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| FM Kavin Mohan |
The Malaysian Chess Festival has historically experienced variable success in attracting top-tier grandmasters across its different editions. Notably, the tournament has served as a platform for emerging talent, hosting several players who later achieved world-class status, including Wesley So, Gukesh D, Alireza Firouzja, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov during their formative competitive years. This year's edition presents an opportunity for one local player who may be one of the hidden talents to succeed on the international stage.
14-year-old FM Kavin Mohan captured the crown at the 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open held at KL Gateway Mall, Kuala Lumpur, on September 21, 2025. With an unbeaten score of 7.0/9 points, Kavin not only became the second Malaysian to win this prestigious event after Poh Yu Tian's breakthrough in 2024 but also earned his second International Master norm in a meteoric rise as he just earned his first IM norm as well as his FIDE Master (FM) title last month.
The Malaysian Open, a marquee event within the Malaysian Chess Festival, attracted over 80 players from across Asia and beyond, featuring grandmasters, international masters, and rising stars from countries including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Australia, and Uzbekistan. The moderately strong field was headlined by top seeds such as GM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam), IM Zou Chen (China), and IM Kushagra Mohan (India).
Leading the pack into the final round, Kavin locked down a vital draw against the formidable GM Nguyen Van Huy, ensuring he maintained a half-point edge over his nearest challengers. His unbeaten run included six wins and three draws.
Among the key encounters was Kavin's win against IM Kushagra Mohan from India, a crucial and unexpected victory. Additionally, strong showings against fellow Malaysian FMs such as Wong Yinn Long and Lye Lik Zang pushed him to the top of the standings.
Podium and Final Standings
| Position | Player Name | Country | Score |
| CHAMPION | Kavin, Mohan | MAS | 7 |
| 2nd Place | Zou, Chen | CHN | 6½ |
| 3rd Place | Nguyen, Van Huy | VIE | 6½ |
| 4th Place | Jin, Ruijun | CHN | 6½ |
| 5th Place | Concio, Michael Jr. | PHI | 6½ |
| 6th Place | Winkelman, Albert | AUS | 6½ |
| 7th Place | Nguyen, Quoc Hy | VIE | 6½ |
| 8th Place | Bacojo, Mark Jay | PHI | 6 |
| 9th Place | Velarde, Jerish John | PHI | 6 |
| 10th Place | Nguyen, Duc Hoa | VIE | 6 |
| 11th Place | Kushagra, Mohan | IND | 5½ |
| 12th Place | Aakanksha, Hagawane | IND | 5½ |
| 13th Place | Laxman, R.R. | IND | 5½ |
| 14th Place | Sebastian, Mhage Gerriahlou | PHI | 5½ |
| 15th Place | Karthik, Rajaa | IND | 5½ |
| 16th Place | Liu, Xiangyi | SGP | 5½ |
| 17th Place | Gireman, Ja | IND | 5½ |
| 18th Place | Frayna, Janelle Mae | PHI | 5½ |
| 19th Place | Bancod, Ronald | PHI | 5½ |
| 20th Place | Andyka, Pitra | INA | 5½ |
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IM Zou Chen
 | | IM Michael Concio Jr |
|
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| IM Nguyen Quoc Hy |
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| IM Kushagra Mohan |
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| GM Laxman RR |
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IM Karthik Rajaa
|
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| GM Nguyen Van Huy |
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| Gireman Ja |
FM Albert Winkelman
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| FM Bacojo Mark Jay |
Special Prizes
| Best Malaysian | Wong, Yinn Long | MAS | 6½ |
| 2nd Best Malaysian | Lye, Lik Zang | MAS | 5½ |
| 3rd Best Malaysian | Abd Aziz, A Qil A Lauddin | MAS | 5½ |
| 4th Best Malaysian | Shahar, Uzair | MAS | 5 |
| 5th Best Malaysian | Shen, Ree Herng | MAS | 5 |
| Best Lady | Salimova, Asal | UZB | 5½ |
| 2nd Best Lady | Imomkuzieva, Nilufarkhon | UZB | 5 |
| Best Malaysian Lady | Ainul Fikri, Aqilah Husna | MAS | 4½ |
| Best U16 | Hong, Mingren | CHN | 5½ |
| Best U12 | Meiyazhagan, Kaviinayan | KOR | 3½ |
Spotlight on Indian Players
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| IM Kushagra Mohan |
India is no stranger to the festival with GM Negi Parimarjan winning the event in 2012 and many other titled players have since participated. This year, Indian participants comprise:
| Player | Title | Points | Rank Range |
| IM Kushagra Mohan | IM | 5.5 | 11th |
| WIM Aakanksha Hagawane | WIM | 5.5 | Top 20 |
| GM Laxman R R | GM | 5.5 | Top 20 |
| IM Karthik Rajaa | IM | 5.5 | Top 20 |
| CM Gireman Ja | CM | 5.5 | Top 20 |
IM Kushagra Mohan stayed competitive until the late rounds. WIM Aakanksha Hagawane impressed with wins over higher-rated opponents.
Women and Juniors Making Their Mark
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WIM Aakanksha_Hagawane
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The Malaysian Open continued its tradition of encouraging gender diversity and youth participation. Standout women players included WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (India), WGM Janelle Mae Frayna (Philippines), and WFM Imomkuzieva Nilufarkhon (Uzbekistan), all of whom contributed to a vibrant leaderboard presence.
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Jin Ruijun
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New faces like China's Jin Ruijun impressed and earned an IM norm.
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| WGM Janelle Mae Frayna |
FM Kavin Mohan Youngest DATMO Champ
Kavin's victory is historic on multiple fronts: he is the youngest champion in the Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open (DATMO) history and the first Malaysian to follow Poh Yu Tian in winning the title consecutively. His performance secured his second IM norm, just weeks after achieving the first, marking a rapid step towards the coveted IM title.
Legacy and Future Implications
The 20th Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open represents a significant milestone for Malaysian chess. Threatened by closure because of lack of sponsors, this year's edition was challenging to say the least. IA Hamid Majid, encouraged by the strong support shown by the increased number of participants, has announced that there will be a 21st Malaysian Chess Festival next year.
Acknowledgments
With the tournament hall sponsored by KL Gateway Mall, the tournament benefited from strong local support, dedicated organizers and helpers. The Malaysian Chess Federation's vision has steadily transformed the festival into a key fixture on the Asian chess calendar.
Report by Andrew Ooi (GilaChess) - blogger for the Malaysian Chess Festival
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