Mohamed Anees M clear first at 7th SKG International Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 10/09/2025

IM Mohamed Anees M scored 7.5/9 to win 7th SKG International Rating Open Group A (≥2000) 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the field. Three players - FM Akaki Qalichava (GEO), GM Yunguo Wan (CHN) and GM Chongsheng Zeng (CHN) scored 7/9 each. They shared second, place respectively. Anees suffered his sole loss against the eventual runner-up, Akaki in the third round and drew against the second runner-up, Yunguo in the seventh round. The total prize fund was €3900, €3000 in Group A. The top three prizes were €1200, €600 and €400 along with a cup each. This is Anees' second rating tournament triumph of the year. Apart from Anees, IM Senthil Maran K is the only other Indian to make a top ten finish. He scored 6/9 to be placed tenth. Photo: Zetta Grapsa

Anees' second rating tournament triumph of the year

IM Mohamed Anees M, GM Yunguo Wan (CHN) and GM Chongsheng Zeng (CHN) were the three leaders 6.5/9, heading into the last round. Anees defeated FM Nikolaos Poupalos (GRE) to become a clear champion. Chongsheng drew with Yunguo to share second place with FM Akaki Qalichava (GEO) who won against Alexandros Leftheriotis (GRE). The total participation in the tournament was 232 - 89 in Group A (≥2000), 93 in Group B (1400-2000), 28 in Group C (≤1600) and 22 in Group D (Under-10). All photographs are by the reigning Greece National Women's champion, WFM IA Zetta Grapsa.

Champion - IM Mohamed Anees M 7.5/9 | Photo: Zetta Grapsa

Top 5 (L to R): 5th FM Christos Krallis (GRE) 6.5/9, 4th GM Chongsheng Zeng (CHN) 7/9, 3rd GM Yunguo Wan (CHN) 7/9, 2nd FM Akaki Qalichava (GEO) 7/9 and 1st IM Mohamed Anees M 7.5/9 | Photo: Zetta Grapsa

Christos - Anees, Round 8

Position after 18...Ne4!

IM Mohamed Anees M (2428) found a nice tactic 18...Ne4! FM Christos Dogias (GRE, 2355) needed to capture it with bishop 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.h6 exf3 22.Ng3 is fine for White. Instead, 19.fxe4? invited trouble dxe4-+ 20.Bb5 e3 21.Qxe3 Bxh1 22.Rxh1 Bxg5 23.Qxg5 Qb7 24.Rg1 h6 25.Qf4 Qxb5 and Black went on to convert his material advantage into a win.

IM Mohamed Anees M during one of his games | Photo: Zetta Grapsa

IM Mohamed Anees M scored 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 8.8 Elo rating points

Various prize winners | Photo: Zetta Grapsa

Medals for the prize winners | Photo: Zetta Grapsa

A total of 89 players including 4 GMs, 3 IMs and 2 WIMs took part from 13 countries from all over the world. The seven-day nine round Rating Group A (≥2000) tournament was organized by “White Tower” Chess Academy of Thessaloniki, Chess Club “To Chroniko”, Chess Academy of Moudania in co-organization with the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the support of Chess Union of Thessaloniki & Chalkidiki at Porto Palace Hotel Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki, Greece from 8th to 14th August 2025. The time control of the event was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 15 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Replay all available Group A games

Final standings in Group A

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	3	IM	Mohamed, Anees M			IND	2428		7,5	46,5	39,50	438	0	7	10	8,8
2	16	FM	Qalichava, Akaki	U20		GEO	2245		7	50	39,75	428,5	0	6	20	58,6
3	2	GM	Wan, Yunguo			CHN	2501		7	49	37,75	436,5	0	6	10	3,5
4	1	GM	Zeng, Chongsheng			CHN	2553		7	47	39,75	431	0	5	10	-3,7
5	4	FM	Krallis, Christos	U20		GRE	2390	ΣΚΑΚΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΚΙΝΗΣΗ ΤΡΙΚΑΛΩΝ	6,5	46,5	35,00	436,5	0	6	10	3,7
6	20		Tsarsitalidis, Konstantinos			GRE	2210	ΣΑ ΘΕΣ/ΚΗΣ "ΛΕΥΚΟΣ ΠΥΡΓΟΣ"	6,5	36,5	27,25	390	0	5	20	-3,6
7	13		Papadogiannis, Sevastianos			GRE	2278	ΜΦΚΣ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΑ "Ο ΦΟΙΒΟΣ"	6,5	33,5	24,50	328,5	0	6	20	-9,6
8	8	FM	Dogias, Christos	U18		GRE	2355	ΣΚΑΚ. ΟΜΙΛΟΣ ΚΟΖΑΝΗΣ ΑΕΤΟΙ	6	47	30,50	414	0	5	20	1
9	17	FM	Poupalos, Nikolaos	U18		GRE	2234	ΠΕΙΡΑΙΚΟΣ ΟΣ	6	46	30,25	409,5	0	5	20	27
10	10	IM	Senthil, Maran K			IND	2351		6	44	30,50	418	0	4	10	-8,1

Details

Links

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Tournament details

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