Three players share the lead after five rounds in 1st Andaman & Nicobar International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2025

Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 25: The fifth round of the ongoing 1st Andaman & Nicobar International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2025 began on 25^th August, at Jalsa Hall, Dollygunj, Sri Vijaya Puram. Mr. Devender Yadav, Director, AAI, Veer Savarkar International Airport, Sri Vijaya Puram who attended the function as the chief guest for the fifth round, made the ceremonial first move on the top board against Leelajai Krishna N of Karnataka, formally declaring the fifth round open. In his address, he urged the players to stay resilient despite setbacks and to continue striving for their best in every game.

The tournament has drawn around 350 players from 20 states across India, along with participants from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the United States, showing its international reach. With a prize fund of ₹7,00,000, it continues to showcase high-quality games and intense competition. With a prize fund of ₹7,00,000 at stake, each round has produced memorable encounters and closely fought battles.

At the end of Round 5, only three players are leading the tournament with a perfect score of 5 points, followed by 12 players on 4.5 points. One of the most exciting games was between Master Jihan of Gujarat and Leelajai of Karnataka, where Jihan trapped his opponent and forced a win in just 31 moves. Another highlight was Master Arul Anandh of Karnataka, who demonstrated outstanding endgame technique against Ashwath of Tamil Nadu to secure a full point in a Rook and Bishop ending.

With only a few rounds left, the tournament has reached a stage where every game has become decisive for the final standings. The next rounds are expected to bring even fiercer battles as players push hard for a podium finish.