Gireman Ja convincingly clinches 12th Johor Rapid and Blitz Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 22/01/2026

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.

Champion in Rapid - CM Gireman Ja 7.5/8 | Photo: Johor Chess Association

Various prize winners of Rapid Rating Open | Photo: Johor Chess Association

CM Gireman Ja scored an unbeaten 7.5/8, finished a full point ahead of the rest and gained 64.6 Elo rating points

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.

Blitz Champion - CM Gireman Ja 7.5/8 | Photo: Johor Chess Association

Prize winners of Blitz Rating Open | Photo: Johor Chess Association

CM Gireman Ja scored an unbeaten 7.5/8, finished a half point ahead of the rest and increased his Blitz Elo rating by 53.8 points

Replay all available Rapid games

Replay all available Blitz games

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	Gr	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	20	CM	Gireman, Ja		IND	2099	7,5	38	42	38,75	34
2	4	GM	Nguyen, Van Huy		VIE	2298	6,5	42,5	47,5	37,25	32,5
3	12	IM	Dang, Hoang Son		VIE	2215	6,5	41	45	34,25	32
4	13	IM	Arfan, Aditya Bagus	U20	INA	2198	6,5	40,5	44	34,75	30,5
5	7	GM	Nguyen, Duc Hoa		VIE	2271	6,5	40,5	43,5	34	32
6	15	FM	Mariano, Fabian Glen	U18	INA	2136	6,5	40	44	34,5	32
7	5		Biriya, Mohammadamin	U20	IRI	2284	6,5	38,5	41,5	32,25	31
8	6	IM	Mohammad, Nubairshah Shaikh		IND	2273	6	41	44	31	30
9	1	GM	Priasmoro, Novendra		INA	2410	6	39,5	43,5	31,25	28,5
10	14	CM	Dziththauly, Ramadhan		INA	2140	6	39,5	43,5	30,5	29
11	2	IM	Sek, Konstantin		RUS	2345	6	38	42	31,25	30,5
12	31		Vo, Huynh Thien		VIE	1876	6	36,5	39,5	27,75	27,5
13	3		Peng, Hongchi		CHN	2312	6	36,5	39,5	26,5	29
14	24		Esplanada, Jethro		PHI	2027	6	36	39,5	27,5	27
15	18		Syaputra, Arifa Rizki		INA	2107	6	36	39	26,5	29

Details

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