Aravindh Chithambaram will feature at 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT

See the full lineup for the 2025 Masters and Challengers, plus special discounts on Freestyle Chess and weekday events

Only have a week—or even just five days—to dedicate to chess this summer? Sign up now for Freestyle Chess (FSC) or the Week’s Tournaments (WT1 & WT2) without hesitation! A unique chance to rub shoulders with champions invited for this year’s Masters and Challengers! Discover the eagerly awaited list of top players battling it out in the demanding yet spectacular Chess Triathlon format.

📌 Bonus: 50% off FSC and WT1/WT2 entry fees for players registered in the ATO or MTO.

A unique chance to rub shoulders with champions invited for this year’s Masters and Challengers! Discover the eagerly awaited list of top players battling it out in the demanding yet spectacular Chess Triathlon format.

Masters

• Aravindh Chithambaram (25; 2749 Elo; IND): Known for his incisive style and resilience, Aravindh Chithambaram stands as yet another shining representative of India's rising chess generation. His recent triumphs in Prague and Chennai—which propelled him to 11th in the world rankings—have firmly established him as a serious contender on the international stage. While his ascent to the top tier came later than some of his compatriots, it fully validates the prophecy of his mentor, the legendary Ramesh: 'The greatest talent since Vishy Anand.'

• Liem Quang Le (34; 2729 Elo; VIE): Liem's playing style combines formidable tactical vision with complete mastery across all time controls. A true virtuoso in blitz and rapid chess, he competes effortlessly with the world elite in classical formats too—as proven by his stunning victories over Carlsen (Oslo 2022) and Ding Liren (2024 Olympiad). His historic triple crown at Biel (2022-2024), an unprecedented feat in this demanding tournament, cements his reputation as a relentless competitor. At 34, his declared ambition is to claim a fourth title this summer in Biel!

• Frederik Svane (21; 2668 Elo; GER): Frederik employs a sharp and aggressive style, combining keen tactical intuition with a decidedly offensive temperament. His games often culminate in explosive endgames. His resounding victory over Matthias Blübaum in the 2021 Kader Challenge showcased the full extent of his potential. While he hasn’t yet crossed the 2700 Elo threshold, his rapid progress and calculated boldness suggest an imminent rise to the world elite—following in the footsteps of his illustrious compatriot, Vincent Keymer!

• Volodar Murzin (18; 2658 Elo): Volodar has developed an electric and uncompromising playing style, defined by razor-sharp tactical intelligence. Despite his youth, he has forged an unshakable resilience—first enduring the trauma of an abusive father, then facing a lack of support from the Russian Federation, which disapproves of his and his coach, GM Kobalia’s, critical stance on the geopolitical situation. At just 18 years old, the newly crowned World Rapid Champion is now determined to take a decisive step toward the elite at the Biel Festival!

• Radoslaw Wojtaszek (38; 2655 Elo; POL): Wojtaszek's style is known for its theoretical depth and versatility, refined through his work as Anand's second. His wins against Carlsen, Caruana, Nakamura and others, along with his sustained presence at the elite level, highlight his skill. His potential remains evident, reinforced by his recent work as Gukesh's second during the 2024 World Championship. At 37, the Polish player hasn't made his final move in the Triathlon – which he previously won in 2020 – though he hasn't yet had the opportunity to defend his title.

• Saleh Salem (32; 2631 Elo; UAE): With his aggressive and tactical playing style, thriving in rapid and blitz formats where his quick decision-making shines, Salem hopes to make his opponents tremble in this Masters, which he fully earned after his stunning victory in last year’s Challengers. Moreover, the student of Ivan Sokolov since 2013 will benefit from his triathlon experience, as this will be his third appearance after 2022 (following his 2021 MTO win) and 2024.

Challengers

• David Navara (40; 2665 Elo; CZE): Navara’s style, as combative as it is uncompromising, regularly produces thrilling games. His legendary sportsmanship has made him one of the most beloved players on the circuit. We’re delighted to welcome him back to Biel – the man who humbly sums up his philosophy: ‘I’m no genius like Carlsen or Kasparov, just a passionate player who loves hard work and beautiful chess.’ This year, however, he’ll carry the weight of expectations as the undisputed frontrunner in the Challengers tournament.

• Daniel Dardha (19; 2650 Elo; BEL): Dardha's playing style blends dynamism and unpredictability with razor-sharp tactical creativity and resilience—honed since childhood through his father's rigorous training and invaluable advice from GM Ivan Sokolov. At just 19, the 2024 European Vice-Champion's trajectory suggests he's poised to challenge the world elite. A triumph in the Challengers would grant him a golden ticket to next year's Masters: the perfect stage to cement his status as a rising star!"

• Ma Qun (33; 2630 Elo; CHN): Ma Qun's playing style is defined by meticulous preparation and remarkable adaptability, allowing him to excel in both classical and rapid formats. His tactical sharpness and resilience in critical situations have made him a cornerstone of Chinese chess, as evidenced by his decisive performances in team competitions. While he has yet to break into the exclusive circle of the world's elite, his tournament record solidifies his status as an accomplished and consistently relentless Grandmaster.

• Aram Hakobyan (24; 2620 Elo; ARM): Hakobyan's playing style blends tactical finesse with positional mastery, honed through years of youth competitions and elite training. After early successes—including medals at the World and European Junior Championships—he enrolled at Webster University to balance his chess career with a degree in management. As a protégé of Liem Quang Le, this year presents him with the opportunity to take a major leap forward in his career, following in the footsteps of the undisputed champion of Biel’s Chess Triathlon format!

• Nikolas Theodorou (24; 2611 Elo; GRE): Theodorou has mastered the delicate alchemy between tactical instinct and positional rigor, as demonstrated by his stunning victory against Caruana at the recent US Chess Masters. A key architect of Greek chess's revival and now a rising force in the US, despite juggling advanced university studies with undiminished competitive ambitions, the young Cretan might well become the breakout star of the 2025 Challengers.

• Rinat Jumabayev (35; 2549 Elo; KAZ): Last year’s victory at the Master Open Tournament (MTO) propelled the popular Kazakh player into this season’s Challengers event. Jumabayev, unafraid to take risks against stronger opponents—as proven by his win with Black against Caruana at the 2021 World Cup—is equally renowned for his skill and mental toughness in rapid and blitz. This tenacious competitor might well spring some surprises in a triathlon that promises to be more unpredictable than it seems!

The action begins on Friday, July 11th with German GM Fredrik Svane giving the simul. The formal tournament inauguration follows on Saturday, immediately preceding the ACCENTUS 960 Tournament - the designated tiebreaker for any Triathlon competitors with equal final scores. Complete schedule below:

For more information:

Tatjana Kraska Horvath, Frontdesk/backoffice, office@bielchessfestival.ch, +41 32 589 68 68

Peter Bohnenblust, President of the Organizational Commitee: +41 76 405 80 87

Paul Kohler, Tournament Director: paul.kohler@bielchessfestival.ch

Source: Press Release

Links

Official site

Related news:

58th Biel Chess Festival 2025: Registrations are now open! @ 25/02/2025 by ChessBase India (en)