Iniyan clinches 38th Cannes FIJ Open 2025, Aradhya Garg second
GM Iniyan Pa scored an unbeaten 7.5/9 to win 38th Festival International des Jeux de Cannes - Open A (>2100) 2025. Iniyan finished a half point ahead of the competition. IM Aradhya Garg and GM Kagybek Nogerbek (KAZ) scored 7/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund in Open A €6000. The top three prizes were €1800, €1200 and €700. The seven-day nine round Rating Open A (>2100) tournament was organized by Romuald De Labaca at Palais des Festivals et des Congres de Cannes - Salon des Ambassadeurs in Cannes, France from 24th February to 2nd March 2025. This was Iniyan's third tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Cannes Echecs
Iniyan shines in France
GM Iniyan Pa and IM Aradhya Garg were the coleaders 6.5/8, heading into the last round. GM Pranesh M lost to Iniyan, Aradhya drew with IM Pierre Barbot (FRA). Iniyan became clear champion, Aradhya second. GM Alisher Suleymenov (KAZ) lost to GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) and the latter finished third. IM Eline Roebers (NED) scored an impressive 6.5/9 to finish tenth. She is the only female among the top ten finishers. The entire festival witnessed the participation of a total of 419 players - 146 in Open A (>2100), 181 in Open B (1600-2200) and 92 in Open C (<1700).
Pranesh - Iniyan, Round 9
GM Iniyan Pa (2523) correctly found the thematic exchange sacrifice 18...Rxc3! 19.a3 Nd5 20.Bxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 exd5 22.e6 fxe6 23.b4 Rc4 24.Qxc4 bxc4 25.bxa5 Rf8 and Black went on to convert his advantage into a win to become a clear champion.
A total of 146 players including 5 GMs, 21 IMs, 2 WGMs and 5 WIMs took part from 24 countries all over the world. The seven-day nine round Rating Open A (>2100) tournament was organized by Romuald De Labaca at Palais des Festivals et des Congres de Cannes - Salon des Ambassadeurs in Cannes, France from 24th February to 2nd March 2025. The time control of the event was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Replay all available Open A (>2100) games
Final standings
| Pl | Nom | Elo | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Perf | Tr. | |
| 1 | g | INIYAN Pa | 2523 F | SenM |  | IDF | Echiquier de Franconville | 7½ | 2634 | 42½ |
| 2 | m | ARADHYA Garg | 2348 F | SenM | | 7 | 2590 | 44½ | ||
| 3 | g | NOGERBEK Kazybek | 2514 F | SenM |  | 7 | 2580 | 42½ | ||
| 4 | m | CELIK Hasan Huseyin | 2441 F | CadM |  | 6½ | 2537 | 44 | ||
| 5 | XIE Kaifan | 2394 F | CadM |  | 6½ | 2528 | 40½ | |||
| 6 | f | TAN Jun Ying | 2368 F | SenM |  | 6½ | 2525 | 43 | ||
| 7 | m | CHEN Qi B | 2478 F | SenM | | 6½ | 2514 | 43 | ||
| 8 | g | LAURENT-PAOLI Pierre | 2565 F | SenM |  | PAC | Marseille-Echecs | 6½ | 2507 | 42 |
| 9 | m | BARBOT Pierre | 2449 F | SenM | | PAC | Grasse Echecs | 6½ | 2487 | 43 |
| 10 | m | ROEBERS Eline | 2361 F | JunF |  | EST | Mulhouse Philidor | 6½ | 2468 | 36½ |
