Dau Khuong Duy, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Nigel Short, Aronyak Ghosh and Loek van Wely in a nine-way tie for first place at 23rd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026
IM Dau Khuong Duy (VIE), GM Brandon Jacobson (USA), GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly, GM Nigel Short (ENG), IM Aronyak Ghosh, GM Loek van Wely (NED), GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU), GM Ido Gorshtein (ISR) and IM Saidakbar Saydaliev (UZB) scored 7/9. They shared first place among them at 23rd Bangkok Chess Club Open Masters (>1800) 2026. Apart from Van Wely, Gorshtein and Saydaliev, the remaining six players were undefeated. The first prize was 100000 Baht.
Aronyak Ghosh becomes India’s latest Grandmaster; 2 GM-norms, an IM and a WGM-norm are earned
The 23rd edition of Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026 was one of the strongest editions in the tournament history. The numbers itself can substantiate it. The combined total participation was 437, 241 in Masters,. 115 in Challengers, 81 in Blitz from 46 countries across the world. Not only it crowned a new Grandmaster in the form of Aronyak Ghosh but also four norms were scored. Dau Khuong Duy and Aronyak scored a GM-norm each, IM-norm for Abhishek T M and WGM-norm for WIM Sakshi Chitlange. Aronyak becoming a GM will also be mentioned in a separate article.
Vanssh A Adalja won the Challengers event. It will be mentioned in detail in a separate report.
IM Dau Khuong Duy (VIE) got the champion’s trophy and GM-norm, however, the prize money is shared between all nine players who scored 7/9 | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
L to R: IM Aronyak Ghosh 7/9, GM Brandon Jacobson (USA) 7/9, IM Dau Khuong Duy (VIE) 7/9, GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly 7/9 and GM Nigel Short (ENG) 7/9 | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Interview with GM Aronyak Ghosh
Interview with Aronyak’s parents – Sanchita Ghosh (Mother) and FA Mrinal Ghosh (Father)
IM Dau Khuong Duy (VIE) scored a GM-norm | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
IM Aronyak Ghosh scored his final GM-norm to become India’s 95th and West Bengal’s 12th Grandmaster | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Aronyak Ghosh scored an unbeaten 7/9, performed at 2584, gained 8.3 Elo rating points and scored his final GM-norm
10th GM Visakh N R 6.5/9 | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
10th IM Ayush Sharma 6.5/9 | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Top female finisher – WIM Aakanksha Hagawane 6/9 | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Abhishek T M scored an IM-norm | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Abhishek T M scored 6/9, performed at 2471 and gained 72.2 Elo rating points en route his IM-norm
WIM Sakshi Chitlange has all the required WGM-norms. Having another extra WGM-norm which does not hurt. The only requirement she has left is rating, once she reaches 2300, she will become India’s next WGM.
WIM Sakshi Chitlange scored a WGM-norm | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Round 9 in progress | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Closing ceremony | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Organizing team – Bangkok Chess Club | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
The tournament hall at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Hua Hin, Thailand | Photo: Kwang Ng / Bangkok Chess Club
Replay all Masters games
A total of 241 players including 16 GMs, 33 IMs, a WGM and 7 WIMs took part from 40 countries across the world. The nine-day nine-round Masters (>1800) tournament was organized by IO Kai Tuorila at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Hua Hin, Thailand from 11th to 19th April 2026. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Final standings in Masters
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