Aditya Mittal and Abhimanyu Mishra are cochampions at Skalica Chess Festival Masters 2026
GM Aditya Mittal and GM Abhimanyu Mishra scored an unbeaten 5.5/9 each to share first place at Skalica Masters 2026. GM Daniel Dardha also scored 5.5/9. However, he finished third on tie-breaks.
Aditya’s second triumph of the year, Top three score 5.5/9
GM Aditya Mittal was the sole leader 5/8, heading into the final round. Aditya drew against GM Jergus Pechac (SVK). GM Alexandr Fier (BRA) lost to GM Abhimanyu Mishra (USA). Thus, Aditya and Abhimanyu shared the first place as they had all three tie-break scores same. GM Ihor Samunenkov (UKR) suffered a loss against GM Daniel Dardha (BEL). Daniel also finished with 5.5/9. He finished third on tie-breaks. GM Leon Luke Mendonca was the only other Indian taking part in the Masters section. He scored 4.5/9 to finish fifth.
It was an extremely strong field comprising of GM David Navara (CZE), GM Anton Korobov (UKR), GM Alexandr Fier (BRA) and GM Alexander Donchenko (GER) amongother players. So winning this event and also while remaining undefeated is an incredible feat by GM Aditya Mittal. The average rating of the Masters was 2603 with an average age of only 27. This was Aditya’s second triumph of the year.
The total prize fund of the festival was €15000.
Top 3 (L to R): Cochampions – GM Aditya Mittal 5.5/9 and GM Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) 5.5/9, 3rd GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) 5.5/9 | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
Aditya – Fier, Round 2
Position after 29…fxe5??
GM Alexandr Fier (BRA, 2566) went wrong 29…fxe5?? Even 29…Nf3+ followed by Nxe5 would only delay the inevitable. 29…fxe5?? only sped Black’s loss. GM Aditya Mittal (2593) correctly found 30.Rf1!+- Re6 31.Bc7 Rde8 32.Rf7 Rf6 33.Rfd7 and it became just a matter of time before White won the game.
GM Aditya Mittal deep in thought during one of his games | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
5th GM Leon Luke Mendonca 4.5/9 | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
All Masters participants | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
Masters and Queen Masters on the stage | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
The tournament hall at Dom kultúry Skalica in Skalica, Slovakia | Photo: IA FM FT Tomáš Danada
Replay all Masters games
Then ten-player Round-Robin Masters witnessed GMs from eight countries across the world. The tournament was organized by Šachový klub Skalica at Dom kultúry Skalica in Skalica, Slovakia from 22nd to 30th August 2026. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
Links
Skalica Chess Festival: Official site, facebook and instagram
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