
🎉 Registration is Open: Welcome to the 41st Andorra International Chess Open!
The countdown has officially begun! From July 19 to 27, 2025, Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) will once again host one of the most charming and competitive tournaments.
Writing this blog wasn’t easy—how do you share all the juicy details about our launch in a way that’s both informative and fun to read? After going back and forth on a few ideas, I landed on this: a round-by-round breakdown of our 40th edition celebrated in 2024, with a unique highlight or fun fact from each part of the journey.
Will this format work? Honestly, I have no idea—but let’s give it a shot. Here goes nothing!

2024 - 40th Andorra International Chess Open
🧠 What’s the Andorra Open All About?
♟️ Round 1 – FIDE Guinness World Record
🏨 Round 3 – The Venue: Hotel Panorama
🎉 Round 4 – Escaldes Town Festival
🌙 Round 5 – Night Blitz Tournament
📺 Round 7 – First time with Streamers
🧠 What’s the Andorra Open All About?
It’s a 9-round Swiss-system tournament, open to all FIDE-rated players, held at the cozy Hotel Panorama in Escaldes. The format is straightforward—one round per day, no dreaded double-round days. That means you’ll actually have time to enjoy Andorra between games!
⏱ Time Control
-
90 minutes per player
-
30-second increment per move
-
30 minutes added at move 40
We considered shortening the increment to 15 minutes at move 40 but decided to stick with 30 to match Olympiad standards. Still, I’d love your thoughts—drop a comment with your take on time controls!
Heads-up: Registration is capped at around 150 players. Not because we’re exclusive—we just want to ensure a comfortable experience for everyone in the playing hall.

♟️ Round 1 – FIDE Guinness World Record
In our 40th edition, we joined a global initiative to break the Guinness World Record for the most chess games played in a single day. Thanks to FIDE, our Round 1 games were part of an epic 7,284,970-game record. No better way to start a tournament!

The 40th Andorra Chess Open attracted 148 players from 30 countries. Despite round 1 expectations, many participants encountered tougher competition than anticipated. A prime example was top-seeded Grandmaster Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI)—the reigning Ibero-American champion—who only secured victory on board one after more than five hours of play. Notable surprises came from boards 27, 28, 29 and 36, where favorites WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet, Alexander Domene, Sergi Romero, and Jordi Serra were held to draws, defying predictions.

For each round, I will be adding the "best" game of the round, which was selected by the organizer, GM Oscar de la Riva; with comments on his newsletters.
⚡ Round 2 – Andorra Gran Prix
Every year, we spice things up with a blitz tournament, aka the “Gran Prix,” held just a 10-minute walk away in Andorra la Vella. It’s a fast-paced 9-round Swiss with a 3+2 time control, usually in the morning—come for the adrenaline, stay for the laughs.
The 2024's edition of the Gran Prix saw its most international lineup yet, with 71 players from 19 countries battling it out at the Andorra la Vella Congress Centre. While most competitors hailed from Andorra and Spain, the tournament also featured five Grandmasters, including top-seeded Aleksandr Shimanov (ELO blitz 2627), who ultimately clinched first place with 7½ out of 9 points—despite a loss to GM Omar Almeida and a draw with local GM Oscar de la Riva.


The event was fiercely contested until the final round, with Almeida and IM Giorgi Sibashvili tying for second place with 7 points. Romanian FM Felix-Antonio Ilinca and Catalan IM Pere Garriga rounded out the top five. Local GM Lance Henderson, who finished sixth overall, also claimed the top local prize. A total of €1,050 in prize money was awarded across general standings, rating groups, and special categories—including best female, veteran, and local players.

In the second round of the Andorra Chess Open, the biggest surprise occurred on board seven, where Grandmaster Andrey Sumets, last year’s champion, playing white, lost to Candidate Master Andreas Persson of Sweden. A series of miscalculations under time pressure led to Sumets' downfall, allowing Persson to simplify into a knight endgame with a pawn advantage that White couldn't hold. While most top seeds secured wins, a few were forced into draws after exhausting all winning chances against resilient opponents.

