers closest to her and opened her bag to reveal a white queen, determining their colors for the first game.

The evening concluded with He Fengxiang, Xu Bin, Victor Bologan, Xie Jun, Song Hui, and Du Xueyong taking the stage to press their hands on the stage screen as a symbolic gesture marking the official start of the match. With the ceremony complete, guests and players remained in the banquet hall to enjoy a dinner featuring Chinese delicacies.

The first game is scheduled to begin tomorrow, 03 April 2025, at 15:00 local time.

Follow FIDE’s social media channels for updates, tune into YouTube for live commentary and coverage, and visit the official match website for more information.

Written by Charlize Van Zyl

Photos: Anna Shtourman

Official website: womenworldchampionship2025.fide.com/

About the Match

The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi follows a 12-game format. The first player to score 6.5 points will be declared the winner.

The time control for each game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

If the match is tied at 6-6 after all 12 games, a tiebreak will determine the champion. The tiebreak procedure involves a series of rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to ensure a decisive outcome.

From A grand occasion: 2025 FIDE Women’s World Championship opening ceremony – International Chess Federation

Marc Kevin Labog Wins Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai

Marc Kevin Labog of the Philippines emerged victorious at the Spring Blitz Tournament held April 2, 2025 at the Chess Lab Al Quoz in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In photo, Deputy Chief Arbiter NA/FM Rustum Tolentino awards the prize to Labog.
Labog, who hails from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, scored 7.5 points out of 9 to clinch the first-place trophy plus 1,000 AED for his efforts in the 3 mins plus 2 seconds increment time control format. A total of 57 participants from 19 countries competed in the Swiss System tournament. Visit chess-results.com.
The former Adamson University chess team mainstay, Labog defeated Palaniappan Niranjjan of India in the first round, AIM Sudheer Sampreet of India in the second round, Srivastava Kavyansh of India in the fourth round, Jason Nabatlao of the Philippines in the fifth round, CM Safarullakhan Safin of India in the sixth round, GM Alexander Zubarev of Ukraine in the seventh round and IM Richilieu Salcedo III of the Philippines in the ninth and final round.
He lost to FM Sargis Manukyan of Armenia in the third round. He split the point with AGM Dandel Fernandez of the Philippines in the eight round.
Labog also finished third overall during the Spring FM Rating Tournament-Group A (Standard time control format) held March 29 to April 2, 2025.
Marc Kevin Labog, a chess prodigy from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines (left) versus IM Sergey Smolin of Ukraine. Labog defeated IM Smolin in the sixth round of the Spring FM Rating Tournament-Group A (Standard time control format) held March 29 to April 2, 2025.

Zone 3.4 Men’s and Women’s Zonals Start in Kazakhstan

The Zone 3.4 Men’s and Women’s Zonals started 1st April 2025 in Almaty, Kazakhstan with 87 men and 44 women participating from six countries, namely Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and host Kazakhstan. Visit chess-results.com

Six ranking Grandmasters, 15 International Masters and 18 FIDE Masters are competing in the men’s. Three Woman Grandmasters, one IM, five WIMs and 11 WFMs are competing in the women’s.

The top four men shall qualify into the FIDE World Cup. The top 3 women shall qualify into the Women’s World Cup.

Women’s Zonal.

Tournament Officials and Guests of Honor, from left: Counselor of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Almaty – Nury Agaevich Rozydzhumaev, Consul General of the Kyrgyz Republic in Almaty – Asankulov Zhenishbek Asankulovich, Consul General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Almaty – Matchanov Raushanbek Maratovich, Executive Director of KazChess – Gulmira Bekzatovna Dauletova, General Director of the Alatau Special Economic Zone – Zhanibek Saurbek, Chief Arbiter of the Tournament – Khusan Turdialiev, Technical Delegate – Sami Khader and President of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan – Vepa Mialikguliyev.

$15,000 Zone 3.3 Zonals Set 22 April to 2 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The Mongolian Chess Federation (MCF) under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE has the honor to invite all Chess Federations in Zone 3.3 affiliated to FIDE to participate in the Asia Zone 3.3 Chess Championships 2025 Open and Women from 22 April to 2 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The top two (2) – the winner and runner-up players in the Open section shall qualify for the FIDE World Cup 2025. The winner of the Women’s section shall qualify for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025.

At stake are a total of $15,000 in cash prizes as follows. (According to the tax law of Mongolia, 10% will be deducted from the prize.)

Download Zone 3_3 Zonal 2025 regulations

Official hotel and venue is the Holiday Inn Ulaanbaatar.

GM Mitrabha Guha dominates Indian National Blitz Championship 2025

by Shahid Ahmed – 26/03/2025

GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) scored an unbeaten 10.5/11 to win National Blitz Championship 2025. He finished a full point ahead of the rest. The reigning National champion, GM Karthik Venkataraman (AP) scored 9.5/11 to secure second place. GM Pranesh M (TN) once again scored 9/11. However, his rank became third. Mitrabha’s sole draw was against Karthik and he defeated Pranesh in Round 7 and 10 respectively. The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹250000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹40000 and ₹30000 along with a trophy each. The one-day Blitz rating tournament was organized by Ranchi District Chess Association on 23rd March 2025 at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This is Mitrabha’s fifth overall, fourth rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Navjot Alang

Mitrabha’s fifth National triumph

GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) was the sole leader 9.5/10, heading into the final round. GM Karthik Venkataraman (AP) was the only player trailing by a half point at 9/10. Mitrabha defeated FM Kaivalya Sandip Nagare (MAH) to become the champion. IM Nitin S (RSPB) drew with Karthik and the latter secured second place. IM Ratnakaran K (RSPB) lost to GM Pranesh M (TN) and he finished third. Kaivalya scored 8.5/11 to finish seventh. He is the highest non-GM/IM finisher. FM Ritvik Krishnan (MAH) is the only other non-GM top ten finisher. He scored 8/11 to be placed tenth. The highest untitled finisher is Soham Roy. He scored 8/11 to finish 13th. Among the female participants, WGM Priyanka Nutakki (AP) scored an impressive 8/11 to claim 18th place. She is the top female finisher of the event and the only one in top 30.

Champion – GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) 10.5/11 | Photo: Navjot Alang

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd GM Karthik Venkataraman (AP) 9.5/11, 1st GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) 10.5/11 and 3rd GM Pranesh M (TN) 9/11 | Photo: Navjot Alang
GM Mitrabha Guha (RSPB) scored an unbeaten 10.5/11, finished a full point ahead of the rest and gained 18.8 Elo rating points

Arbiters’ team | Photo: IA Jayant Kumar Bhuyan

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

A total of 273 players including 11 GMs, 22 IMs and 3 WGMs took part from all over the country in this one-day eleven-round Swiss League Blitz Rating tournament. It was organized by Ranchi District Chess Association on 23rd March 2025 at Sarala Birla University in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The time control was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.

From Mitrabha Guha dominates National Blitz Championship 2025 – ChessBase India

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