Gireman Ja convincingly clinches 12th Johor Rapid and Blitz Rating Open 2025
CM Gireman Ja scored an unbeaten 7.5/8 each to win both 12th Johor Rapid and Blitz Rating Open 2025. He finished a full point ahead in the Rapid and a half point ahead of the rest in the Blitz event. GM Van Huy Nguyen (VIE) and IM Dang Hoang Son (VIE) scored 6.5/8 each to finish second and third respectively in the Rapid. In Blitz, Zhenyu Li (CHN) and IM Arfan Aditya Bagus (INA) claimed second and third place scoring 7/8 each, according to tie-breaks. The top three prizes in Rapid were RM 1200, 800 and 500 each, for Blitz they were, RM 500, 300 and 200 each. These two were Gireman's second and third tournament triumph out of the only ten events he played in 2025. Photo: Johor Chess Association
Gireman unbeaten champion in both events
CM Gireman Ja was the sole leader in the Rapid Rating Open 6.5/7, heading into the final round. Five players - GM Van Huy Nguyen (VIE), IM Arfan Aditya Bagus (INA), GM Duc Hoa Nguyen (VIE), FM Fabiano Marian Glen (INA) and Hongchi Peng (CHN) were trailing by a half point at 6/7 each. Gireman defeated Hongchi to become a clear champion. Van Huy drew against Arfan to secure second place. Rittesh Muraley (MAS) lost to IM Dang Hoang Son (VIE) who finished third. IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh is the only other Indian to make a top ten finish. He scored 6/8 to finish eighth. In the Classical Open event, IM Karthik Rajaa and Nubairshah scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed fifth and sixth according to tie-breaks. One of the latest GMs of India and the top seed of the event - Raahul V S scored 6/9 to be placed eighth.



CM Gireman Ja once again became the sole leader 6.5/7, heading into the last round of Blitz Rating Open. Four players - IM Arfan Aditya Bagus (INA), GM Van Huy Nguyen (VIE), Zhenyu Li (CHN) and FM Mariano Fabian Glen (INA) were trailing by a half point at 6/7 each. Van Huy lost to Gireman and the latter became the champion. GM Duc Hoa Nguyen (VIE) lost to Zhenyu who secured second place. Mariano suffered defeat against Arfan who finished third.



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A total of 166 players including 4 GMs and 6 IMs took part from nine countries across the world. The one-day eight round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Johor Chess Association at Fairview International School in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on 28th December 2025. The time control of the event was 20 minutes each.
Final standings in Rapid
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | Gr | FED | Rtg | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | CM | Gireman, Ja | IND | 2099 | 7,5 | 0 | 38 | 42 | 38,75 | 34 | ||||
| 2 | 4 | GM | Nguyen, Van Huy | VIE | 2298 | 6,5 | 0 | 42,5 | 47,5 | 37,25 | 32,5 | ||||
| 3 | 12 | IM | Dang, Hoang Son | VIE | 2215 | 6,5 | 0 | 41 | 45 | 34,25 | 32 | ||||
| 4 | 13 | IM | Arfan, Aditya Bagus | U20 | INA | 2198 | 6,5 | 0 | 40,5 | 44 | 34,75 | 30,5 | |||
| 5 | 7 | GM | Nguyen, Duc Hoa | VIE | 2271 | 6,5 | 0 | 40,5 | 43,5 | 34 | 32 | ||||
| 6 | 15 | FM | Mariano, Fabian Glen | U18 | INA | 2136 | 6,5 | 0 | 40 | 44 | 34,5 | 32 | |||
| 7 | 5 | Biriya, Mohammadamin | U20 | IRI | 2284 | 6,5 | 0 | 38,5 | 41,5 | 32,25 | 31 | ||||
| 8 | 6 | IM | Mohammad, Nubairshah Shaikh | IND | 2273 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 44 | 31 | 30 | ||||
| 9 | 1 | GM | Priasmoro, Novendra | INA | 2410 | 6 | 0 | 39,5 | 43,5 | 31,25 | 28,5 | ||||
| 10 | 14 | CM | Dziththauly, Ramadhan | INA | 2140 | 6 | 0 | 39,5 | 43,5 | 30,5 | 29 | ||||
| 11 | 2 | IM | Sek, Konstantin | RUS | 2345 | 6 | 0 | 38 | 42 | 31,25 | 30,5 | ||||
| 12 | 31 | Vo, Huynh Thien | VIE | 1876 | 6 | 0 | 36,5 | 39,5 | 27,75 | 27,5 | |||||
| 13 | 3 | Peng, Hongchi | CHN | 2312 | 6 | 0 | 36,5 | 39,5 | 26,5 | 29 | |||||
| 14 | 24 | Esplanada, Jethro | PHI | 2027 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 39,5 | 27,5 | 27 | |||||
| 15 | 18 | Syaputra, Arifa Rizki | INA | 2107 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 39 | 26,5 | 29 |
A total of 166 players including 4 GMs and 4 IMs took part from nine countries across the world. The one-day eight round Blitz Rating Open tournament was organized by Johor Chess Association at Fairview International School in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on 31st December 2025. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.
Final standings in Blitz Rating Open
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | CM | Gireman, Ja | IND | 2151 | 7,5 | 0 | 37,5 | 41 | 38 | 34 | |
| 2 | 12 | Li, Zhenyu | CHN | 2180 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 44 | 38 | 33,5 | ||
| 3 | 5 | IM | Arfan, Aditya Bagus | INA | 2252 | 7 | 2 | 42,5 | 47 | 40 | 31 | |
| 4 | 11 | GM | Wong, Meng Kong | SGP | 2187 | 6,5 | 0 | 37 | 39,5 | 31 | 29,5 | |
| 5 | 10 | FM | Mariano, Fabian Glen | INA | 2192 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 46 | 31,75 | 32 | |
| 6 | 4 | GM | Nguyen, Van Huy | VIE | 2262 | 6 | 0 | 42,5 | 47,5 | 33,25 | 31 | |
| 7 | 7 | CM | Dziththauly, Ramadhan | INA | 2204 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 43 | 29,5 | 29 | |
| 8 | 8 | FM | Ulhaq, Zacky Dhia | INA | 2202 | 6 | 0 | 38,5 | 41 | 28 | 29 | |
| 9 | 15 | Syaputra, Arifa Rizki | INA | 2148 | 6 | 0 | 36,5 | 39,5 | 26 | 29 | ||
| 10 | 16 | Shahar, Uzair | MAS | 2117 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 39,5 | 29 | 28 |
Links
Johor Chess Association: Official site and fb page