Iniyan Pa clinches 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix 2025 Masters via Playoffs
GM Iniyan Pa defeated GM Jan Malek (POL) 1.5-0.5 in Playoffs to win 2nd Dole Trophy Pasino Grand Aix 2025 Masters (>2100). In the ninth round, Malek won against the sole leader, GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR), propelling himself to the top. Iniyan being in a virtual must-win situation versus Poland's latest Grandmaster, Jakub Seemann, also was in the same boat. Iniyan won that game to insert himself in the Playoffs with Malek. Thus, Malek secured second place, Eljanov third. The total prize fund was more than €30000. The top three prizes were €8000, €5500 and €3500. Total 17 players scored 18 different norms - 2 GM, 11 IM, a WGM and 3 WIM-norms. Indians earned three IM-norms and a WIM-norm. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Jakub Seemann becomes Poland's latest GM, Daaevik Wadhawan IM, 17 players score a staggering 18 norms
The tournament witnessed a new Grandmaster - Jakub Seemann (POL) and new International Master - Daaevik Wadhawan. WFM Bodhana Sivanandan scored her maiden WGM-norm which means she also scored a WIM-norm in the process. It is not every day a stagerring dozen and a half norms which includes all four types of norms are scored. There will be another article on why this tournament had so many norms. 12-year-old Darshan G won Accession (Category B, <2200). It will be mentioned in detail in a separate report.
Malek - Eljanov: 1-0
GM Jan Malek (POL, 2499) defeated the sole leader, GM Pavel Eljanov (UKR, 2675) to gain the lead himself.
Iniyan wins six in-a-row
Iniyan - Seeman: 1-0
Jan Malek's win put GM Iniyan Pa (2558) in a must-win situation against IM Jakub Seemann (POL, 2451). The former European and World Youth Under-16 Open champion, Jakub was heading into the round with an unbeaten 6.5/8. Iniyan was on a three-game winning streak. Malek's game finished earlier, so both Iniyan and Seemann saw the result and knew they had to win the game to become eligible for Playoff. Only one of them could win.
The queen has only one safe square to go to. It was not easy to find especially with low time on the clock 34...Qb6? 35.Qb4 Ra8 36.Qd6 Qxd6 37.Nxd6 b6 38.Rc7 Ra3 39.Rb7 Rxe3 40.Rxb6 and White won the game in the next few moves. This win ensured Iniyan in the Playoffs with Malek.
Iniyan - Malek, Playoff 1
GM Iniyan Pa (2450) blundered in the first game 19..Qf3?? It was the solitary opportunity GM Jan Malek (POL, 2218) had in the entire game. 19...f6-+ 20.Nd3 Nxc3 21.Qxb7 Nxd1 and it would have given Black a decisive advantage. 19...f5 missed the opportunity and the game eventually ended in a draw.
The second 15'+3" game was a back and forth battle where only Iniyan had winning chances and he managed to convert it into a win.
Bennet - Surya
GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (2566) transferred his king all the way from e8 to a8 via d7-c7-b7 against IM Bennet Hagner (GER, 2435). It was all part of his preparation. He mentioned it all in details in an interview which will be published soon.
Photo Gallery
Norm makers
GM-norms
IM-norms
FM Martin Holten Fiskaaen (NOR)
WGM-norm
WIM-norm
For more Round 9, Aerial view, Playoff and Prize distribution ceremony photos, please click on the respective links.
Video Gallery
A lot more interviews and games will be published soon.
Replay live stream
A total of 197 players including two IMs took part from all over the country, one from England and two from Uganda. The one-day eleven round Blitz Rating Open tournament was organized by Rao's Chess Corner at Officers Club in Mangaluru, Karnataka on 6th July 2025. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move.