🏨 Round 3 – The Venue: Hotel Panorama
Hotel Panorama is more than just a venue—it’s one of our key sponsors. If you’re looking for comfort, convenience, and competitive pricing (especially by Andorra standards), this is your spot.

Nestled in the heart of Escaldes-Engordany, Hotel Panorama offers an ideal blend of comfort and convenience for travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure. Its prime location places guests just a short walk from the renowned Caldea thermal spa and the bustling shopping district, making it a perfect base for exploring Andorra's attractions. The hotel boasts 177 well-appointed rooms, many of which provide stunning views of the surrounding Pyrenees mountains, enhancing the overall guest experience.
Beyond its comfortable accommodations, Hotel Panorama features a range of amenities designed to cater to diverse guest needs. The wellness area includes a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and a fully equipped gym, offering a serene retreat after a day of sightseeing. Dining is a delight at the hotel's panoramic restaurant, where guests can savor a variety of dishes while enjoying breathtaking vistas of the valley. With its combination of strategic location, comprehensive facilities, and attentive service, Hotel Panorama stands out as a top choice for visitors to Andorra.

Before round three of the Andorra Chess Open, there was a group of 26 players with 2 points, resulting in 13 matches where players aimed for a third straight win. After the round, only 9 players succeeded, now sharing the tournament lead. The leaders, listed by ranking, were: GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD), GM Edouard Romain (FRA), GM Julen Arizmendi (ESP), GM Omar Almeida (CUB), IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA), IM Pere Garriga (ESP), GM Arthur Kogan (ISR), GM Josep Manuel López (ESP), and IM Robert Baskin (GER).

The top two seeds, however, failed to join this group. GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI), reigning Ibero-American Champion, drew with IM Giorgi Sibashvili (GEO) in a balanced game where, despite Sibashvili gaining a pawn in the middlegame, Black's piece activity led to a draw in a queen endgame. Similarly, GM Aleksandr Shimanov and FM Panagiotis Hristodoulou ended in a draw after Black compensated for a pawn deficit, with opposite-colored bishops making victory impossible.

The chasing group with 2.5 points included 12 players, notably WGM Shri B Savitha (IND) who drew against GM Alexander Cuartas (COL), FM Llàtzer Bru who drew with IM Juraj Druska (SVK), and Pau Salvador Moya, who followed up his draw with an IM the previous day by defeating Spanish FM Sergio Trigo.
🎉 Round 4 – Escaldes Town Festival
Did I mention the tournament coincides with Escaldes’ local festival? That means you’ll get to enjoy parades, traditional dances, concerts, fireworks, and more—all part of your rest-day experience. While we don’t yet know the exact 2025 lineup, last year’s program was packed and we expect no less this year.

In the fourth round of the Andorra Chess Open, the spotlight was on the top boards, as the results could potentially lead to a small leading group or a sole leader. The first to reach 4/4 points was IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA), who defeated GM Romain Edouard (FRA) using the Catalan Opening. Ghazarian achieved a slight but lasting positional edge and exploited Edouard’s passive defense in a double-rook endgame, showcasing impressive positional play.
Later, GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD) joined him by overcoming IM Pere Garriga (ESP) after a nearly 5-hour battle. Garriga responded to Romanov's Rossolimo Attack with a sideline that initially gave Black a promising middlegame. However, a pawn sacrifice by White for initiative tipped the balance after Garriga’s inaccuracies, leading to Romanov’s win.

The third to join the leaders was GM Josep Manuel López (ESP), who also won after a long game against GM Julen Arizmendi (ESP). López used the Caro-Kann Defense, navigating a slow, maneuvering battle to reach a favorable endgame, ultimately capitalizing on White’s missteps to seal victory.
As a result, three players now lead the tournament with 4 points: Ghazarian, Romanov, and López. This sets the stage for a potential sole leader emerging in the next round.

