Indian Players' Dominance at Muscat Nights Chess

MUSCAT, JAN 25
Photo by: SALEH AL SHARGI
The Muscat Nights International Chess Championship 2026 concluded yesterday evening at the Al Amal Club Hall, after 10 days of high-level competition from January 14 to 24, attracting 270 male and female players from 36 countries.
The tournament marked one of the largest and strongest editions in terms of participation and technical standards, with Indian players dominating the podium across multiple categories.
The closing ceremony was held under the auspices of Al Muatasim al Siyabi, Deputy Wali of Al Seeb, in the presence of Ahmed al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, along with officials and chess enthusiasts. Winners of the classical and blitz events were crowned, while outstanding Omani players were also honoured.

Over 2000 Category
In the Open Over 2000 rating category, India’s Leon Luke claimed first place with 6.5 points. His compatriot Pranesh M finished second, while Bulgaria’s Arkadi Naiditsch secured third place.
Russia’s Mikhail Mozharov placed fourth, followed by India’s Mayank Chakraborty in fifth and Egypt’s Ahmed Adly in sixth. Iran’s Radin Yadegar came seventh, with Türkiye’s Umut Ata Akbas finishing eighth.
Under 2000 Category
In the Under 2000 category, India’s Raghav Srivathsav captured the title with 8 points. The UAE’s Humaidan al Zaabi finished second with 7.5 points, tied with Syria’s Laith Malham in third place.
Sudan’s Asim Ali placed fourth, Iraq’s Ali Mahdi fifth, Iran’s Seyed Emadeddin sixth, and Oman’s Salim al Mashikhi seventh.
Blitz Championship
In the Blitz Chess Championship, India’s Mayank Chakraborty secured the title. Egypt’s Adham Fawzy finished second, Pranesh M took third, and Iran’s Radin Yadegar came fourth.
Omani Honours
Among Omani players, Mohammed al Mashikhi won the award for Best Omani Player (Over 2000), with Salem al Amri finishing as second-best in the same category.
In the Under 2000 division, Mohammed al Riyami was named Best Omani Player, while Ana Al Esayi received the Best Omani Female Player award.

Several youth players were also honoured: Anas al Lamki (Under 10), Ilyas al Hinai (Under 12), Said al Riyami (Under 14), and Shihab al Shibli (Under 16). Meanwhile, Ali al Habsi received the tournament’s encouragement award.
Ahmed al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, confirmed that the second edition achieved major organisational and technical success, noting that the growing number of participants and countries reflects the championship’s rising status across Asia.
He added that the diversity of categories and increased prize funds helped attract a strong lineup of international masters. The committee also plans to host more regional and international tournaments across various governorates, with continued support from Muscat Municipality, reinforcing Oman’s position as an emerging sports destination.
Champion Leon Luke expressed his delight at winning the title, stating that the competition was tough and decided only in the final rounds, while praising the excellent organisation.
Under-2000 champion Raghav Srivathsav described his victory as a special and unforgettable experience, commending the tournament's professional atmosphere.