Whitsun Open 2025

Tarun and I played in the International Whitsun Open 2025, held in Munich, Germany—our first-ever tournament in Germany! From lost baggage to wild endgames, this trip had everything. And looking back… what a ride it was!

The Arrival Drama: Welcome to Munich!

Our journey started with a bit of chaos—classic chess tournament travel drama. We flew from Dublin via Amsterdam and finally landed in Munich… but our bags didn’t!

But when we got there—no baggage. Just our laptop bags made it. We filed a lost baggage report and headed to our apartment, navigating Munich’s public transport with a train and a bus.

With no clothes, we made a quick essentials run to Olympia Einkaufszentrum, a nearby shopping mall.

To our surprise and relief, our missing bags were delivered the very next day. A small miracle—and we were back on track!

Day 1: Off to a Flying Start

Pairings were delayed, and we had zero time to prep. We glanced at the pairings and off we went!

Tarun and I were both paired against lower-rated players—so we started the tournament strong with two comfortable wins.

It was a double round day, so after our morning round, we walked back (20 mins) to our apartment, had lunch, and geared up for round two.

In the evening, Tarun faced WIM Akanksha Hagawane, she’s a former World Youth Champion—and more recently, she won an IM norm tournament just before this one!

Should White exchange the pawns or push the pawn to h5?

Tarun didn’t find the win and had to settle for a draw.

I was paired against IM Ashot Parvanyan, and the game was absolutely chaotic! At one point, I was completely winning and then I was completely lost, but then he made an inaccuracy that turned the tables. Suddenly, I was the one pushing for a win! The game transitioned into a drawish endgame, but Ashot didn’t defend accurately—and I managed to convert it into a full point. What a rollercoaster!

Only later did I find out Ashot had just earned a GM norm days earlier. That made the win even sweeter!

Day 2: History Repeats & Tense Moments

Another double-round day!

Tarun played Nilsu Pattnayak—a rematch exactly 10 years after their draw in Odisha in 2015, when Tarun had a rating of just 1395!

What is white’s winning idea?

Nilsu played d6 here which is a blunder after that Tarun converted the game into a win in the endgame.

I faced IM Rohith Krishna S, fresh off his second GM norm and recently crossing 2500. Thanks to Tarun having played him earlier this year, I had some insight.

I reached a equal positon, was in time trouble, lost a pawn… but there was still life!

Can you find a way Black can win a pawn?

Can White draw this? I found the move and escaped with a draw.

Later that evening, Tarun faced GM Anton Korobov (2631), known for his fearless style. Tarun played the same opening I had used earlier, and… held him to a draw!

Meanwhile, I lost to IM Druska Juraj after some overly cautious play.

Day 3: Familiar Faces & Twists of Fate

Tarun’s next opponent? IM Savitha Shri—a rivalry dating back to childhood tournaments in Chennai. She had won once, Tarun twice. So this was round four!

Tarun got a strong position and entered a pawn race. The eval bar showed him winning—but a single miscalculation turned the tables and Savitha promoted first. Oof. A brilliant comeback by her, and a heartbreaking loss for Tarun. That game had everyone on edge!

I played FM Artyom Bogdanov, whom I’d drawn with in Norway in 2022. I played a knight move, threatening his bishop, expecting a retreat. But Artyom started thinking… and that’s when I saw it—a hidden tactic!

Day 4: Narrow Misses

Tarun played Oke Edge Tuna and was better most of the way, but time trouble cost him a clean win.

Can you find the winning sequence for white?

I played FM Sriansh Das(whose twin was also playing!) The game swung back and forth; I clawed back from a worse position but then messed up again and lost. It was one of those exhausting games that leaves you gutted at the end.

Day 5: Blunders & Bouncebacks

Tarun faced Aarav Sarbalia in the 7nth round.

Tarun played a pawn move that created some weaknesses and landed him in a worse position. As they say, ‘pawns don’t go backwards’—a reminder of how crucial it is to be cautious with pawn moves.

I played Arnav Kadam—who missed a pin and dropped material. But then I got overconfident and nearly turned a win into a loss. Thankfully, I steadied myself in time!

Day 6:

Tarun played Svenja Butedant and won a nice game. I had played her back in the European Championship 2021!

I faced FM Andrew Jing and got a great position with the bishop pair. But I was too slow and inaccurate, and the game ended in a draw.

On our way back to the apartment, we noticed an elderly man who had just gotten off his bicycle and was visibly struggling in the heat. Though he hadn’t fainted, he looked extremely exhausted. We went over to check if he needed help and called the emergency number (112) just to be safe. A few nearby locals joined in and helped by speaking to the responders in German. As it turned out, his house was close by, so we walked with him until he reached safely. He told us he was 83 years old, which was truly inspiring. It was a heartwarming experience—one of those moments that remind you there’s so much more to life than just chess.

Final Day: One Shot at the Norm

We did the math—and figured out that if I won my final round against a 2350+ opponent, I’d earn my final WGM norm.

I was paired with IM Leonardo Costa (2541)—the perfect opportunity, but what pressure!

More than anyone, Tarun was hyped about this game! But… it didn’t go my way. I got a worse position early and ended up in a rook vs bishop + knight endgame. I hoped to save it, but I blundered. The dream ended there.

It hurt. I didn’t want the tournament to end like that. But chess is brutal sometimes.

Tarun wrapped up with a win against Kushagra Jain, a player he had drawn against at World Juniors in Gandhinagar last year. Sweet revenge, and a strong finish!

Wrapping Up

Having an IM as a brother? Definitely helpful. But it also means there’s no escaping analysis or critique! 😅 After my loss, Tarun didn’t hold back.

Still, the tournament gave us amazing memories. I gained a few rating points, Tarun dropped a little, but both of us came back with stories and lessons.

Munich was beautiful, albeit humid. The tournament venue was excellent, complete with live commentary, camera coverage, and a great atmosphere.

The live commentary by Grandmaster Milan Pacher and others added great value to the tournament—it was insightful and enjoyable to follow!

Final Thoughts

Chess gave us more than just results this week—it gave us growth, chaos, drama, laughs, tactics, heartbreaks, and… new friends.

Thank you, Munich, for a tournament to remember.
Until the next one—check you later!