GM Aleksandrov Aleksej of Belarus Wins 16th Chennai Open 2025
GM Aleksandrov Aleksej of Belarus Wins 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 for Sakthi Group Dr. N Mahalingam Trophy
The 16th Edition of the Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 for the Sakthi Group Dr. N. Mahalingam Trophy was held from January 2 to 9, 2025, at Hotel Ramada in Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Tournament carried Rs.20 lakhs sponsored by Sakthi Group of Companies. This tournament was very well organised by Tamil Nadu State Chess Association under the auspices of the All India Chess Federation. The tournament attracted a total of 290 players from 21 different federations, including India, Russia, Vietnam, Egypt, Singapore, the USA, Belarus, Cuba, Argentina, Australia, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Nepal, Peru, Switzerland, Slovakia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Strong players list included 11 Grandmasters, 24 International Masters, 1 Woman Grandmaster, 3 Woman International Masters, 5 FIDE Masters, 1 Woman FIDE Master and 9 Candidate Masters from 22 different states.
The tournament was inaugurated earlier by India’s first International Master and Arjuna Awardee, Manuel Aaron, who made the first move in the presence of several dignitaries. Among those present were former FIDE Vice President Shri D.V. Sundar, Shri B. Murugavel, Vice President of the TNSCA, Shri P. Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Shri R. Srinivasan, Treasurer of the TNSCA, and Shri Rajesh R, Chairman of the All India Chess Federation Arbiters’ Commission and other TNSCA officials.
After 8 intense days of high-level chess at the 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament, we witnessed some surprising results. Many well-known players, including grandmasters and international masters, faced unexpected defeats, making way for the rise of new and young talents in the chess world.
Top seed GM Rohith Krishna S (Tamil Nadu) justified his ranking with a strong and consistent performance throughout the tournament. In Round 5, Rohith was held to a draw by FM Jinon Jomon (Kerala). At the conclusion of the fifth round, GM Federov Alexei and GM Aleksandrov Aleksej, both from Belarus, were sharing the lead. Their Round 6 encounter ended in a draw, which allowed GM Rohith Krishna S and GM Srihar L R (Tamil Nadu) to join them at the top of the standings by beating their respective opponents. In Round 7, GM Rohith Krishna S scored a crucial victory over GM Alexei Fedorov to take the sole lead in the tournament with 6.5 pts. GM Nguyen Duc Hoa’s (Vietnam) victory over young Indian prodigy from Madhya Pradesh, FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, in the penultimate round, gives him a spot in the leaders with 7.5 points.
The strength and competitiveness of the field became increasingly clear as the event unfolded. As the penultimate round wrapped up, the standings were remarkably tight, with four players tied at the top with 7.5 points each: GM Rohith Krishna S (Tamil Nadu), GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (Belarus), GM Srihari L R (Tamil Nadu), and GM Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vietnam). In the final round, GM Srihari L R settled for a draw against IM Mayank Chakraborty from Assam, while GM Nguyen Duc Hoa also drew his match with GM Rohith Krishna.
GM Aleksandrov Aleksej lifted the title of 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 by defeating the winner of the 5th Athens of East Grandmasters Tournament, GM Deepan Chakravarthy J. With an impressive 8.5 points, he claimed the Dr. N Mahalingam Trophy. Following closely behind, GM Rohith Krishna S, GM Srihari L R, Arnav Agrawal, GM Fedorov Alexei, and GM Nguyen Duc Hoa rounded out the leaderboard in 2nd to 6th places, all with 8 points, decided by tiebreakers.
Top 10 Players after the final round
| Rank | Name | Rtg | Club | Pts | BH:GP/C1 | BH:GP | SB | |
| 1 | GM | Aleksandrov Aleksej | 2409 | Belarus | 8½ | 61.5 | 65 | 53 |
| 2 | GM | Rohith Krishna S | 2489 | Tamil Nadu | 8 | 67.5 | 72 | 56 |
| 3 | GM | Srihari L R | 2472 | Tamil Nadu | 8 | 65 | 70 | 54 |
| 4 | GM | Fedorov Alexei | 2377 | Belarus | 8 | 62.5 | 66 | 50.25 |
| 5 | Arnav Agrawal | 2258 | Uttar Pradesh | 8 | 60.5 | 65.5 | 51.25 | |
| 6 | GM | Nguyen Duc Hoa | 2416 | Vietnam | 8 | 59 | 64 | 50.25 |
| 7 | IM | Mayank Chakraborty | 2468 | Assam | 7½ | 60.5 | 65.5 | 46.5 |
| 8 | FM | Dhananjay S | 2299 | Chhattisgarh | 7½ | 60 | 64.5 | 45.25 |
| 9 | IM | Ayush Sharma | 2454 | Madhya Pradesh | 7½ | 59.5 | 64.5 | 47.75 |
| 10 | FM | Jinan Jomon | 2323 | Kerala | 7½ | 59 | 64.5 | 46.75 |
Dr. M. Manickam, Chairman, Sakthi Group and President, TNSCA presided over the at the closing ceremony in presence of Shri M. Tamizh Vendhan, IRS, a retired Commissioner of Customs & GST (Retd.) was the chief guest and other dignitaries present on the dias were Shri B. Murugavel, Vice President, TNSCA, Shri Stephen Balasamy P, Secretary TNSCA, Shri R. Srinivasan, Treasurer, TNSCA, IA Rajesh R, Chairman, Arbiters’ Commission, AICF, IA Paul Arokia Raj, Tournament Coordinator and IA Swapnil Bansod, Chief Arbiter.
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