Delhi GM Chess Open 2025: Indian grandmasters shine on Day 2, youngsters make mark

NEW DELHI: The second day of the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 witnessed intense competition during Rounds 2 and 3 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur.

Players demonstrated their endurance and skill through two classical-format games.GM Narayanan SL (2600), India's highest-rated participant, maintained his perfect record by defeating Arnav Agarwal (2096) in Round 3. The leader group includes GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (2410), GM Vitaly Sivuk (2522), GM Mihail Nikitenko (2520), GM Karthik Venkataraman (2550), GM Abhijeet Gupta (2538), and IM Arsen Davtyan (2402), each securing three victories in three rounds. The competition remains close as players prepare for Day 3.IM Aronyak Ghosh (2510) secured his position amongst the leaders with a victory against Guru Prakash, maintaining his unblemished record.Indian upcoming talents displayed notable performances. Vairaj Sogerwal sustained his momentum following his Round 1 victory over GM Karen H Grigoryan. Singh Arshpreet (2075) achieved 2/3 points, whilst FM J Ramakrishna (2036) and CM Akila Kavinda (2010) also secured 2 points each.

Sai Kuchibhotla (2014) achieved a remarkable draw against GM Tornike Sanikidse (2425).The tournament, in its 21st year, stands as Asia's premier classical-format open chess competition. With participation from over 2,500 players representing more than 20 countries, including 24 Grandmasters, and offering a prize fund of Rs 1.21 crore, it provides an excellent platform for Indian talents to compete against international masters.The All India Chess Federation-sanctioned event continues to be a significant fixture in India's chess calendar, highlighting the sport's increasing popularity.