8th Salamanca Chess Festival 2025 R1-3: Pranav V beats Ponomariov to gain early sole lead

by Shahid Ahmed - 23/10/2025

The reigning World Junior 2025 champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh made a great start at 8th Salamanca Chess Festival 2025. He scored 2.5/3 and finished the day with a victory over the youngest World Champion, GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR). Pranav was in a bit of trouble. However, his opponent, instead of seizing his advantage, allowed Pranav to get back in the game. During time trouble, he blundered and Pranav won the game. Before that, Pranav defeated IM Sara Khadem (ESP) and drew against top Spanish woman, IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez. Only one round will be played today as Simultaneous exhibition games will take place. Round 4 starts at 12:30 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. IST. Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Pranav makes a great start

GM Pranav Venkatesh has made a great start 2.5/3. GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) and IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (ESP) are close behind at 2/3 each. They are followed by WGM Nadya Toncheva (BUL) at 50% score 1.5/3. The tournament is organized by Universidad de Salamanca at Centro Internacional del Español - Edificio Banco de España (Salamanca), the 'Cradle of Modern Chess' in Salamanca, Spain.

Round 1: Pranav - Sara: 1-0

The reigning World Junior 2025 champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh (2563) started the event with a IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (ESP, 2359).

GM Pranav Venkatesh started with a comfortable win over IM Sara Khadem (ESP) | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) - GM Julio Granda (PER): 1-0 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

WGM Nadya Toncheva (BUL) - IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Round 1 in progress | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Round 2: Sabrina - Pranav: 0.5-0.5

In the second round, IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP, 2225) and GM Pranav Venkatesh (2563) had a well contested draw.

IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP) - GM Pranav Venkatesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

GM Julio Granda (PER) - IM Sara Khadem (ESP): 0-1 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) - WGM Nadya Toncheva (BUL): 1-0 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Round 2 in progress | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Round 3: Pranav - Ponomariov: 1-0

This is quite possibly the very first Rapid Rating game between GM Pranav Venkatesh (2563) and GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR, 2635).

Position after 39.e6!

Black needed to play 38...Qe6 to maintain a firm grip of the position. 38...Bd3? allowed White to get back in the game 39.e6 Qxe6 40.Qd1! Qf6 41.Qxg4+ Bg6 42.Nf3 White eventually won the game when his opponent blundered in a balanced rook and minor piece endgame.

GM Pranav Venkatesh scored a victory against the youngest World Champion, GM Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) to emerge sole leader | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

WGM Nadya Toncheva (BUL) - GM Julio Granda (PER): 1-0 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

IM Sara Khadem (ESP) - IM Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (ESP): 1-0 | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Round 3 in progress | Photo: Universidad de Salamanca. Comunicación Alumni - USAL

Replay live stream

Replay 8th Salamanca Chess Festival 2025 Round 1-3 Live Commentary | Video: Alumni - USAL

Format

The tournament will be held in a six-player double round-robin format. The time control will be 30 minutes + 5 seconds increment and it will be rapid rating event.

Schedule

Round 1-3 will be played on 22nd October at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. IST. On Thursday 23rd October, there will be only one game. Round 4 will take place at 12:30 p.m. local time, 4 p.m. IST. Round 5-7 will take place on 25th October at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. IST. Round 8-10 will be held on 26th October at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time, 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. IST.

Replay Round 1-3 games

Round 1-3 results

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	1	2635	GM	Ponomariov, Ruslan	1 - 0	GM	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	2624	6	PGN
2	2	2332	WGM	Toncheva, Nadya	½ - ½	IM	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	2362	5	PGN
3	3	2641	GM	Pranav, V	1 - 0	IM	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	2444	4	PGN
Round 2 on 2025/10/22 at 17:30
Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	6	2624	GM	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	0 - 1	IM	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	2444	4	PGN
2	5	2362	IM	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	½ - ½	GM	Pranav, V	2641	3	PGN
3	1	2635	GM	Ponomariov, Ruslan	1 - 0	WGM	Toncheva, Nadya	2332	2	PGN
Round 3 on 2025/10/22 at 19:00
Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	2	2332	WGM	Toncheva, Nadya	1 - 0	GM	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	2624	6	PGN
2	3	2641	GM	Pranav, V	1 - 0	GM	Ponomariov, Ruslan	2635	1	PGN
3	4	2444	IM	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	1 - 0	IM	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	2362	5	PGN

Details

Standings after Round 3

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3
1	3	GM	Pranav, V	IND	2641	2,5	2	4,50
2	1	GM	Ponomariov, Ruslan	UKR	2635	2	2	1,50
3	4	IM	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	ESP	2444	2	2	1,00
4	2	WGM	Toncheva, Nadya	BUL	2332	1,5	1	0,50
5	5	IM	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	ESP	2362	1	0	2,00
6	6	GM	Granda Zuniga, Julio E	PER	2624	0	0	0,00

Details

Round 4 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		White	Result		Black	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	6	2624	GM	Granda Zuniga, Julio E		IM	Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina	2362	5
2	1	2635	GM	Ponomariov, Ruslan		IM	Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat	2444	4
3	2	2332	WGM	Toncheva, Nadya		GM	Pranav, V	2641	3

Details

Links

Tournament Regulations

Salamanca Chess: Official site, fb page, twitter and instagram

Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Salamanca: twitter and instagram

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