Vasyl Ivanchuk prevails at 4th Menorca Open, Karthikeyan Murali third

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/05/2025

The legend, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 4th Menorca Open 2025. He performed at 2833 and gained 22.1 Elo rating points. The total gain in the month of April was 39.7 points in 27 games, which is incredible. GM Shanglei Lu (CHN) and GM Karthikeyan Murali scored 7.5/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the tournament was more than €26000, an increase of €6000 means 30% The top three prizes were €6000, €4000 and €2500 along with a trophy each. GM Chongsheng Zeng (CHN) and GM Bharath Subramaniyam H scored 8/9 each in the Night Blitz. Chongsheng became champion and Bharath second. The top three prizes in the Blitz were €300, €200 and €150 each. Photo: Menorca Open

The legend still going strong

The reigning World Champion, GM D Gukesh won the first two editions in 2022 and 2023. Then his good friend Arjun Erigaisi won the third edition last year. This edition had the highest number of participation, a combined total of 596 players - 437 in Classical events (325 in Open A and 112 in Open B), and 159 in Blitz Rating Open.

Champion - GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) 8/9 | Photo: Menorca Open

Check out the interview with the legend, Ivanchuk after he became the champion.

Runner-up - GM Shanglei Lu (CHN) 7.5/9 | Photo: Menorca Open

Second Runner-up - GM Karthikeyan Murali 7.5/9 | Photo: Menorca Open

8th GM Nihal Sarin 6.5/9 | Photo: Menorca Open

10th GM Pranav Anand 6.5/9 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed

Runner-up in Blitz - GM Bharath Subramaniyam H 8/9 | Photo: Himank Ghosh

A total of 325 players including 45 GMs, 54 IMs, 3 WGMs and 3 WIMs took part from 46 countries across the world in Group A (>1850). The six day nine-round Swiss League Rating tournament was organized by Chess Menorca from 22nd to 27th April 2024 at Ciutadella in Menorca, Spain. The time control of the tournament was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Replay all available Open A games

Final standings in Group A

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	8	GM	Ivanchuk, Vasyl	S50	UKR	2604	8	49,5	47,00	9
2	7	GM	Lu, Shanglei		CHN	2618	7,5	48,5	43,00	9
3	4	GM	Karthikeyan, Murali		IND	2651	7,5	45,5	39,75	9
4	34	GM	Sosa, Tomas		ARG	2498	7	49	41,25	9
5	26	GM	Woodward, Andy	U18	USA	2536	7	45	38,25	9
6	58	IM	Mamedov, Edgar	U18	KAZ	2453	7	43,5	36,00	9
7	2	GM	Shankland, Sam		USA	2670	7	43	35,75	9
8	1	GM	Nihal, Sarin		IND	2687	6,5	52,5	37,75	9
9	41	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher		KAZ	2478	6,5	49,5	36,25	9
10	23	GM	Pranav, Anand		IND	2538	6,5	49	36,00	9

Details

A total of 159 players including 8 GMs, 11 IMs and a WGM took part from 26 countries across the world in Blitz Rating Open. The one day nine-round Swiss League Blitz Rating tournament was organized by Chess Menorca on 24th April 2025 at Ciutadella in Menorca, Spain. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Night Blitz

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	RtgI	Pts.	TB1	TB2
1	4	GM	Zeng, Chongsheng	CHN	2467	8	42	56
2	1	GM	Bharath, Subramaniyam H	IND	2520	8	37	48,5
3	9	IM	Chasin, Nico	USA	2404	7,5	40,5	52,5
4	5	IM	Oro, Faustino	ARG	2462	7	38	52,5
5	3	GM	Dragnev, Valentin	AUT	2494	7	37,5	55,5
6	11	GM	Royal, Shreyas	ENG	2394	7	36,5	49
7	6	GM	Gines Esteo, Pedro Antonio	ESP	2460	7	36	53
8	29	CM	Banerjee, Supratit	ENG	2182	7	35	49
9	26		Alvarez Serrano, Carlos	ESP	2210	7	33,5	50,5
10	10	IM	Garcia Ramos, Daniel	ESP	2398	7	32,5	48