Grandmaster (GM) Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran won the Open category, and International Master (IM) Song Yuxin of China claimed the Women’s title at the 2025 Asian Chess Championship, held from May 6 to 16, 2025 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The championship featured participation from more than 250 players representing 38 countries, competing in nine-round Swiss format tournaments across both the Open and Women’s categories.
- The championship was organized by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Chess Federation and the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club.
Key Highlights of 2025 Asian Chess Championship:
Open Category:
i.GM Daneshvar Bardiya won gold with 7/9 points, edging India’s GM Nihal Sarin on tiebreaks despite losing to him in the final round.
ii.GM Nihal Sarin took silver, while GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (Uzbekistan) claimed bronze after edging out five players tied at 6.5/9.
iii.Top 10 finishers in the Open category qualified for the FIDE World Cup 2025.
Women’s Category:
i.IM Song Yuxinemerged victorious in the women’s category, defeating Uzbekistan’s IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova in 32 moves and finishing with 7/9.
ii.India’s IM Vantika Agrawal defeated leader Bat-Erdene Mungunzul (Mongolia) but missed the podium on tiebreaks, finishing 4th.
iii.WGM Xeniya Balabayeva (Kazakhstan) earned bronze.
iv.Top two finishers in the women’s category qualified for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025.
2025 Asian Chess Championship – Winners:
| Category | Position | Winner | Country | Score | Prize Money (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 1st | GM Daneshvar Bardiya | Iran | 7/9 | 10,000 |
| 2nd | GM Nihal Sarin | India | 7/9 | 8,000 | |
| 3rd | GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov | Uzbekistan | 6.5/9 | 6,000 | |
| Women’s | 1st | IM Song Yuxin | China | 7/9 | 7,000 |
| 2nd | Bat-Erdene Mungunzul | Mongolia | 7/9 | 6,000 | |
| 3rd | WGM Xeniya Balabayeva | Kazakhstan | 7/9 | 5,000 |
Note: The FIDE World Cup 2025 will be hosted by India from 31st October to 27th November 2025, while the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 will be held in Georgia from 5th to 29th July 2025.
About Asian Chess Federation (ACF):
President – Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Headquarters – Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established – 1951