Right behind them with 3.5 points are GM Omar Almeida (CUB) and GM Arthur Kogan (ISR), who drew on board four, as well as GM Jaime Cuartas (COL) who beat IM Julian Martin (GER), IM Guy Levin (ISR) who defeated FM Panagiotis Hristodoulou, and IM Robert Baskin (GER) who drew with GM Aleksandr Shimanov.
Among the players with 2.5 points, many games ended in draws, notably Catalan FM Llàtzer Bru, who impressively held top seed GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI) with Black, neutralizing any advantage and adding to the surprises of the round.

🌙 Round 5 – Night Blitz Tournament
One of the most fun nights of the week! The town festival includes a non-FIDE night blitz tournament that’s now become a tradition. Nearly 100 players joined last year just for the fun of it—no pressure, just pure chess enjoyment.


Going into round 8, Andorra’s own GM Lance Henderson had a perfect 7/7 score and just needed a draw with Black to secure clear first place. His opponent, 12-year-old Mexican sensation Jesús D. Díaz Guerrero, was the tournament’s surprise breakout and came in hot with 6 points. After a tense fight, the game ended in a draw, clinching the title for Henderson.

Three players finished tied on 6½ points, but Díaz Guerrero edged out the others on tiebreaks to claim second place, ahead of Catalan IM Pere Garriga (3rd) and GM Aleksandr Shimanov, who just missed the podium. Spanish WFM Adhara Rodríguez Redondo took the top women’s prize with 5 points, finishing 19th overall. Among the ELO group prizes, local talent Serni Ribera (Andorra) won ELO A, while Goio Uriarte (Spain), Jorge de Jesús Flores, and Andrey Kovalenko (Dominica) topped the B, C, and D sections respectively.

Going back to the Andorra Chess Open, only the two players on board one had the chance to reach 5 out of 5. The game between GMs Josep Manuel López (ESP) and Evgeny Romanov (MKD) did not disappoint spectators, as it was intensely fought, with both players pushing for victory.
For much of the game, the position remained balanced, perhaps with a slight initiative for White in the typical Queen's Gambit Declined structure. At one point, López tried to press on the queenside, but misjudged the consequences of Black’s potential counterplay on the h-file. Romanov capitalized on this mistake, finishing the game with a queen sacrifice that left the white king with no escape.

With this victory, Evgeny Romanov became the sole leader of the tournament with 5 points, followed by Kirk Ghazarian, who was the only player with 4½.
The group of players with 4 points grew significantly and included the top seeds, GMs Cristóbal Henríquez and Aleksandr Shimanov, along with 13 other players. These three players — Romanov, López, and Ghazarian — had been the only ones at the top boards with a shot at a fifth consecutive win, a rare and difficult feat.

🎂 Round 6 – Birthdays
Ever heard of the birthday paradox? There’s a 50% chance that in a group of 23 people, two share the same birthday. Now imagine the odds with 150 players and a chess tournament! At the Andorra Open, we celebrate every player who has a birthday during the event with a small gift to mark the occasion. 🎁

In round six, the top board featured a highly engaging clash between GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD) and IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA), which ended in a draw, though both players pushed for victory. Ghazarian responded to Romanov’s queen’s pawn opening with the ambitious Tarrasch Defense, accepting an isolated central pawn in exchange for piece activity. Romanov managed to weaken Black's kingside pawn structure, and at one point capitalized on a mistake to gain an edge. However, he failed to follow up accurately, allowing Ghazarian to find the correct sequence and equalize, leading to a draw.
With this result, Evgeny Romanov remained the sole leader of the tournament with 5½ points, while Kirk Ghazarian stayed in the chasing group at 5 points, joined by four other players.
The first to join him was GM Aleksandr Shimanov, who, with Black and the Caro-Kann Defense, defeated GM Arthur Kogan by exploiting weaknesses in the middlegame.
Next, GM Jaime Cuartas (COL) won with Black against IM Guy Levin (ISR) after a tense battle that nearly ended in a draw, until a critical mistake by Levin decided the outcome in Cuartas’s favor after 4.5 hours of play.
GM Romain Edouard (FRA) also reached 5 points, defeating IM Juraj Druska (SVK) in a queen endgame. Despite the equal material (two pawns vs. one on the same flank), Druska blundered, allowing Edouard to trade queens and claim the win.

