Nithin Babu triumphs at 23rd RCC Classical Cup Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 13/10/2025

Nithin Babu and Mandar Pradip Lad scored 8/9 each at 23rd RCC Classical Cup Rating Open 2025. Nithin Babu won the tournament on tie-breaks, despite losing the last round to the eventual runner-up, Mandar. Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan edged past six more players on tie-breaks to finish third scoring 7.5/9. The total cash prize fund of the tournament was ₹500000. The top three prizes were ₹50000, ₹35000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each. The six-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao's Chess Corner at Sharada Vidyalaya Kodialbail in Mangaluru, Karnataka from 25th to 30th September 2025. This is Nithin's first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Nithin's first rating tournament triumph of the year

Nithin Babu made a perfect start by winning eight games in-a-row. He had a full point lead over the field, heading into the last round. Six players - Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan, Mandar Pradip Lad, Vikramjit S Singh, Pranav A J, Mythireyan P and Savanth Krishnan R were at 7/8 each. Mandar defeated Nithin, still the latter won the tournament as he had better tie-breaks. Mandar finished second. Vikramjit drew against Dinesh who claimed third place. The total participation in the entire festival was 1573 - 448 in Classical, 571 in Rapid and 554 in Blitz. Rao's Chess Corner is run by Karnataka's top chess couple - IM Sharan Rao (Founder) and WIM Isha Sharma.

Champion - Nithin Babu 8/9 | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Runner-up - Mandar Pradip Lad 8/9 | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Second Runner-up - Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan 7.5/9 | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan 7.5/9, 1st Nithin Babu 8/9 and 2nd Mandar Pradip Lad 8/9 | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Nithin during one of his games | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Nithin Babu scored 8/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 7.8 Elo rating points

Inaugural first move | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Players in action | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Karnataka's strong chess couple and Rao's Chess Corner Head Coaches - WIM Isha Sharma and IM Sharan Rao | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Rao's Chess Corner team | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

Total 330 trophies were up for grabs in the entire RCC Festival | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

The tournament hall at Sharada Vidyalaya Kodialbail in Mangaluru, Karnataka | Photo: Rao's Chess Corner

For more photos, click here.

A total of 448 players including three IMs took part from all over the country, one from Canada, Kenya and USA each, and four from Sri Lanka. The six-day nine round Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao's Chess Corner at Sharada Vidyalaya Kodialbail in Mangaluru, Karnataka from 25th to 30th September 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	4		Nithin Babu,			IND	2297	Kl	8	55	59,5	51,5
2	2		Lad Mandar Pradip,			IND	2392	Goa	8	50,5	55	48,5
3	11		Dinesh Kumar Jaganathan,			IND	1997	Tn	7,5	53,5	57,5	47,3
4	43		Pranav A J,			IND	1814	Kar	7,5	51,5	55	44,3
5	6		Singh S. Vikramjit,			IND	2156	Mn	7,5	50,5	54,5	43,3
6	25		Savanth Krishnan R,	U16		IND	1901	Kl	7,5	49	53	42,5
7	34		Adhithya S,			IND	1841	Tn	7,5	49	53	42,3
8	36		Rejath Renjith,	U16		IND	1835	Kl	7,5	47	51,5	41,3
9	33		Mythireyan P,			IND	1843	Tn	7,5	46,5	50,5	41,3
10	13	AIM	Christy George,	U16		IND	1977	Kl	7	51	56	41,3
11	39		Siva, Adithyan S	U16		IND	1832	Tn	7	49	54	41
12	20		Raaghav Kabil M,			IND	1919	Tn	7	49	54	40,5
13	28		Raju S,			IND	1880	Tn	7	49	54	40,5
14	26	AIM	Pankaj Bhat,			IND	1890	Kar-Dk	7	49	53	39,5
15	14	FM	Anilkumar O.T.,	S60		IND	1968	Kl	7	48	51,5	38,3
16	46		Dhanush Ram M,			IND	1807	Kar-Dk	7	46	49	36
17	61		Partha Sarathi Satpathy,			IND	1767	Or	7	44,5	48,5	34,5
18	56	AGM	Lakshith B Salian,			IND	1774	Kar-Dk	7	44	47,5	36
19	49		Rakshith M,			IND	1803	Tn	7	44	47	34,8
20	127	AFM	Mithun Pranav,	U13		IND	1632	Tn	7	40,5	43,5	32,3
21	3	IM	Saravana Krishnan P.,			IND	2307	Tn	6,5	52,5	57,5	39
22	7	IM	Murali Krishnan B T,			IND	2080	Tn	6,5	52,5	57	38,3
23	17		Aditya Savalkar,			IND	1933	Mh	6,5	51,5	56	37,8
24	12		Tiwari Arjun,			IND	1983	RSPB	6,5	51	55	38,8
25	42	AIM	Theephigaa K P,	F16	w	IND	1814	Tn	6,5	48,5	54	37,3