Brandon Jacobson clinches 3rd Annemasse Festival Masters 2025, Rathanvel V S third

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/11/2025

GM Brandon Jacobson (USA) and GM Mahdi Gholami Orimi (IRI) scored 7/9 each at 3rd Annemasse Festival Masters (≥1900) 2025. Brandon won the tournament on tie-breaks, Mahdi was placed second. Six players - IM Rathanvel V S, FM Namibt Singh Walia, GM Sayantan Das, Alexandre Bacrot (FRA), IM Sidhant Mohapatra and IM Aradhya Garg scored 6.5/9 each. They were placed third to eighth respectively. Namitbir earned his final IM-norm and became one of the latest International Master of India. The total prize fund of the entire festival was combining three categories was €26000 + cups and medals. The top three prizes in Masters was €3000, €2300 and €1700 along with a cup each. Photo: Club d’Échecs du Bassin Annemassien

Namitbir and Dhruva earns their final IM-norm, become International Master s

GM Mahdi Gholami Orimi (IRI) won the 6th Maurice David Rapid Rating Open 2025 scoring 9/11. GM Visakh N R secured second place 8.5/11. IM Danyil Mosesov (UKR) finished third 8.5/11. FM Namitbir Singh Walia scored 8/11 to finish fifth. The total participation in the festival was 408 players - 93 in Masters (≥1900), 67 in Accession (1551- 1999), 77 in Amateur (<1600), 81 in Maurice David Rapid and 90 in Blitz Tournament.

Champion - GM Brandon Jacobson (USA) 7/9 | Photo: Official site

Second Runner-up - IM Rathanvel V S 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

4th Namitbir Singh Walia 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

5th GM Sayantan Das 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

7th IM Sidhant Mohapatra 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

8th IM Aradhya Garg 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

Various prize winners | Photo: Official site

FM Namitbir Singh Walia earned his final IM-norm to become one of the latest International Masters of India | Photo: Official site

FM Namirbir Singh Walia scored an unbeaten 6.5/9, finished fourth overall, performed at 2502, gained 12.3 Elo rating points en route his final IM-norm to become an International Master

FM Dhruva Thota scored his final IM-norm to become one of the latest International Masters of India | Photo: Official site

Dhruva Thota scored 6/9, performed at 2451 to earn his final norm and become an IM

6th Maurice David Rapid Rating Open runner-up - GM Visakh N R 8.5/11 | Photo: Official site

5th FM Namitbir Singh Walia 8/11 | Photo: Official site

Various prize winners | Photo: Official site

Prize distribution ceremony | Photo: Official site

A total of 93 players including 7 GMs, 16 IMs and 5 WIMs took part from 15 countries across the world in Masters (≥1900) tournament. The seven-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Cercle d'Échecs du Bassin Annemassien at Martin Luther-King Complex in Annemasse, France from 18th to 24th October 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings in Masters

Pl		Nom	Elo	Cat.	Fede	Ligue	Club	Pts	Tr.	Bu.	Perf
1	g	JACOBSON Brandon	2595 F	SenM				7	44	54½	2625
2	g	GHOLAMI ORIMI Mahdi	2500 F	SenM				7	44	52½	2610
3	m	RATHANVEL V S	2483 F	SenM		ARA	Lyon Olympique Echecs	6½	43½	52	2518
4	f	NAMITBIR SINGH WALIA	2328 F	SenM				6½	41½	48	2502
5	g	DAS Sayantan	2435 F	SenM				6½	41	50	2534
6		BACROT Alexandre	2416 F	SenM		PAC	La Tour Hyéroise	6½	40½	49	2539
7	m	SIDHANT Mohapatra	2384 F	SenM				6½	39½	46½	2518
8	m	ARADHYA Garg	2400 F	SenM				6½	38½	47	2449
9	g	BERNADSKIY Vitaliy	2487 F	SenM				6	42½	52	2507
10	m	DI NICOLANTONIO Lucas	2388 F	SenM		PAC	Cannes Echecs	6	41	48½	2448

Details

A total of 81 players including 3 GMs, 4 IMs and 2 WIMs took part from nine countries across the world in Maurice David Rapid Rating Open. The one-day eleven round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Cercle d'Échecs du Bassin Annemassien at Martin Luther-King Complex in Annemasse, France on 25th October 2025. The time control of the event was 12 minutes + 3 seconds increment per move.