Karthik Venkataraman convincingly clinches Brasov GP 2025 with a 2753 performance, Pranesh M second

by Shahid Ahmed - 29/08/2025

GM Karthik Venkataraman scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win Brașov Grand Prix A (>2000) 2025. Karthik performed at 2753, finished a half point ahead of the rest. GM Pranesh M scored sole 7.5/9 to secure second place. The top seed of the tournament, GM Pouya Idani (IRI) and GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) scored 7/9 each. They secured third and fourth place respectively according to tie-breaks. Karthik defeated the top seed and eventual second runner-up, Pouya in Round 4 and drew against the runner-up, Pranesh in Round 5. The total prize fund was €36000. The top three prizes were €5000, €3000 and €2000 along with a trophy each. This was Karthik's first rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Karthik's first rating tournament triumph of the year

GM Karthik Venkataraman was the sole leader 7/8, heading into the last round. GM Pranesh M was the only player trailing him by a half point at 6.5/8. Karthik defeated IM Srihari L to become a clear champion. Pranesh won against CM Ege Tuna Oktem (TUR) to secure second place. IM Samuel-Timotei Ghimpu (ROU) lost to the top seed of the tournament, GM Pouya Idani (IRI) who finished third.

Champion - GM Karthik Venkataraman 8/9 | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Runner-up - GM Pranesh M 7.5/9 | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd GM Pouya Idani (IRI) 7/9, 1st GM Karthik Venkataraman 8/9 and 2nd GM Pranesh M 7.5/9 | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Pouya - Karthik, Round 4

Position after 32.Qc3?

The top seed of the tournament, GM Pouya Idani (IRI, 2593) ignored the attack on his knight and made a checkmate threat instead 32.Qc3? Qf8-+ 33.Rd1 Rac8 34.Qb3 exf3 GM Karthik Venkataraman (2540) gobbled up the knight and thwarted all attempts precisely. 35.Rxf3 Qe7 36.Rdf1 Qe4 37.Rg3 Rc2 38.Qf7 Re7 39.Rxf4 Qe1+ and White resigned as he cannot avoid huge material loss.

GM Karthik Venkataraman scored an unbeaten 8/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest, performed at 2753 and gained 20.5 Elo rating points

The eventual runner-up, GM Pranesh M drew against the second runner-up and top seed of the event, GM Pouya Idani (IRI) in Round 7 | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

Players in action | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

The tournament hall at Hotel Aro Palace in Brașov, Romania | Photo: Federatia Romana de Sah

A total of 154 players including 6 GMs, 18 IMs, a WGM and 4 WIMs took part from 23 countries across the world. The seven-day nine round Rating (>2000) tournament was organized by Federatia Romana de Sah at Hotel Aro Palace in Brașov, Romania from 26th July to 1st August 2025. The time control was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 15 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

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Final standings in A (>2000)

Rk.	SNo		Name	sex	FED	RtgI	RtgN	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5	K	rtg+/-
1	6	GM	Karthik, Venkataraman		IND	2540	0		8	0	2436	50	2397	42,5	10	20,5
2	2	GM	Pranesh, M		IND	2592	0		7,5	0	2391	49	2412	41	10	6,2
3	1	GM	Idani, Pouya		IRI	2593	0		7	0	2410	52	2442	44	10	3,3
4	5	GM	Stremavicius, Titas		LTU	2549	0		7	0	2375	50,5	2404	42,5	10	3,7
5	30	IM	Baratosi, Daniel		ROU	2304	2304	Ac De Sah Alfil Pitesti	6,5	0	2308	44,5	2300	37,5	10	16,3
6	22	FM	Cnejev, Vladimir-Alexandru		ROU	2330	2330	Acs Oxygen	6,5	0	2288	46,5	2345	39,5	20	24,4
7	3	GM	Kozak, Adam		HUN	2589	0		6,5	0	2225	44,5	2332	38	10	-14,8
8	9	IM	Ilinca, Felix-Antonio		ROU	2431	2431	Acs Sah Club Vados Arad	6	0	2417	52	2439	44	10	5,9
9	88		Andreasyan, Edgar		ARM	2119	0		6	0	2362	43,5	2244	37	40	158,8
10	28	CM	Oktem, Ege Tuna		TUR	2310	0		6	0	2355	48	2344	40,5	20	30,8
11	53	AGM	Vignesh, B		IND	2231	0		6	0	2326	43,5	2270	36,5	20	40,4
12	37	FM	Coicev, Matei-Andrei		ROU	2287	2287	Cs Dinamo Bucuresti	6	0	2323	47	2326	39	40	60
13	29	IM	Krishna Teja, N		IND	2305	0		6	0	2323	43	2236	37	10	13,7
14	10	IM	Ghimpu, Samuel-Timotei		ROU	2415	2415	Csu Ase Bucuresti	6	0	2317	44,5	2294	37,5	10	1
15	14	IM	Srihari, L		IND	2353	0		6	0	2298	46,5	2359	38,5	10	5,1