6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial R1: Aravindh and Praggnanandhaa make a peaceful start

by Shahid Ahmed - 30/05/2025

Aravindh Chithambaram and R Praggnanandhaa made a peaceful start at 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2025 in Jermuk, Armenia. They had a relatively calm draw. Xiangyu Xu (CHN) scored the sole win of the round against Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM). The Armenian had a few good opportunities to win. However, he blundered in the queen and rook endgame, could not capitalize on his chances. The winner of the fourth edition, Samuel Sevian (USA) had the fastest draw of the round against Benjamin Gledura (HUN) in 17 moves. Round 2 starts today at 3 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Xiangyu swindles as Hovhannisyan misses a win

GM Aravindh Chithambaram and GM R Praggnanandhaa played a relatively calm draw | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Aravindh - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

GM Aravindh Chithambaram (2749) and GM R Praggnanandhaa (2758) played four Classical rated games against each other. The recent one was earlier this year in Prague, Czech Republic. All of them ended in draws.

GM Aravindh Chithambaram - GM R Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) missed a win against GM Xiangyu Xu (CHN) who eventually turned things around | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (DEN) - GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Samuel Sevian (USA) - GM Benjamin Gledura (HUN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) - GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Round 1 in progress | Photo: Chess Academy of Armenia

Replay Round 1 live stream

Replay Round 1 live commentary by IM Lilit Mkrtchian (ARM) and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Time Control

90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game (with 30 seconds increment starting from move one).

Prizes

The total prize fund is 7450000 AMD (≈ US$ 19325). The top three prizes are 3100000 AMD (≈ US$ 8041), 1 850 000 AMD (≈ US$ 4799) and 1500000 (≈ US$ 3891).

Round 1 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	1	2635	GM	Hovhannisyan Robert	0 - 1	GM	Xu Xiangyu	2623	10
2	2	2749	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	½ - ½	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2758	9
3	3	2641	GM	Bjerre Jonas Buhl	½ - ½	GM	Hakobyan Aram	2620	8
4	4	2694	GM	Sevian Samuel	½ - ½	GM	Gledura Benjamin	2663	7
5	5	2665	GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek	½ - ½	GM	Kollars Dmitrij	2625	6

Details

Standings after Round 1

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2
1	10	GM	Xu Xiangyu	CHN	2623	1	0,00	1
2	6	GM	Kollars Dmitrij	GER	2625	0,5	0,25	1
	7	GM	Gledura Benjamin	HUN	2663	0,5	0,25	1
	8	GM	Hakobyan Aram	ARM	2620	0,5	0,25	1
	9	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	IND	2758	0,5	0,25	1
6	2	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	IND	2749	0,5	0,25	0
	3	GM	Bjerre Jonas Buhl	DEN	2641	0,5	0,25	0
	4	GM	Sevian Samuel	USA	2694	0,5	0,25	0
	5	GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek	UZB	2665	0,5	0,25	0
10	1	GM	Hovhannisyan Robert	ARM	2635	0	0,00	0

Details

Round 2 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.
1	10	2623	GM	Xu Xiangyu		GM	Kollars Dmitrij	2625	6
2	7	2663	GM	Gledura Benjamin		GM	Yakubboev Nodirbek	2665	5
3	8	2620	GM	Hakobyan Aram		GM	Sevian Samuel	2694	4
4	9	2758	GM	Praggnanandhaa R		GM	Bjerre Jonas Buhl	2641	3
5	1	2635	GM	Hovhannisyan Robert		GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr.	2749	2

Details

Schedule

Wednesday	28 May at 19:00	Opening Ceremony
Thursday	29 May at 15:00	Round 1
Friday	30 May at 15:00	Round 2
Saturday	31 May at 15:00	Round 3
Sunday	1 June at 15:00	Round 4
Monday	2 June at 15:00	Round 5
Tuesday	3 June at 15:00	Round 6
Wednesday	4 June at 15:00	Round 7
Thursday	5 June at 15:00	Round 8
Friday	6 June at 11:00	Round 9
Friday	6 June at 18:00	Closing Ceremony