Inauguration of 16th Chennai Open International Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2025

• January 2, 2026
• in Chess, Chess Spotlights, Flash News, Tournament News

Inauguration of 16^th Chennai Open International Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2025

The 16^th edition of Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 for Sakthi Group Dr. N. Mahalingam Trophy was inaugurated by India’s first International Master & Arjuna Awardee Manual Aaron making the first move in presence former FIDE Vice President Thiru. D.V. Sundar, Thiru. P. Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary, TNSCA, Thiru. R. Srinivasan, Treasurer, TNSCA, Thiru. B. Murugavel, Vice President, TNSCA  All India Chess Federation Arbiters’ Commission Chairman Thiru. Rajesh, IA Swapnil Bansod, Chief Arbiter of the tournament and Tournament Coordinator IA S. Paul Arokya Raj and other office bearers of Tamil Nadu State Chess Associaiton at Hotel Ramada, Egmore. Tournament will be held from 2^nd to 9^th January, 2026.A total prize fund of ₹20 lakhs, players from 21 federations are participating in this 10-round Swiss-system tournament. The field includes 64 titled players, among them 11 Grandmasters, all competing for top honours.

The opening round of the 16th Chennai Open International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 was held in a calm manner, as all the leading players defeated their respective opponents without much difficulty. Top seed Grandmaster Rohit Krishna scored an impressive victory by checkmating his opponent in just 28 moves. Second seed Grandmaster L.R. Srihari demonstrated his excellent endgame skills by defeating Yuvanesh in a Knight and Pawn endgame.

Round 1 – Important Results

1. GM Rohit Krishna (Tamil Nadu) defeated WCM Hanya Shah (Gujarat) – 1–0
2. GM L.R. Srihari (Tamil Nadu) defeated Yuvanesh A (Karnataka) – 1–0
3. IM Mayank Chakravarthy (Assam) defeated Vairaj Sograwal (Haryana) – 1–0
4. GM Boris Savchenko (Russia) defeated Viyan Sameer Makhani (Gujarat) – 1–0
5. IM Ayush Sharma (Madhya Pradesh) defeated Sriram Pandi S.B. (Tamil Nadu) – 1–0
6. GM Vladimir Burmakin (Russia) defeated Pasbola Samvit (Maharashtra) – 1–0
7. GM Deepan Chakravarthy J. (ICF) defeated Sony Vivan (Maharashtra) – 1–0
8. GM Nguyen Duc Hoa (Vietnam) defeated Kumar S. (Tamil Nadu) – 1–0
9. GM Alexey Alexandrov (Belarus) defeated Neev Sajeev (Kerala) – 1–0
10. IM Mehar Chinna Reddy C.H. (Telangana) defeated Sania Rafiq Tadavi (Maharashtra) – 1–0