Andrea Favaloro wins 15th Salento Master 2026, Harshit Raja second
IM Andrea Favaloro scored 7/9 to win 15th Salento Master 2026. GM Harshit Raja also scored the same. He was placed second on tie-breaks.
Ayaanraj Kotapally clinches Main, Harshit perfect in Blitz
IM Andrea Favaloro (ITA), GM Harshit Raja and FM Claudio Paduano (ITA) scored 7/9 each in the Master (>1800) category. Andrea won the tournament on tie-breaks. Harshit and Claudio were placed second an third respectively.
10-year-old Ayaanraj Kottapally and Daniil Chilibiiskyi (UKR) scored 7/9 each in the Main (≤1800) category. Ayaanraj became champion on tie-breaks, Daniil second. Atlas Gunday (TUR) edged past Lorenzo Leone (ITA) on tie-breaks to finish third.
GM Harshit Raja scored a perfect 8/8 to win the Blitz Rating Open. He won the tournament with a round to spare and finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the rest. WIM Cecile Haussernot (FRA) scored sole 6.5/8 to secure second place. FM Povilas Lasinskas (LTU) and Sushrutha Reddy scored 5.5/8 each. They were adjudged third and fourth respectively.
The tournament witnessed the total participation of 110 players – 28 in Master (>1800), 32 in Main (≤1800), 33 in Senior (50 and above) and 17 in Youth (≤18 years and <2200).
The total prize fund was €10000. The top three prizes in Master were €2000, €900 and €700 along with a trophy each. For Main, they were €1500, €600 and €500.
Champion in Master (>1800) – IM Andrea Favaloro (ITA) 7/9 | Photo: Official site
Runner-up – GM Harshit Raja 7/9 | Photo: Official site
Second Runner-up – FM Claudio Paduano (ITA) 7/9 | Photo: Official site
Top three (L to R): 2nd GM Harshit Raja 7/9, 1st IM Andrea Favaloro (ITA) 7/9 and 3rd FM Claudio Paduano (ITA) 7/9 | Photo: Official site
Champion in Main (≤1800) – Ayaanraj Kottapally 7/9 | Photo: Official site
10-year-old Ayaanraj Kottapally in action | Photo: Official site
Ayaanraj Kottapally scored 7/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 133.6 Elo rating points
Champion in Blitz – GM Harshit Raja 8/8 | Photo: Official site
Runner-up – WIM Cecile Haussernot (FRA) 6.5/8 | Photo: Official site
GM Harshit Raja during one of his games | Photo: Official site
GM Harshit Raja scored a perfect 8/8, won the event with a round to spare, finished a staggering 1.5 points ahead of the rest and gained 7.3 Elo rating points
Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: Official site
A total of 28 players including two GMs, an IM and a WIM took part from nine countries across the world in the Master Group (>1800). The seven-day nine-round Rating tournament was organized by Chess Projects ASD in collaboration with Arco World Chess at Ecoresort Le Sirenè in Gallipoli, Italy from 23rd to 29th May 2026. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 20 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
A total of 32 players took part from six countries across the world in the Main Group (≤1800). The seven-day nine-round Rating tournament was organized by Chess Projects ASD in collaboration with Arco World Chess at Ecoresort Le Sirenè in Gallipoli, Italy from 23rd to 29th May 2026. The time control of the tournament was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 20 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
A total of 23 players including a GM and a WIM took part from six countries across the world in the Blitz Rating Open. The one-day eight-round Blitz Rating tournament was organized by Chess Projects ASD in collaboration with Arco World Chess at Ecoresort Le Sirenè in Gallipoli, Italy on 24th May 2026. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.
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