Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025: Francesco topples the top seed, Leon and Harshit make perfect start

by Himank Ghosh - 28/04/2025

The Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025 kicked off yesterday, 27th April at the ITI Marina Orosei Resort in Sardinia, Italy. A total of 219 players are taking part across 3 different categories in Italy's strongest chess tournament! After the first two rounds, we have two of three Indian Grandmasters making a perfect start - Leon Mendonca and Harshit Raja. Francesco Bettali created the biggest upset of Day 1 by defeating the top seed and defending Champion, GM Daniel Dardha! Check out all the biggest results and photos from Day 1 in the report. Photos: Niklesh Jain

Leon Mendonca and Harshit Raja start with 2 wins

Both Grandmasters Harshit Raja and Leon Mendonca are fresh off of the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe. It seems they have switched back to classical chess very well! The first day of the tournament was a double-round, and they scored convincing wins over their opponents.

GM Leon Mendonca (2643, IND) scored a smooth win with the White pieces over Itay Sitbon (2177,ISR) in the 1st round. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Grandmaster Harshit Raja (2474) converted a seemingly equal endgame with ease against Carlo Marzano (2131, ITA) in the 1st round. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Grandmaster SL Narayanan did not have such a good start. In the 1st round, Sidney Panjer (2171, Germany) held his own in a topsy-turvy position against SL - in fact, the final position where the players agreed to a draw is actually much better for Sidney!

Sidney Panjer (left) played an excellent game with the White pieces to hold a strong GM. Photo: Niklesh Jain

The reigning World Under-10 Girls Chess Champion, WFM Berikkyzy Alanna (2013, KAZ) scored a big upset in the first round - she took down IM Lumachi Gabriele (2443) with the Black pieces!

Berikkzy en route to defeat a strong IM! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The reigning Under-15 National Schools Chess Champion, FM Rosh Jain (2150) showed immense nerve by holding top Italian Grandmaster Lorenzo Lodici (2570) to a draw with the White pieces in a very tough Rook endgame!

Rosh Jain showed great endgame acumen by holding a draw against such a strong GM! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The tournament director and founder of UniChess - GM Roberto Mogranzini making the inaugural move on the top board! GM Daniel Dardha managed to defeat Lionel Gut comfortably with the Black pieces. | Photo: Niklesh Jain

While Round 2 was smooth sailing for Grandmasters Leon Mendonca and Harshit Raja, the top seed Daniel Dardha did not share the same fate. Italy's latest International Master crowned just a week ago, Francesco Bettali played a wonderful game with the Black pieces to defeat Daniel Dardha!

IM Francesco Bettali (2355) played some inspired chess to outplay GM Daniel Dardha (2650)! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Grandmaster Leon Mendonca played a long game against FM Noy Eyal, but his win was never in doubt - he scored a smooth win with the Black pieces.

FM Noy Eyal (2346) - GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2643): 0-1 | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Grandmaster Harshit Raja (2474) swiftly outplayed FM Zakin Ilay (2254) with the Black pieces in Round 2!

GM Christopher Yoo (2588) grinded out a minor piece endgame to a win with the Black pieces against IM Marina Brunello (2325) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Replay all the live broadcast Round 1-2 Games

Open-A Standings after Round 2

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	K	rtg+/-
1	28	FM	Bettalli, Francesco	ITA	2355	2	2	2	2,00	20	20
2	86		Wecker, Martin	GER	2035	2	2	2	2,00	20	34,4
3	40	FM	Perossa, Nicolas	ITA	2274	2	2	2	2,00	20	20,2
4	4	GM	Yoo, Christopher Woojin	USA	2588	2	2	2	2,00	10	2,6
5	8	GM	Amar, Elham	NOR	2546	2	2	2	2,00	10	2,6
6	9	GM	Sokolovsky, Yahli	ISR	2546	2	2	2	2,00	10	2,5
7	16	IM	Travadon, Loic	FRA	2451	2	2	2	2,00	10	3,2
8	18	IM	Panjwani, Raja	CAN	2443	2	2	2	2,00	10	3,2
9	20	IM	Fromm, Marius	GER	2436	2	2	2	2,00	10	3,1
10	23	IM	Yaniv, Yuval	ISR	2407	2	2	2	2,00	10	2,7
11	2	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke	IND	2643	2	2	1,5	1,50	10	2,3
12	12	GM	Raja, Harshit	IND	2474	2	2	1,5	1,50	10	3,4
13	14	IM	Martinovici, Ilia	MDA	2459	2	2	1,5	1,50	10	3,4
14	19	FM	Vagman, Roy	ISR	2437	2	2	1,5	1,50	10	3,3
15	24	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya	AZE	2387	2	2	1,5	1,50	10	2,3

Round 3 Pairings for Open-A

Bo.	No.		White	Gr	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Black	Gr	Rtg	No.
1	2	GM	Mendonca, Leon Luke		2643	2		2	IM	Panjwani, Raja		2443	18
2	4	GM	Yoo, Christopher Woojin		2588	2		2	FM	Vagman, Roy		2437	19
3	20	IM	Fromm, Marius		2436	2		2	GM	Sonis, Francesco		2576	5
4	8	GM	Amar, Elham		2546	2		2	IM	Yaniv, Yuval		2407	23
5	24	IM	Fataliyeva, Ulviyya		2387	2		2	GM	Sokolovsky, Yahli		2546	9
6	12	GM	Raja, Harshit		2474	2		2	GM	Ibrayev, Nurlan		2367	26
7	28	FM	Bettalli, Francesco		2355	2		2	GM	Knaak, Rainer		2472	13
8	14	IM	Martinovici, Ilia		2459	2		2	IM	Kiolbasa, Oliwia		2361	27
9	16	IM	Travadon, Loic		2451	2		2	FM	Perossa, Nicolas		2274	40
10	86		Wecker, Martin		2035	2		1½	GM	Lodici, Lorenzo		2570	7

Check all the details here

Round 2 Livestream: Leon Mendonca (2646, IND) vs Noy Eyal (2346, ISR) | Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025 | Video: Hindi ChessBase India

Round 1 Livestream: Sardinia world chess festival 2025 ! Watch Daniel Dardha, Leon & Naraynan | Video: UniChess Italy

Round 2 livestream: Sardinia world chess festival 2025 ! Watch Daniel Dardha, Leon & Naraynan | Video: UniChess Italy

Photo and video Gallery

Official Facebook album link

Tournament director Roberto Mogranzini giving his welcome address to the players | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The transfer bus arranged for the players from the Olbia Airport to the official tournament venue! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The huge tournament hall which hosts 200+ players of Open A, B and C! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Official YouTube playlist link

A beautiful welcome for the players at the Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025!

How chess brought a guy from Kolkata to Italy | Reaching the Sardinia World Chess Festival

Two Rooks carry the Chess pieces! | 100% Eco-friendly tables at the Sardinia Chess Festival 2025

In a Hall Like This, You Just Want to Give Your Best! | Playing hall at Sardinia World Chess

Official Tournament website

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