Chess: Aravindh Chithambaram wins 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial

Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram emerged victorious at the 6th Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament 2025, held in Jermuk, Armenia, marking another significant achievement in his rising career. Aravindh finished the 10-player round-robin event unbeaten, securing 6.5 points from 9 rounds, with four wins and five draws. He tied on points with fellow Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa, but clinched the title based on the Sonneborne-Berger tiebreak system, which rewards players who have defeated stronger opponents. In the decisive final round, Aravindh, playing with the black pieces, scored a crucial win over Armenia’s Aram Hakobyan, while Praggnanandhaa also won his game against Robert Hovhannisyan. This victory adds to Aravindh’s impressive form in 2025, following his earlier triumph at the Prague Chess Festival Masters. The Stepan Avagyan Memorial, growing in stature each year, continues to attract top international talent, and Aravindh’s win reinforces his position as one of India’s most consistent and promising chess talents.