16th Dolomiti International : Martin Takes Sole Lead, Himal Close Behind
The 16th edition of the Dolomiti International Chess Tournament is currently underway in the picturesque alpine town of Forni di Sopra, Italy. Surrounded by the majestic Dolomite mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the event has attracted players from nine countries.
As the tournament crosses its halfway point, the competition is heating up on the board. Leading the pack is Bulgaria’s top seed Grandmaster Martin Petrov, who remains unbeaten with four wins and a draw. Close behind is India’s International Master Himal Gusain, showing impressive form with three wins and two draws. With his live rating inching closer to the coveted 2500 mark, Himal is steadily progressing toward one of the key requirements for the Grandmaster title.Read this report & Photos from this beautiful location by Niklesh Jain.
A Scenic Battle of Minds in the Heart of the Dolomites
Forni di Sopra, Italy The 16th Dolomiti International Chess Tournament, being held in Forni di Sopra, nestled in the Dolomites mountain range—recognized
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—has now reached its halfway mark. After the fifth round, Bulgaria's top seed Grandmaster Martin Petrov has taken sole lead with 4.5 points, having scored four wins and one draw.
India's International Master Himal Gusain, who is steadily advancing on the path to becoming India’s next Grandmaster, is in joint second place with 4 points, having registered three wins and two draws. Himal, whose current rating is 2490, has already gained 2 rating points in this event and has already played both Grandmasters in the tournament. It is hoped that in the remaining four rounds he will continue to increase his rating and reach the crucial 2500 mark required for the Grandmaster title.
Key results from Round 5 were as follows:
On the top board, International Master Himal Gusain drew his game against Greek Grandmaster Vasilios Kotronias.
On the second board, top seed Grandmaster Martin Petrov of Bulgaria scored his fourth win by defeating Greece’s Woman FIDE Master Grapsa Georgia.
On board three, Romania’s Madalin Andronescu defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Tellarini.
Among the women players, on board five, Romanian Woman FIDE Master Ekaterina Pirvulescu beat Italy’s Marco Lozza
On board six, Colombian Woman International Master Angela Franco secured a victory over Italy’s Leonardo Budai.
Pairings/Results
Round 5 on 2025/06/10 at 15:00
Bo. | No. |
| White | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Black | Rtg |
| No. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | IM | 2490 | 3½ | ½ - ½ | 3½ | GM | 2429 | 3 | ||||
2 | 12 | WFM | 2069 | 3 | 0 - 1 | 3½ | GM | 2524 | 1 | ||||
3 | 22 | 1962 | 3 | 0 - 1 | 3 | 2069 | 13 | ||||||
4 | 4 | CM | 2199 | 2½ | 1 - 0 | 3 | 1810 | 32 | |||||
5 | 14 | 2040 | 2½ | 0 - 1 | 2½ | WFM | 2100 | 9 | |||||
6 | 11 | WIM | 2091 | 2½ | 1 - 0 | 2½ | 1975 | 20 | |||||
7 | 18 | 2002 | 2 | ½ - ½ | 2 | 2141 | 6 | ||||||
8 | 28 | 1910 | 2 | 0 - 1 | 2 | FM | 2131 | 7 | |||||
9 | 8 | FM | 2112 | 2 | 0 - 1 | 2 | 2000 | 19 | |||||
