New Delhi, March 3: Indian Grandmaster Pa Iniyan clinched victory at the 38th edition of the Cannes International Open, defeating fellow countryman V Pranesh in the ninth and final round held in Cannes, France.
Iniyan concluded the tournament with an impressive 7.5 points, securing the top spot with a half-point lead over Delhi-based International Master Aradhya Garg, who finished in second place. Reigning World Junior Chess Champion, Kazybek Noderbek of Kazakhstan, also scored 7 points, but a tiebreaker placed him in third.
The Indian chess prodigy displayed exceptional form throughout the competition, remaining undefeated by scoring six wins and three draws. Iniyan’s momentum surged in the final three rounds, with crucial victories, including a decisive win over Garg in the penultimate round that solidified his position at the top.
This victory earned Iniyan 12 rating points, bringing him closer to the coveted 2600 Elo rating, as his current rating now stands at 2579.
The prestigious tournament, which concluded on Sunday, attracted 147 players from 25 countries, including six Grandmasters and 21 International Masters.
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