04/08/2026
The 9th CHESSMII International FIDE Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament – 2026 was successfully organised by Chessmii.com on 26th July 2026, bringing together leading chess players from across the country for a day of exciting and highly competitive rapid chess.
The championship featured a strong field comprising titled players, experienced professionals, and promising young talents. Right from the opening round, the tournament witnessed several exciting encounters as players battled through nine rounds of Swiss-system competition.
The tournament attracted participants representing five national federations France (FRA), Germany (GER), India (IND), Kenya (KEN), and the United States of America (USA) adding an international flavour to the competition and further enhancing the prestige of the event.
Top seed FM Arpith S. Bijoy (2229) began his campaign with a convincing first-round victory, while higher-rated titled players such as IM Girinath P.D.S., WIM Nimmy A.G., AIM Christy George, IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam, AGM Rutherford S., and AIM Vaibhav Anand also registered strong performances during the early rounds.
As the tournament progressed, the competition for the title intensified. After eight rounds, Rejath Renjith emerged as the sole leader with 7 points, closely followed by AIM Christy George on 6.5 points, setting up an exciting final-round encounter on the top board.
The decisive ninth-round clash between AIM Christy George and Rejath Renjith ended in a hard-fought draw, enabling Rejath Renjith to secure the championship with 8 points out of 9. The remaining podium positions were determined through closely contested games and tie-breaks among several players finishing on 7 points.
Final Standings
Champion
Rejath Renjith emerged as the Champion of the 9th CHESSMII International FIDE Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament – 2026, scoring an impressive 8/9 points. His consistent performance throughout the tournament, including a hard-fought draw against AIM Christy George in the final round, secured him the championship title.
First Runner-up
FM Adithya A. Chullikkad secured the First Runner-up position with 8/9 points, finishing second on tie-break after defeating IM Ramnathan Balasubramaniam in the final round.
Second Runner-up
Ebin Benny finished as the Second Runner-up with 8/9 points, producing an excellent performance that included a crucial final-round victory over AGM Rutherford S.
Best Academy Award
The Best Academy Award was presented to Akshara Chess Academy, Thrissur, Kerala, in recognition of its outstanding overall performance during the tournament
