Nikhil Dixit dominates 17th Late Bharatbai Halkude Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 20/06/2025

FM Nikhil Dixit scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 17th LBHM Rapid Rating Open part of Late Bharatbai Halkude Memorial Chess Festival 2025. Nikhil finished a half point ahead of the competition. Five players - IM Neelash Saha, IM Kashish Manoj Jain, CM Vedant Pimpalkhare, Advik Amit Agrawal and IM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi scored 8/9 each. They secured second to sixth place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the entire festival was ₹3033000, for Rapid it was ₹400000. The top three prizes were ₹51000, ₹30000 and ₹20000 along with a trophy each respectively. This is the Aaryan's second rating tournament triumph of the year. He also became an IM on 1st June as he crossed the final hurdle by attaining the 2400 Elo rating requirement in June FIDE Rating list.

A close finish

One of the latest IMs of India - Kashish Manoj Jain made a brilliant start by winning eight games in-a-row. FM Nikhil Dixit was the sole player trailing him by a half point at 7.5/8. Nikhil defeated Kashish to become a clear champion, Kashish finished third. CM Barath Kalyan M lost to IM Neelash Saha who secured a second place finish. 9-year-old Advik Amit Agrawal scored an impressive 8/9 to finish fifth. He is the youngest top ten finisher of the event.

Champion - FM Nikhil Dixit 8.5/9

Runner-up - IM Neelash Saha 8/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Second Runner-up - IM Kashish Manoj Jain 8/9

Nikhil Dixitwon two trophies - Runner-up in Blitz (left) and Champion in Rapid | Photo: Nikhil Dixit

Nikhil Dixit scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win the tournament, finish a half point ahead of the rest and increased his Elo rating by 25.8 points

A total of 573 players including three IMs and a WIM took part from various parts of the country, one from Germany and Sri Lanka each, two from the USA. The one-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Aryan Enterprises at S K N Sinhgad School of Business Management in Pune, Maharashtra on 22nd May 2025. The time control of the event was 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment from move no.1.

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Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB5	TB6
1	7	FM	Dixit Nikhil			LBHM	IND	2119	8,5	50	54	51,00	8	4
2	1	IM	Neelash Saha			LBHM	IND	2359	8	54	59	51,50	8	5
3	9	IM	Jain Kashish Manoj			LBHM	IND	2084	8	54	59	50,50	8	4
4	5	CM	Pimpalkhare Vedant				IND	2123	8	51	56	49,00	8	4
5	17		Advik Amit Agrawal	U11		LBHM	IND	1978	8	50,5	54	47,50	7	5
6	4	FM	Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi			LBHM	IND	2156	8	49,5	53,5	47,00	8	4
7	12	CM	Sherla Prathamesh	U15		LBHM	IND	2046	7,5	56	61,5	49,75	7	4
8	2	IM	Aaryan Varshney				IND	2295	7,5	55	59	48,25	7	3
9	11		Guru Prakash			LBHM	IND	2052	7,5	53,5	57,5	45,25	7	5
10	25		Badole Shaunak	U13			IND	1925	7,5	52	56	44,75	7	3
11	15		Majumder Shrayan				IND	2006	7,5	50	54,5	44,50	7	4
12	6	FM	Vaibhav Jayant Raut				IND	2122	7	55	59,5	44,50	6	2
13	20		Sharnarthi Shlok			LBHM	IND	1948	7	54,5	59,5	43,50	7	4
14	16	CM	Barath Kalyan M				IND	1989	7	54	58	42,50	7	4
15	40	CM	Dolas Aarush	U13		LBHM	IND	1874	7	52	56	40,00	7	2
16	43		Nihira Koul	F15	w	LBHM	IND	1864	7	51,5	55,5	41,75	6	3
17	3	FM	Wagh Suyog			LBHM	IND	2237	7	51,5	55	40,00	7	5
18	13		Avirat Chauhan	U11		LBHM	IND	2041	7	50,5	54,5	40,50	6	4
19	68		Nirmal L				IND	1791	7	50	54	39,75	6	2
20	44	AFM	Mani Sarbartho	U09			IND	1862	7	50	54	38,50	7	3
21	59		Wadke Suyog			LBHM	IND	1810	7	49	53	38,50	7	4
22	51		Suresh Duvvala			LBHM	IND	1835	7	49	53	37,50	7	4
23	89		Shaashvat Gupta	U13		LBHM	IND	1728	7	48,5	53	39,75	6	2
24	55		Chaudhari Ashish			LBHM	IND	1817	7	48	52	38,50	7	4
25	46		Kolla Bhaavan	U15		LBHM	IND	1850	7	48	51	36,00	7	3