Finally, top seed GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI) joined the 5-point group by defeating GM Josep Manuel López (ESP). Although Henríquez initially held a decisive advantage, time pressure led to inaccuracies that reversed the evaluation. Yet, López failed to seize the opportunity, and after a major blunder, found himself in a hopeless endgame, down material, ultimately conceding the point.

📺 Round 7 – First time with Streamers
The 40th edition marked a turning point—we partnered with elllobregat, one of Spain’s top tournaments, to broadcast up to 20 games per round!
Big thanks to WCM Katharina Reinecke and Hannah Sayce, who requested their games be streamed live. This was new territory for us, but it brought fantastic exposure to both the players and our tournament. It was hectic (especially with the night blitz broadcasts!), but absolutely worth it. 🙏

Round seven was undeniably marked by the defeat of the tournament leader, GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD), who lost with Black to GM Aleksandr Shimanov (RUS) on the top board. The game began calmly, but Romanov made an early strategic mistake, which handed White a small initiative. The situation deteriorated quickly for Romanov after a series of inaccurate moves, culminating a the blunder, which allowed Shimanov to force a decisive sequence and win shortly after.
With this result, Shimanov moved into sole first place with 6 points, while Romanov fell back into the chasing group with 5½ points.
Meanwhile, the second and third boards featured four players with 5 points, all with chances to catch up to Shimanov.
The match between GMs Romain Edouard (FRA) and Jaime Cuartas (COL) lasted over 4.5 hours and ended in a draw. Although Edouard had a clear advantage after the opening and reached a technically winning endgame, he used too much time. As his clock dwindled to 40 seconds, Cuartas claimed a threefold repetition, successfully escaping defeat.

On board two, GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI) also drew with IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA). Ghazarian had a clear advantage in the middlegame, dominating space and pressure. Just after winning a pawn at time control, he made a critical miscalculation, losing all his advantage. Henríquez took the chance to equalize and secure a draw in an even endgame.
As a result, Aleksandr Shimanov stood alone at the top with 6 points. The chasing group at 5½ points now included seven players: GMs Cristóbal Henríquez, Evgeny Romanov, Romain Edouard, Jaime Cuartas, and IM Kirk Ghazarian, joined by WGM Shri B Savitha (IND), who defeated IM Robert Baskin (GER), and Sergio Romero (ESP), who caused an upset by beating GM Josep Manuel López (ESP) with Black.
📱 Round 8 – Chessdrop Raffle
Have you tried Chessdrop? It’s an app for sharing your games, and during the 40th edition, they hosted a social media raffle: players tweeted their games and 4 lucky winners took home Chessdrop prizes. A fabulous way to merge chess with the digital world.

