Bhakti Kulkarni clear first at Olomouc Summer Rating Open 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/09/2025

IM Bhakti Kulkarni scored 7/9 to win Olomouc Summer Rating C Open 2025 part of 26th International Chess Festival in memory of Jaroslav Fuksik. The Arjuna Awardee finished a half point ahead of the rest. Seven players scored 6.5/9 each. Out of them, CM Daniel Ser (LTU) and Erwan Lever (FRA) were placed second and third respectively. The top three prizes were CZK 7000 + trophy, 5000 and 3000. Bhakti has won quite a few open tournaments before. They are - Brno Open IM Round Robin 2024, Pilsen Open B 2023 and now this. All three of her open tournaments triumphs occurred in different parts of the Czech Republic. Photo: Official site

Bhakti's third open tournament triumph in Czech Republic

IM Bhakti Kulkarni was the sole leader 6.5/8, heading into the final round. Five players - CM Daniel Ser (LTU), Tomas Mohapl (CZE), Daniel Chlpek (SVK), Erwan Lever (FRA) and FM Vit Vaclav Valenta (CZE) were trailing by a half point at 6/8. Bhakti drew against Erwan to become a clear champion, Erwan finished third. Daniel drew against Vit to secure second place. The festival witnessed a total participation of 426 - 10 in A GM Round-Robin, 10 in B1 IM Round-Robin, 10 in B2 IM Round-Robin, 82 in C Open, 43 in D1 Seniors 50+, 96 in D2 Seniors 65+, 101 in E Rapid and 74 in F Blitz.

Champion in C Open - IM Bhakti Kulkarni 7/9 | Photo: Official site

1st IM Bhakti Kulkarni 7/9 and 2nd CM Daniel Ser (LTU) 6.5/9 | Photo: Official site

Round 2: IM Bhakti Kulkarni - Milan Ziaran (CZE): 1-0 | Photo: Official site

IM Bhakti Kulkarni scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win the tournament | Photo: Official site

Players in action | Photo: Official site

View from the tournament hall | Photo: Official site

The tournament hall at Hotel Flora, in Olomouc, Czech Republic | Photo: Official site

A total of 82 players including 2 IMs took part from 19 countries across the world. The eight-day nine round Swiss league Rating Open C tournament was organized by SPORTCLUB Agency 64 Olomouc in cooperation with AVE Chess at Hotel Flora in Olomouc, Czech Republic from 17th to 24th August 2025. The time control was 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds from move no.1.

Final standings in C Open

Rk.	SNo		Name	sex	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	K	rtg+/-
1	1	IM	Kulkarni, Bhakti	w	IND	2347		7	47,5	52	39	10	-7,2
2	8	CM	Ser, Daniel		LTU	2078		6,5	50	54	37,8	40	57,6
3	3		Lever, Erwan		FRA	2226	Echiquier Toulousain	6,5	46,5	50	33,8	20	-8,6
4	18		Mohapl, Tomas		CZE	2011	Oddil sachu Sportovniho klubu Prost	6,5	46	49	32,8	40	73,2
5	24		Ilandzis, Spyridon		GRE	1928	Chess Academy of Neon Psychikon	6,5	45	49,5	34,5	20	46,8
6	13		Chlpek, Daniel		SVK	2029		6,5	44	47,5	33	20	34,6
7	14		Minana Menor, Antonio		ESP	2025		6,5	43	46,5	32	20	28,6
8	16	FM	Valenta, Vit Vaclav		CZE	2016	Individualni clen SSOK	6,5	38,5	41,5	28,8	20	-9,4
9	6		Fogel, Pierre		BEL	2103	Ixelles Chess Club	6	44	48	30	20	-14,2
10	10		Sochor, Vaclav		CZE	2053	Oddil sachu Sportovniho klubu Prost	6	43,5	47,5	30,5	40	2