Replay Round 9 and Playoff Masters games
Masters Round 9 results
| Ech. | Pts | Blancs | Res. | Noirs | Pts | ||
| 1 | 6½ | MALEK Jan | 2499 F | 1 - 0 | ELJANOV Pavel | 2675 F | 7 |
| 2 | 6½ | INIYAN Pa | 2558 F | 1 - 0 | SEEMANN Jakub | 2451 F | 6½ |
| 3 | 6 | MADAMINOV Mukhiddin | 2553 F | X - X | VAN FOREEST Jorden | 2698 F | 6 |
| 4 | 6 | TIGLON Bryce | 2535 F | 0 - 1 | MENDONCA Leon Luke | 2603 F | 6 |
| 5 | 6 | JACOBSON Brandon | 2569 F | X - X | COSTA Leonardo | 2528 F | 6 |
| 6 | 6 | VETOKHIN Savva | 2569 F | 0 - 1 | PENG Xiongjian | 2520 F | 6 |
| 7 | 6 | GARIFULLINA Leya | 2450 F | 1 - 0 | SAMUNENKOV Ihor | 2555 F | 6 |
| 8 | 5½ | GRANDELIUS Nils | 2642 F | 1 - 0 | CELIK Hasan Huseyin | 2465 F | 6 |
| 9 | 5½ | SANTOS LATASA Jaime | 2623 F | X - X | MATERIA Marco | 2493 F | 5½ |
| 10 | 5½ | SCHITCO Ivan | 2481 F | 0 - 1 | LAGARDE Maxime | 2618 F | 5½ |
| 11 | 5½ | SULEYMANLI Aydin | 2607 F | 1 - 0 | BEGMURATOV Khumoyun | 2470 F | 5½ |
| 12 | 5½ | TROST Edvin | 2470 F | X - X | PIORUN Kacper | 2575 F | 5½ |
| 13 | 5½ | GORSHTEIN Ido | 2568 F | 1 - 0 | KOELLE Tobias | 2466 F | 5½ |
| 14 | 5½ | HAGNER Bennet | 2435 F | 0 - 1 | GANGULY Surya Shekhar | 2566 F | 5½ |
| 15 | 5½ | SOKOLOVSKY Yahli | 2545 F | X - X | CAMLAR Arda | 2443 F | 5½ |
Standings after Round 9
| Pl | Nom | Elo | Cat. | Fede | Ligue | Club | Pts | Tr. | Bu. | Perf | |
| 1 | g | MALEK Jan | 2499 F | CadM |  | 7½ | 43½ | 50 | 2751 | ||
| 2 | g | INIYAN Pa | 2558 F | SenM |  | IDF | Echiquier de Franconville | 7½ | 40 | 48 | 2694 |
| 3 | g | ELJANOV Pavel | 2675 F | SenM |  | PAC | L'Echiquier du Roy René | 7 | 44½ | 54 | 2715 |
| 4 | g | MENDONCA Leon Luke | 2603 F | JunM | | EST | Mulhouse Philidor | 7 | 42 | 51½ | 2688 |
| 5 | m | GARIFULLINA Leya | 2450 F | SenF |  | 7 | 39½ | 47 | 2671 | ||
| 6 | g | PENG Xiongjian | 2520 F | SenM |  | 7 | 38½ | 47 | 2627 | ||
| 7 | m | SEEMANN Jakub | 2451 F | CadM | | ARA | Lyon Olympique Echecs | 6½ | 46 | 49½ | 2642 |
| 8 | g | VAN FOREEST Jorden | 2698 F | SenM |  | PAC | L'Echiquier du Roy René | 6½ | 43½ | 54 | 2638 |
| 9 | m | COSTA Leonardo | 2528 F | CadM |  | 6½ | 42½ | 50 | 2608 | ||
| 10 | m | MARDOV Dimitar | 2506 F | CadM |  | 6½ | 41 | 49½ | 2587 | ||
| 11 | g | GRANDELIUS Nils | 2642 F | SenM |  | EST | L'Echiquier Châlonnais | 6½ | 41 | 49 | 2612 |
| 12 | g | JACOBSON Brandon | 2569 F | SenM | | 6½ | 40 | 49½ | 2644 | ||
| 13 | g | GANGULY Surya Shekhar | 2566 F | SenM | | EST | Club d'Echecs Metz Fischer | 6½ | 40 | 49 | 2563 |
| 14 | g | SULEYMANLI Aydin | 2607 F | JunM |  | PAC | Marseille-Echecs | 6½ | 40 | 48 | 2616 |
| 15 | g | MADAMINOV Mukhiddin | 2553 F | JunM |  | 6½ | 38 | 47 | 2607 |
Links
Official site: Dole and Echiquier du Roy