10 | 10 | 2097 | 2 | 1 - 0 | 2 | 1918 | 27 |
Pairings/Results
Round 6 on 2025/06/11 at 15:00
Bo. | No. |
| White | Rtg | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Black | Rtg |
| No. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | GM | 2524 | 4½ | 4 | GM | 2429 | 3 | |||||
2 | 4 | CM | 2199 | 3½ | 4 | IM | 2490 | 2 | |||||
3 | 13 | 2069 | 4 | 3½ | WIM | 2091 | 11 | ||||||
4 | 9 | WFM | 2100 | 3½ | 3 | 2097 | 10 | ||||||
5 | 7 | FM | 2131 | 3 | 3 | 1962 | 22 | ||||||
6 | 32 | 1810 | 3 | 3 | WFM | 2069 | 12 | ||||||
7 | 19 | 2000 | 3 | 2½ | FM | 2186 | 5 | ||||||
8 | 6 | 2141 | 2½ | 2½ | 1971 | 21 | |||||||
9 | 15 | 2034 | 2½ | 2½ | 2040 | 14 | |||||||
10 | 20 | 1975 | 2½ | 2½ | 2002 | 18 |
Rank after Round 5
Rk. | SNo |
| Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | GM | BUL | 2524 | 4,5 | 5 | 13,5 | 11,50 | 2142 | ||
2 | 2 | IM | IND | 2490 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 14,75 | 2224 | ||
3 | 3 | GM | GRE | 2429 | 4 | 5 | 15,5 | 12,00 | 2174 | ||
4 | 13 | ROU | 2069 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 9,00 | 2072 | |||
5 | 4 | CM | ITA | 2199 | 3,5 | 5 | 15 | 9,50 | 2047 | ||
6 | 9 | WFM | ROU | 2100 | 3,5 | 5 | 12,5 | 7,50 | 2056 | ||
7 | 11 | WIM | COL | 2091 | 3,5 | 5 | 11,5 | 7,25 | 2002 | ||
8 | 12 | WFM | GRE | 2069 | 3 | 5 | 16,5 | 8,50 | 2166 | ||
9 | 22 | ITA | 1962 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 7,75 | 2105 | |||
10 | 10 | ITA | 2097 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 5,50 | 1994 | |||
11 | 32 | KSA | 1810 | 3 | 5 | 12,5 | 6,50 | 2082 | |||
12 | 19 | ITA | 2000 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 5,75 | 2119 | |||
13 | 7 | FM | FIN | 2131 | 3 | 5 | 9,5 | 5,00 | 1961 | ||
14 | 14 | ITA | 2040 | 2,5 | 5 | 16 | 6,75 | 2119 | |||
15 | 6 | ITA | 2141 | 2,5 | 5 | 15 | 6,50 | 2092 | |||
16 | 21 | ITA | 1971 | 2,5 | 5 | 15 | 5,75 | 2097 | |||
17 | 15 | ITA | 2034 | 2,5 | 5 | 11 | 4,25 | 1942 | |||
18 | 5 | FM | FRA | 2186 | 2,5 | 5 | 10,5 | 4,00 | 1945 | ||
19 | 20 | ITA | 1975 | 2,5 | 4 | 13 | 5,50 | 2017 | |||
20 | 18 | ITA | 2002 | 2,5 | 4 | 12 | 5,00 | 2049 | |||
21 | 27 | KSA | 1918 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 4,75 | 2041 | |||
22 | 8 | FM | FIN | 2112 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 4,00 | 1948 | ||
23 | 28 | ROU | 1910 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 3,50 | 2075 | |||
24 | 26 | CM | ITA | 1922 | 2 | 5 | 12,5 | 4,25 | 2026 | ||
25 | 24 | ITA | 1937 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 3,50 | 2033 | |||
26 | 17 | ITA | 2004 | 2 | 4 | 10,5 | 3,50 | 1941 | |||
27 | 31 | KSA | 1823 | 1,5 | 5 | 12 | 2,50 | 1991 | |||
28 | 25 | ITA | 1936 | 1,5 | 5 | 11,5 | 3,00 | 1989 | |||
29 | 30 | KSA | 1824 | 1,5 | 5 | 11 | 2,25 | 2024 | |||
30 | 33 | KSA | 1807 | 1,5 | 5 | 11 | 2,25 | 2002 | |||
31 | 23 | ITA | 1960 | 1,5 | 5 | 10 | 1,75 | 1967 | |||
32 | 29 | ITA | 1902 | 1,5 | 5 | 9,5 | 2,25 | 1962 | |||
33 | 16 | ITA | 2012 | 1 | 5 | 12,5 | 1,50 | 2085 |
To know what Forni di Sopra is like and how to reach here, watch my video here ( In Hindi ) :
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