Vasyl Ivanchuk prevails at 4th Menorca Open, Karthikeyan Murali third
The legend, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 4th Menorca Open 2025. He performed at 2833 and gained 22.1 Elo rating points. The total gain in the month of April was 39.7 points in 27 games, which is incredible. GM Shanglei Lu (CHN) and GM Karthikeyan Murali scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was more than €26000, an increase of €6000 means 30% The top three prizes were €6000, €4000 and €2500 along with a trophy each. GM Chongsheng Zeng (CHN) and GM Bharath Subramaniyam H scored 8/9 each in the Night Blitz. Chongsheng became champion and Bharath second. The top three prizes in the Blitz were €300, €200 and €150 each. Photo: Menorca Open
The legend still going strong
The reigning World Champion, GM D Gukesh won the first two editions in 2022 and 2023. Then his good friend Arjun Erigaisi won the third edition last year. This edition had the highest number of participation, a combined total of 596 players - 437 in Classical events (325 in Open A and 112 in Open B), and 159 in Blitz Rating Open.
Check out the interview with the legend, Ivanchuk after he became the champion.
A total of 325 players including 45 GMs, 54 IMs, 3 WGMs and 3 WIMs took part from 46 countries across the world in Group A (>1850). The six day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament was organized by Chess Menorca from 22nd to 27th April 2024 at Ciutadella in Menorca, Spain. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
Replay all available Open A games
Final standings in Group A
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | GM | Ivanchuk, Vasyl | S50 | UKR | 2604 | 8 | 49,5 | 47,00 | 9 | |
| 2 | 7 | GM | Lu, Shanglei | CHN | 2618 | 7,5 | 48,5 | 43,00 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 4 | GM | Karthikeyan, Murali | IND | 2651 | 7,5 | 45,5 | 39,75 | 9 | ||
| 4 | 34 | GM | Sosa, Tomas | ARG | 2498 | 7 | 49 | 41,25 | 9 | ||
| 5 | 26 | GM | Woodward, Andy | U18 | USA | 2536 | 7 | 45 | 38,25 | 9 | |
| 6 | 58 | IM | Mamedov, Edgar | U18 | KAZ | 2453 | 7 | 43,5 | 36,00 | 9 | |
| 7 | 2 | GM | Shankland, Sam | USA | 2670 | 7 | 43 | 35,75 | 9 | ||
| 8 | 1 | GM | Nihal, Sarin | IND | 2687 | 6,5 | 52,5 | 37,75 | 9 | ||
| 9 | 41 | GM | Suleymenov, Alisher | KAZ | 2478 | 6,5 | 49,5 | 36,25 | 9 | ||
| 10 | 23 | GM | Pranav, Anand | IND | 2538 | 6,5 | 49 | 36,00 | 9 |
A total of 159 players including 8 GMs, 11 IMs and a WGM took part from 26 countries across the world in Blitz Rating Open. The one day nine-round Swiss League Blitz Rating tournament was organized by Chess Menorca on 24th April 2025 at Ciutadella in Menorca, Spain. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings in Night Blitz
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | RtgI | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | GM | Zeng, Chongsheng | CHN | 2467 | 8 | 42 | 56 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1 | GM | Bharath, Subramaniyam H | IND | 2520 | 8 | 37 | 48,5 | 0 | |
| 3 | 9 | IM | Chasin, Nico | USA | 2404 | 7,5 | 40,5 | 52,5 | 0 | |
| 4 | 5 | IM | Oro, Faustino | ARG | 2462 | 7 | 38 | 52,5 | 0 | |
| 5 | 3 | GM | Dragnev, Valentin | AUT | 2494 | 7 | 37,5 | 55,5 | 0 | |
| 6 | 11 | GM | Royal, Shreyas | ENG | 2394 | 7 | 36,5 | 49 | 0 | |
| 7 | 6 | GM | Gines Esteo, Pedro Antonio | ESP | 2460 | 7 | 36 | 53 | 0 | |
| 8 | 29 | CM | Banerjee, Supratit | ENG | 2182 | 7 | 35 | 49 | 0 | |
| 9 | 26 | Alvarez Serrano, Carlos | ESP | 2210 | 7 | 33,5 | 50,5 | 0 | ||
| 10 | 10 | IM | Garcia Ramos, Daniel | ESP | 2398 | 7 | 32,5 | 48 | 0 |
