Jaiveer Mahendru dominates 2nd Vidyalankar Institute of Technology’s Rapid Rating Open 2026
FM Jaiveer Mahendru scored an unbeaten 8.5/9 to win 2nd Vidyalankar Institute of Technology’s Rapid Rating Open 2026. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Om Gada and Daksh Jagesia scored 8/9 each. They secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹20000 + trophy, ₹10000 and ₹15000 each.
Jaiveer’s third overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year
The newly crowned Maharashtra State Blitz 2026 champion, FM Jaiveer Mahendru and Tanmay Sanjay More were the coleaders at 7.5/8 each, heading into the final round. Five players – IM Vikramaditya Kulkarni, Arnav Kherdekar, Om Gada, Dakh Jagesia and Parv H Hakani were trailing by a half point at 7/8 each. Tanmay lost to Jaiveer and the latter became a clear champion. Arnav and Vikramaditya suffered defeat against Om and Daksh who secured second and third place respectively.
Champion – FM Jaiveer Mahendru 8.5/9
FM Jaiveer Mahendru scored an unbeaten 8.5/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 44.8 Elo rating points
A total of 397 players including an IM took part from various parts of the country, one from Canada, Poland and Zambia each. The one-day nine-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by and at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology in Mumbai, Maharashtra on 8th February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment.
Final standings
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