Liam Putnam wins 51st Ciudad de Sevilla Open 2026, Aronyak Ghosh third

by Shahid Ahmed - 29/01/2026

IM Liam Putnam (USA) and GM Praveen Balakrishnan (USA) scored an unbeaten 8/9 each at 51st Ciudad de Sevilla International Open 2026. Liam won the tournament on tie-breaks, Praveen had to settle for second place. IM Aronyak Ghosh scored sole 7.5/9 to finish third. He also remained undefeated. GM P Shyaam Nikhil, GM Sayantan Das, GM Vignesh N R and IM Shahil Dey scored 7/9 each. They were placed fifth to eighth respectively according to tie-breaks. The total prize fund was €10500. The top three prizes were €2000, €1500 and €1000 along with a trophy each. Shyaam won the Blitz Rating Open 6/7. Vignesh also scored the same. He was placed second on tie-breaks. Photo: Ismael Nieto

Classical: Five Indians in top ten, Blitz: Shyaam Nikhil champion, Vignesh N R runner-up

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd IM Aronyak Ghosh 7.5/9, 1st IM Liam Putnam (USA) 8/9 and 2nd GM Praveen Balakrishnan (USA) 8/9 | Photo: Ismael Nieto

Blitz Champion - GM P Shyaam Nikhil 6/7 | Photo: Ismael Nieto

Runner-up - GM Vignesh N R 6/7 | Photo: Ismael Nieto

GM P Shyaam Nikhil scored an unbeaten 6/7, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 34.4 Elo rating points

Prize distribution ceremony in progress | Photo: Ismael Nieto

The tournament hall at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos (Salón Albaicín) in Sevilla, Spain | Photo: Ismael Nieto

A total of 353 players including 17 GMs, 21 IMs and 2 WIMs took part from 43 countries across the world in the Open event. The tournament was held from 9th to 17th January 2026 at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos (Salón Albaicín) in Sevilla, Spain. The time control was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.

Replay all available games in Open

Final standings in Classical Open


1	7	IM	m	Putnam, Liam	USA	8.0	47.0	52.0	9	7	2316	2467	2498	ESTADOS UNIDOS	Juv
2	5	GM	m	Balakrishnan, Praveen	USA	8.0	46.5	52.5	9	7	2342	2488	2505	ESTADOS UNIDOS
3	2	IM	m	Aronyak Ghosh	IND	7.5	45.0	50.0	9	6	2269	2522	2520	INDIA
4	16	GM	m	Del Rio De Angelis, Salvador G.	ESP	7.0	47.5	53.0	9	6	2296	2405	2423	ESPAÑA	S50
5	15	GM	m	Shyaam Nikhil P	IND	7.0	47.5	52.0	9	6	2302	2405	2466	INDIA
6	11	GM	m	Das, Sayantan	IND	7.0	47.0	52.0	9	6	2323	2434	2424	INDIA
7	3	GM	m	Vignesh N R	IND	7.0	45.5	51.0	9	6	2270	2505	2534	INDIA
8	14	IM	m	Shahil Dey	IND	7.0	44.5	49.5	9	6	2246	2409	2411	INDIA
9	22	FM	m	Goh, Zi Han	SGP	7.0	43.5	48.0	9	6	2188	2368	2361	SINGAPUR	Juv
10	10	GM	m	Valsecchi, Alessio	ITA	7.0	42.5	48.0	9	5	2257	2440	0	ITALIA

Details

A total of 28 players including 3 GMs took part from seven countries across the world in the Blitz Rating Open event. The tournament was organized by Delegación Sevillana de Ajedrez on 8th January 2026 at Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos (Salón Albaicín) in Sevilla, Spain. The time control was 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment from move no.1.

Final standings in Blitz Open


1	2	GM	Shyaam, Nikhil P	IND	6.0	1.0	28.5	30.5	25.5	2319	2466	INDIA
2	1	GM	N R, Vignesh	IND	6.0	0.0	31.5	35.5	29.5	2453	2534	INDIA
3	4		Garcia Jimenez, Santiago	ESP	5.5	0.0	29.5	32.5	23.5	2125	2282	OROMANA
4	15		Arenas Pinilla, Francisco	ESP	5.0	0.0	25.0	26.0	16.0	1793	1719	MERCANTIL
5	8		Ortiz Alfaro, Angel	ESP	5.0	0.0	21.0	22.0	11.5	1898	2107	CAS