Round eight brought renewed excitement to the tournament as GM Aleksandr Shimanov, the sole leader going into the round, suffered a key defeat at the hands of GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI), creating a tie at the top with 6½ points and setting up a thrilling final round.
The top-board clash between Henríquez (White) and Shimanov was the highlight of the day. Henríquez, trailing by half a point, needed a win to stay in contention for the title. Shimanov opted for the solid Caro-Kann Defense, leading to a manoeuvring-heavy middlegame with both players vying for positional control. After a series of piece exchanges, the game reached a balanced rook-and-queen position, but Shimanov then sacrificed a pawn for piece activity. Just as the position looked drawn, he blundered inexplicably, losing material and resigning shortly after.
With that win, Henríquez rose to co-lead the standings with 6½ points, joined by GM Jaime Cuartas (COL). Cuartas defeated Sergio Romero (ESP), one of the tournament's breakout performers, who until then had remained undefeated despite facing strong opposition. Cuartas, playing White, launched a bold attack in the opening, sacrificing a rook on the vulnerable f7-square. Romero failed to find the right defense, and once Cuartas gained a decisive advantage, he converted it confidently into a full point.
Meanwhile, GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD), facing GM Romain Edouard (FRA) with White, played a strong positional game, gaining a clear advantage and an extra pawn by the endgame. However, after more than five hours of play, Romanov misplayed the technically winning rook endgame, and the game ended in a draw.
On board four, IM Kirk Ghazarian (USA) and WGM Shri B Savitha (IND) also had a chance to reach 6½ points. Ghazarian obtained a pawn-up endgame, but the doubled nature of the pawn rendered the advantage insufficient, and the players agreed to a draw, both staying in the 6-point chasing group.
Besides Shimanov, Romanov, Edouard, Ghazarian, and Savitha, the 6-point group also included:
-
GM Andrey Sumets (UKR) – 2023 champion
-
GM Julen Arizmendi (ESP)
-
IM Juraj Druska (SVK)
-
IM Julien Martin (GER)
-
FM Panagiotis Hristodoulou (GRE)
-
Jose-Felix Ilinca (ROU)
In total, 11 players remained half a point behind the leaders, making the final round poised for multiple dramatic outcomes and potential title contenders.
🏆 Round 9 – And the Winners Are...
The ninth and final round of the 2025 Andorra International Chess Open commenced at 9:00 AM on Sunday, with the spotlight on the top-board clash between GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI) and GM Jaime Cuartas (COL), both tied at 6½ points and contending for the tournament title.
In a tense and strategic encounter, Henríquez, playing with Black, gained a clear positional advantage in the middlegame. He gradually outplayed Cuartas tactically, capitalizing on superior piece activity and structure to convert his initiative into a decisive win. With this result, GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI) was crowned the 🥇 winner of the 40th edition of the Andorra Open.
Following Henríquez’s victory, the remaining boards determined the remaining podium placements. On board two, GM Aleksandr Shimanov defeated IM Kirk Ghazarian in one of the longest games of the round. Despite Ghazarian’s need to win to achieve a GM norm, Shimanov, with White, maintained pressure throughout and secured the win in a bishop endgame. Thanks to tiebreaks, he claimed second place.

🏁 Final Standings (Top 12)
-
-
GM Cristóbal Henríquez (CHI)
-
GM Aleksandr Shimanov (FIDE)
-
GM Julen Arizmendi (ESP)
-
GM Andrey Sumets (UKR)
-
GM Jaime Cuartas (COL)
-
GM Evgeny Romanov (MKD)
-
GM Romain Edouard (FRA)
-
WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) – 🥇 Best Female Prize
-
FM Panagiotis Hristodoulou (GRE)
-
IM Juraj Druska (CZE)
-
FM Felix-Antonio Ilinca (ROU)
-
FM Alex Villa (ESP)
40th Andorra International Chess Open Champion - GM Cristobal Henriquez
-
👩🦰 Top Female Players
-
🥇 Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN)
-
🥈 Shri B Savitha (IND)
-
🥉 Adhara Rodríguez (ESP)
👴 Top Veterans (>65)
-
🥇 Raül Garcia (AND)
-
🥈 Kees Nagtegaal (NED)
-
🥉 Roque Roldán (ESP)
Women's Champion - WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet
🧮 Category Prizes
Rating 2150–2299
-
🥇 Sergio Romero (ESP)
-
🥈 Serafín Moral (ESP)
Rating 2000–2149
-
🥇 Rhys Arnold (NED)
-
🥈 Rebeca Jiménez (ESP)
Rating 1850–1999
-
🥇 Krishnan Sudharsan (DEN)
-
🥈 Laurent Picart (FRA)
Rating 0–1849
-
🥇 Tanish Vora (USA)
-
🥈 Eithan Bolaños (MEX)

The following players earned International Master (IM) norms for their exceptional performances:
-
FM Jose-Felix llinca (ROU)
-
WGM Shri B Savitha (IND)
-
FM Panagiotis Hristodoulou (GRE)

✅ Ready to Join 2025 edition?
If you’ve read this far, chances are you’re either nostalgic for last year or tempted to join this summer. Either way—we’d love to see you in Andorra this July. Register soon before the spots fill up, and don’t forget to let us know in the comments what you're most looking forward to.
👉 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, check our dedicated website, and keep an eye on how registration is going at chess-results —just search “Andorra Open 2025”! ♟️📱🌍
See you on the board! 🏔️♟️