Shahil Dey clear first at 18th Marseille International Festival 2025, Raghav V second
IM Shahil Dey scored 7.5/9 to win 18th Marseille International Festival 2025 Main (>1950). He finished a full point ahead of the rest. FM Raghav V scored sole 6.5/9 to secure second place. IM Remy Degraeve (FRA), IM Nikola Kanov (BUL) and CM Kumaresh A scored 6/9 each. They secured third, fourth and fifth place according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund of the festival was €7000. The first prize was €1500 + trophy. WFM Shubhi Gupta scored 5.5/9 to finish sixth. Jaidambareesh N R and Rohith S scored 5/9 each to be placed seventh and tenth respectively. Gowtham K K scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win the Accession (<2000) event. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. The first prize was €500. Photo: Mistu Dey
Gowtham K K dominates Accession
IM Shahil Dey made a blazing start by winning seven games in-a-row. He won the tournament with a round to spare 7.5/8. The final round loss against IM Nikola Kanov (BUL) did not affect his championship chances as he was 1.5 points ahead of the rest. FM Raghav V drew against WFM Shubhi Gupta to finish second. FM Noe Ringuet (FRA) lost to IM Remy Degraeve (FRA) who finished third. This is Shahil's first rating tournament of the year. Gowtham K K scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win the Accession (<2000) event. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Michel Cazaban (FRA) scored 7.5/9 to secure second place and Imrane Gachbar (FRA) scored 7/9 to finish third.
Shahil - Remy, Round 5
IM Shahil Dey (2358) made the correct decision to trade his e-pawn for the a-pawn 36.Qxa5 Bxf4 37.exf4 Qxf4 38.Qe1 White traded the queens after few moves.
52...Ke3 would have been fine. However, 52...Kg3?? ended things in a hurry 53.e6 Nf4 54.Be5 Bd3 55.e7 Bb5 56.Bxb7 d4 57.Be4 and White won.
A total of 27 players including four IMs took part from seven countries across the world. The seven-day nine round Rating Main (>1950) tournament was organized by WIM Laurie Delorme at 12 Rue des Lices in Marseille, France from 28th July to 3rd August 2025. The time control of the event was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Replay all available Main section games
Final standings in Open A (>1950)
| Pl | Name | Elo | Cat. | Fede | League | Club | Pts | Tr. | Drank. | Perf | |
| 1 | M | SHAHIL DEY | 2366 E | CadM | 71/2 | 39 | 471/2 | 2494 | |||
| 2 | f | RAGHAV V | 2305 E | MinM | Phyl. 61/2 | 38 | 431/2 | 2350 | |||
| 3 | M | DEGRAEVE Remy | 2429 E | SenM | CAP | Marseille-Chess | 6 | 41 | 50 | 2370 | |
| 4 | M | KANOV Nikola | 2447 E | CadM | 6 | 391/2 | 461/2 | 2370 | |||
| 5 | KUMARESH A | 2135 E | SenM | 6 | 38 | 45 | 2330 |
A total of 101 players took part from four countries across the world. The seven-day nine round Rating Accession (<2000) tournament was organized by WIM Laurie Delorme at 12 Rue des Lices in Marseille, France from 28th July to 3rd August 2025. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Final standings in Accession (<2000)
| Pl | Name | Elo | Cat. | Fede | League | Club | Pts | Tr. | Drank. | Perf | |
| 1 | GOWTHAM K K | 1831 F | SenM | 8 | 44 | 511/2 | 2121 | ||||
| 2 | CAZABAN Michel | 1974 F | SenM | CAP | Chessboard of the Popes | 71/2 | 44 | 511/2 | 2060 | ||
| 3 | GACHBAR Imrane | 1925 F | MinM | CAP | Marseille-Chess | 7 | 45 | 54 | 2023 | ||
| 4 | SUEZ-PANAMA Gilles | 1936 F | SepM | TUE | Arsenal | 7 | 401/2 | 50 | 1972 | ||
| 5 | CAYROU Fabien | 1799 F | JunM | CAP | Marseille-Chess | 7 | 40 | 461/2 | 2020 | ||
| 6 | AHMED DJIBABA Mounir | 1887 F | SenM | NOR | Rouen Chess | Phyl. 61/2 | 461/2 | 541/2 | 1943 | ||
| 7 | MADIES Leo | 1894 F | SenM | OCC | The Attack of Euphron - Pibrac Chess | Phyl. 61/2 | 43 | 511/2 | 1915 | ||
| 8 | HADAMARD Olivier | 1837 F | SepM | CAP | Cagnes Chess | Phyl. 61/2 | 38 | 45 | 1941 | ||
| 9 | DUJARDIN Amaury | 1878 F | SenM | MACAW | Lyon Olympique Chess | Phyl. 61/2 | 371/2 | 45 | 1848 | ||
| 10 | MAGGIO Lucas | 1824 F | CadM | CAP | Aubagne Chess Circle | Phyl. 61/2 | 37 | 44 | 1924 |
Links
Tournament details: Masters and Accession
Marseille Echecs: Official site, fb page and instagram
