Visakh N R victorious at 1st Eight Square Chess Academy Blitz Rating Open 2026 with 100% score

GM Visakh N R scored a perfect 9/9 to win 1st Eight Square Chess Academy Blitz Rating Open 2026. FM Aakash G secured second place scoring sole 8.5/9. IM Harsh Suresh, Kaushik S, CM Gokul G and Kavin E scored 8/9 each. They were placed third to sixth respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was ₹300001. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹15000 and ₹12000 along with a trophy each.

Visakh’s first rating tournament triumph of the year

The top seed of the tournament, GM Visakh N R made a perfect start by eight games in-a-row. GM Srihari L R, GM S Rohith Krishna and FM Aakash G were trailing by a half point at 7.5/8 each. Srihari lost to Visakh and the latter became champion with a 100% score. Rohith suffered defeat against Aakash who finished second. IM Harsh Suresh defeated Gokula Vishnu R to claim third place.

Champion – GM Visakh N R 9/9 | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

Second Runner-up – IM Harsh Suresh 8/9 | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

Top 3 (L to R): 1st GM Visakh N R 9/9, 3rd IM Harsh Suresh 8/9 and 2nd FM Aakash G 8.5/9 | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

GM Visakh N R scored 100% 9/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 11.2 Elo rating points

P Stephen Balasamy, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, delivering his speech at the inauguration ceremony | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

IA SI Sivaranjani S, Secretary of Eight Square Chess Academy and Organizer of the tournament, presenting a token of appreciation to Mr. R Srinivasan, Treasurer, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

Arbiters’ team | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

Sitting third from left – Ms. Sivarajani – IA, SI,NI. Secretary, Eight Square Chess Academy and on her right IA Nandha Kumar, Chief Arbiter.

The tournament hall at Hall of Chess, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Photo: IA Arasu B / Eight Square Chess Academy

Thanks to IA Arasu B for sharing the photographs and information about the tournament.

A total of 574 players including four GMs and six IMs took part from various parts the country, two from Canada and USA each, and one from South Korea. The one-day nine-round Blitz Rating Open was organized by Eight Square Chess Academy at Hall of Chess, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 5th April 2026. The time control of the tournament was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment.

Final standings

Details