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Malaysian Chess Festival 2025: A New Era Begins – FM Kavin Mohan Wins the Malaysian Open


By GilaChess – September 23, 2025

Another Historic Victory for Malaysia





This year's Open featured 80+ players across Asia and beyond, including top seeds like GM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam), IM Zou Chen (China), and a string of high-rated contenders from India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, and Uzbekistan. The tournament, played over nine rounds, delivered a relentless display of fighting chess and dramatic upsets.

Kavin led going into the final round after holding GM Nguyen Van Huy to a tense draw, thus ensuring a tiebreak advantage over his chasers. Unbeaten through six wins and three draws, Kavin showcased mature nerves and tactical clarity, a rarity at his age.

Podium Standings – Asia's Emerging Powers

Rank Name Title Fed Pts Age
1 Kavin Mohan FM MAS 7.0 14
2 Zou Chen IM CHN 6.5
3 Nguyen Van Huy GM VIE 6.5
4 Jin Ruijun CHN 6.5
5 Concio Michael Jr IM PHI 6.5
6 Winkelman Albert FM AUS 6.5
7 Nguyen Quoc Hy IM VIE 6.5
8 Wong Yinn Long FM MAS 6.5
9 Bacojo Mark Jay FM PHI 6.0
10 Velarde Jerish John PHI 6.0
... Kushagra Mohan IM IND 5.5
... Aakanksha Hagawane WIM IND 5.5
... Laxman R R GM IND 5.5
... Karthik Rajaa IM IND 5.5
... Gireman Ja CM IND 5.5
... Swayham P Das CM IND 4.5
... Shrutarshi Ray IND 4.5
... Yash Jyoti Bir WFM IND 4.0

Indians in the Spotlight

The Indian contingent made their mark despite the fierce competition:

  • IM Kushagra Mohan (5.5/9) was in contention till the final rounds, bouncing back from challenging pairings.

  • WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (5.5/9) took wins against several higher-rated opponents, cementing her reputation as a reliable team asset.

  • GM Laxman R R and IM Karthik Rajaa (both 5.5/9) maintained top-half finishes, and several other Indian players secured respectable scores in the demanding environment.

A Youth Movement and Women's Power

Young stars, including Kavin Mohan and Jin Ruijun (China, 2079, 6.5 points), demonstrated that the Malaysian Open continues to be a launchpad for next-generation talents. Among the prominent women, WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (IND), WGM Janelle Mae Frayna (PHI), and WFM Imomkuzieva Nilufarkhon (UZB) kept up the tradition of a gender-diverse leaderboard.

Back-To-Back Malaysian Champions

(the first Malaysian and youngest champion in 2024):

  • Malaysia's chess development, fueled by dedicated organizers and the late Dato' Tan Chin Nam's legacy, is inspiring a new wave of homegrown champions.

  • The rise of talents like Yu Tian and Kavin reflects years of grassroots work, now producing players who dominate rather than merely participate.

Key Moments 

Kavin seeded only 16 at the start of the tourney scored important wins over IM Kushagra Mohan (IND), FM Wong Yinn Long (MAS), and outlasted top seeds.

Top Indian Results (after 9 rounds):

  • IM Kushagra Mohan 5.5 pts, Tiebreak: 48/52

  • WIM Aakanksha Hagawane 5.5 pts

  • GM Laxman R R 5.5 pts

  • IM Karthik Rajaa 5.5 pts

  • CM Gireman Ja 5.5 pts

The Legacy and What's Next

The KL Gateway Mall saw Malaysia's chess dreams realized once again. As the Open grows in stature, the challenge for Indian hopefuls and Asia's best only deepens. With the next festival already in planning, eyes will be on whether Malaysia can make it a hat-trick of homegrown champions – and which Indian talents will rise to stamp their mark.

Congratulations to FM Kavin Mohan and all participants. Malaysia's chess renaissance continues to shine, promising even more drama and breakthroughs in years to come.

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