Impressive Iniyan clinches 62nd National Championship 2025, becomes a double champ
The reigning National Rapid champion, GM Iniyan Pa (TN) drew his final round game against GM Abhijeet Gupta (PSPB) to become 62nd National Champion. The last player to win two or more National titles simultaneously was, GM Aravindh Chithambaram back in 2019. He was the first National Triple Crown champion. Iniyan is now a double champion as he won the National Rapid Championship 2025 a few months ago. 15-year-old IM Goutham Krishna (KER) defeated IM Viani Antonio Dcunha (KAR) to finish with the same score as Iniyan 9/11. Goutham secured second place according to tie-breaks. IM Ritviz Parab (Goa) lost to GM Sasikiran Krishnan (PSPB) and the latter finished third. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Goutham amazes, Iniyan is now both National Classical and Rapid champion
It is difficult to recall when was the last time an IM finished in top two of a National Championship. 15-year-old IM Goutham Krishna H delivered a fantastic performance, despite having a forgettable year until this event. The reigning National Rapid Champion, GM Iniyan Pa (TN) added another National title to his credit by winning the 62nd National Championship 2025 and becoming a double champion. Since 2019, Iniyan is the first player to hold two National title simultaneously in Open category. He has had a fantastic 2025 so far. This is his sixth triumph after winning 15th Chennai GM Open 2025, 9th Johor Open 2025, 38th Cannes FIJ Open 2025, National Rapid 2025, 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix Masters 2025 and now this. He also scored a hat-trick by winning his games from eighth to tenth round against IM Harsh Suresh (TN), GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (RSPB) and GM Sasikiran Krishnan (PSPB). The total prize fund of the tournament was ₹3000000. The top three prizes were ₹600000, ₹500000 and ₹400000 along with a trophy each.
Iniyan - Abhijeet: 0.5-0.5
GM Iniyan Pa (TN, 2599) faced GM Abhijeet Gupta (PSPB, 2511) twice in Classical rated games, a long time ago. Abhijeet won both of them and he was much stronger then. Iniyan became a GM after those two games and leveled up. For the first time, he had White pieces against the Mr. Commonwealth, Abhijeet. He played solid and the game ended in a draw which was enough for him to win the tournament as he had a better tie-break score.
For more Round 11 and prize distribution ceremony photos, please click at the respective links. Lots of interviews and games will be published soon, stay tuned.
Replay Round 11 games
Round 11 results
| Bo. | White | Gr | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | Result | Pts. | Black | Gr | Rtg | Club/City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM | Iniyan Pa | 1 | 2599 | TN | 8½ | ½ - ½ | 8 | GM | Gupta Abhijeet | 7 | 2511 | PSPB |
| 2 | IM | Viani Antonio Dcunha | 32 | 2355 | KA | 8 | 0 - 1 | 8 | IM | Goutham Krishna H | 21 | 2418 | KL |
| 3 | IM | Ayush Sharma | 14 | 2457 | RSPB | 8 | ½ - ½ | 7½ | GM | Srihari L R | 12 | 2481 | TN |
| 4 | IM | Ritviz Parab | 28 | 2372 | GA | 7½ | 0 - 1 | 7½ | GM | Sasikiran Krishnan | 4 | 2524 | PSPB |
| 5 | IM | Manish Anto Cristiano F | 30 | 2368 | TN | 7½ | 0 - 1 | 7½ | IM | Aronyak Ghosh | 6 | 2514 | RSPB |
| 6 | GM | Lalit Babu M R | 9 | 2502 | PSPB | 7½ | 1 - 0 | 7½ | IM | Audi Ameya | 20 | 2430 | GA |
| 7 | Vignesh Advaith Vemula | 19 | 2431 | TG | 7½ | 1 - 0 | 7½ | IM | Ravi Teja S. | 23 | 2410 | AP | |
| 8 | IM | Utsab Chatterjee | 40 | 2299 | RSPB | 7 | ½ - ½ | 7 | GM | Ganguly Surya Shekhar | 2 | 2573 | PSPB |
| 9 | GM | Sethuraman S.P. | 3 | 2572 | PSPB | 7 | ½ - ½ | 7 | FM | Kshatriya Nitin Vekhande | 42 | 2285 | MH |
| 10 | IM | Rohith Krishna S | 8 | 2503 | TN | 7 | 1 - 0 | 7 | Bhoir Paras Dilip | 54 | 2219 | MH |
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | Gr | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | TB6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | GM | Iniyan Pa | 1 | IND | 2599 | TN | 9 | 76 | 81,5 | 65,3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2 | 21 | IM | Goutham Krishna H | 21 | IND | 2418 | KL | 9 | 74,5 | 79 | 61,8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | |
| 3 | 4 | GM | Sasikiran Krishnan | 4 | IND | 2524 | PSPB | 8,5 | 79 | 84,5 | 62,8 | 0 | 7 | 4 | |
| 4 | 14 | IM | Ayush Sharma | 14 | IND | 2457 | RSPB | 8,5 | 74,5 | 80,5 | 60,5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | |
| 5 | 6 | IM | Aronyak Ghosh | 6 | IND | 2514 | RSPB | 8,5 | 73,5 | 79,5 | 60 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| 6 | 7 | GM | Gupta Abhijeet | 7 | IND | 2511 | PSPB | 8,5 | 73,5 | 77,5 | 56,3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | |
| 7 | 19 | Vignesh Advaith Vemula | 19 | IND | 2431 | TG | 8,5 | 71,5 | 77 | 59 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 8 | 9 | GM | Lalit Babu M R | 9 | IND | 2502 | PSPB | 8,5 | 69,5 | 75 | 56 | 0 | 7 | 3 | |
| 9 | 24 | GM | Deepan Chakkravarthy J. | 24 | IND | 2407 | RSPB | 8 | 73 | 78 | 54,5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |
| 10 | 33 | IM | Viani Antonio Dcunha | 32 | IND | 2355 | KA | 8 | 71,5 | 76,5 | 53,5 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
Links
Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (Deemed to be University)
