Aaryan Varshney clear first at 3rd Leonine GM 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 14/12/2025

IM Aaryan Varshney scored an unbeaten 7/9 to win 3rd Leonine GM 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Aaryan performed at 2603 and earned his second GM-norm. He is now final GM-norm away from becoming India's next Grandmaster. GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov (UZB) scored 6.5/9 to secure second place. IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN) scored 6/9 to be placed third. The total prize fund was US$ 1000. The top three prizes were $500, $300 and $200 along with a trophy each. The nine-day nine round Round-Robin GM tournament was organized by Tasmin Sultana at Level-9, Rangs Nasim Square, Dhanmondi in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 15th to 23rd November 2025. This is Aaryan's 19th overall, eighth rating tournament triumph of the year. Photo: Bangladesh Chess Federation

Aaryan earns his second GM-norm, his 19th overall, eighth rating tournament triumph of the year

Top 3 (L to R): 2nd GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov (UZB) 6.5/9, 1st IM Aaryan Varshney 7/9 and 3rd IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN) 6/9 | Photo: Bangladesh Chess Federation

All participants with guests and officials | Photo: Bangladesh Chess Federation

Aaryan - Fahad, Round 4

Position after 16...Rc7?

IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN, 2414) made a critical mistake 16...Rc7? IM Aaryan Varshney (2500) had no difficulty spotting the correct continuation 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.d5 e5 20.Qg4 e4 21.Nxe4 Bxb2 22.Re2 and the central passed pawn played a key role in White earning a victory.

IM Aaryan Varshney en route his win against IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN) | Photo: Bangladesh Chess Federation

IM Aaryan Varshney scored an unbeaten 7/9, finished a half point ahead of the rest and gained 11.1 Elo rating points

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Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	9	IM	Aaryan, Varshney	U20	IND	2500	7	0	5	3,5 ...	28,75
2	7	GM	Abdisalimov, Abdimalik		UZB	2553	6,5	0	6	2,5 ...	26
3	5	IM	Mohammad Fahad, Rahman		BAN	2414	6	0	5	3 ...	24
4	6	GM	Nguyen, Duc Hoa		VIE	2430	5,5	0	3	2,5 ...	23
5	3	IM	Manon, Reja Neer	U16	BAN	2360	5	0	3	2 ...	19
6	1	FM	Panesar, Vedant		IND	2419	4	0	2	1,5 ...	15,5
7	2	FM	Sakline Mostafa, Sajid	U14	BAN	2360	3	1	2	1 ...	11
8	8	GM	Reefat, Bin-Sattar	S50	BAN	2331	3	2	2	1,5 ...	10,75
9	4	IM	Abu Sufian, Shakil		BAN	2239	2,5	1	1	1,5 ...	9,75
10	10	FM	Zia, Tahsin Tajwar	U20	BAN	2338	2,5	2	1	1 ...	10,75