C R G Krishna wins 2nd Aspiring Minds Rapid Rating Open 2026

IM C R G Krishna, Sri Sai Baswanth P, IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla, IM Kashish Manoj Jain, FM Dhruva Thota and Nidhish Shyamal scored 8/9 each at 2nd Aspiring Minds Rapid Rating Open 2026. Krishna won the tournament on tie-breaks. The remaning five were placed second to sixth according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹400000. The top three prizes were ₹60000, ₹40000 and ₹25000 along with a trophy each.

Top six score 8/9, C R G’s first rating tournament triumph of the year

Sri Sai Baswanth P and IM C R G Krishna were coleaders 7.5/8, going into the final round. They drew against each other in the last round. Krishna became champion and Sai Baswanth second. IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla defeated WCM Deekshitha Modipalli to finish third.

Champion – IM C R G Krishna 8/9 | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

Runner-up – Sri Sai Baswanth P 8/9 | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

Second Runner-up – IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla 8/9 | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd Sri Sai Baswanth P 8/9, 1st IM C R G Krishna 8/9 and 3rd IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla 8/9 | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

IM C R G Krishna during one of his games | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

IM C R G Krishna scored an unbeaten 8/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 8.6 Elo rating points

Various prize winners | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

The organizing team – Aspiring Minds Chess Academy with Chief Arbiter – IA Rekhaliga Chandra Mouli (right) | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

The head coaches of Aspiring Minds Chess Academy – IM FT S Ravi Teja and WFM N L V Anusha | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

Trophies for the prize winners | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

The tournament hall at Saroor Nagar Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana | Photo: IM FT Ravi Teja S / Aspiring Minds Chess Academy

A total of 571 players including eight IMs took part from various parts of the country, one from Kenya and three from the USA. The two-day nine-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Aspiring Minds Chess Academy at Saroor Nagar Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana on 14th and 15th February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

Final standings

Details