2025 Malaysian Open after 4 rounds

1. IM Zou Chen (2416, CHN) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: Excellent. As the 3rd highest seed by rating in this group, he has navigated the first three rounds perfectly.
• Key Result: His fourth-round draw with the Black pieces against GM Nguyen Van Huy (2nd) is a solid, professional result. It maintains his lead without taking excessive risk.
• Outlook: He faces another tough test in Round 5 against FM Winkelman (3rd) with Black. A draw would be a good result, but a win would establish him as the clear favourite.

2. GM Nguyen Van Huy (2352, VIE) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: Very strong. He has convincingly won his first three games against lower-rated opponents.
• Key Result: Like Zou Chen, his draw in Round 4 (with White against the leader) is a workmanlike result that keeps him at the top.
• Outlook: His Round 5 game against IM Nguyen Quoc Hy (4th) is a massive all-Vietnamese clash. This will be a critical game for both players’ title hopes.

3. FM Winkelman Albert (2324, AUS) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: The surprise package of the tournament so far. He is performing well above his rating especially his win against top seed GM Nguyen Duc Hoa.
• Key Result: His draw with Black against the highly-rated IM Concio (5th) in Round 4 is a fantastic result that proves his score is no fluke.
• Outlook: He has the white pieces against the leader, IM Zou Chen (1st), in Round 5. This is his biggest test yet. A good result here would make him a true contender for the title.

4. IM Nguyen Quoc Hy (2413, VIE) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: Solid, though he showed a slight vulnerability with an early draw in Round 2 against a much lower-rated player (Jin Ruijun, 2079).
• Key Result: Recovering from that draw, he powered on with two wins, including one in Round 4.
• Outlook: He faces his compatriot, GM Nguyen Van Huy (2nd), with the Black pieces. This is arguably the most decisive pairing of Round 5. The winner will be in a commanding position.

5. IM Concio Michael Jr. (2409, PHI) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: Very professional. He took care of business in the first three rounds before a solid draw in Round 4.
• Key Result: The draw with White against Winkelman (3rd) might be seen as a slightly missed opportunity, but it’s still a good score.
• Outlook: He plays GM Laxman (6th) with Black. This is another top-tier clash where a win would propel him into the absolute forefront.

6. GM Laxman R.R. (2271, IND) – 3.5 pts

• Performance: Impressive. The experienced GM is also performing above his current rating.
• Key Result: Like IM Nguyen Quoc Hy, he had an early draw (Round 2) but has since scored two strong wins.
• Outlook: He has White against IM Concio (5th). This is a great chance for the GM to use his experience and the white pieces to push for a win and join the very top.

7. FM Kavin Mohan (2309, MAS) – 3.0 pts

• Performance: Steady. He is the highest-ranked Malaysian in the top 10, which is a great story for the home crowd.
• Key Result: Two draws in a row against strong opponents (Bacojo and Lye) show he is competing well at this level but hasn’t been able to convert for a full point.
• Outlook: He faces the tournament’s Cinderella story, CM Mahmood (9th), with White. This is a must-win game to stay in touch with the leaders.

8. FM Bacojo Mark Jay (2326, PHI) – 3.0 pts

• Performance: Similar to Kavin Mohan. Two good wins followed by two solid draws against strong competition.
• Outlook: His match against CM Swayham P Das (11th) is a chance to get back to winning ways and put pressure on the players above him.

9. CM Mahmood Shah Mukhriez Shah (2030, MAS) – 3.0 pts

• Performance: The absolute standout story of the tournament. A Candidate Master rated 2030 is on 3/4 points in a strong field. This is a phenomenal performance.
• Key Result: His two draws against much higher-rated IMs (Nolte ~2300 and Swayam ~2160) and a win in Round 4 show incredible grit and skill.
• Outlook: He faces his toughest test yet with Black against FM Kavin Mohan (7th). All eyes will be on this young Malaysian to see if he can continue his amazing run.

10. IM Kushagra Mohan (2432, IND) – 3.0 pts

• Performance: Surprisingly below expectations. As the highest-rated player in the entire tournament, being on 3.0 points is a slight underperformance.
• Key Result: Two draws against players rated around 2100 (Swayham and Lye) would have been disappointing for him. He will be keen to find a higher gear.
• Outlook: He has White against Jin Ruijun (12th). This is a game he will be heavily favoured to win to get back on track and start climbing the standings.

RANKINGS after Round 4

 

Rk.		Name	Rtg	FED	1.Rd	2.Rd	3.Rd	4.Rd	Pts.
1	IM	Zou Chen	2416	CHN	24b1	19w1	16b1	2w½	3.5
2	GM	Nguyen Van Huy	2352	VIE	29b1	28w1	40b1	1b½	3.5
3	FM	Winkelman Albert	2324	AUS	22w1	45b1	17w1	5b½	3.5
4	IM	Nguyen Quoc Hy	2413	VIE	41w1	12b½	36w1	20b1	3.5
5	IM	Concio Michael Jr.	2409	PHI	54b1	34w1	39b1	3w½	3.5
6	GM	Laxman R.R.	2271	IND	46w1	21b½	42w1	18b1	3.5
7	FM	Kavin Mohan	2309	MAS	58w1	15b1	8w½	13b½	3
8	FM	Bacojo Mark Jay	2326	PHI	27b1	26w1	7b½	14w½	3
9	CM	Mahmood Shah Mukhriez Shah	2030	MAS	94w+	20b½	11w½	39w1	3
10	IM	Kushagra Mohan	2432	IND	62w1	11b½	13w½	51b1	3
11	CM	Swayham P Das	2160	IND	67b1	10w½	9b½	43w1	3
12		Jin Ruijun	2079	CHN	79b1	4w½	23b½	44w1	3
13	FM	Lye Lik Zang	2240	MAS	71b1	60w1	10b½	7w½	3
14	CM	Gireman Ja	2208	IND	82w½	48b1	21w1	8b½	3
15		Cantela Oscar Joseph	2007	PHI	88b1	7w0	49b1	40w1	3
16	WIM	Aakanksha Hagawane	2320	IND	49b1	35w1	1w0	26b½	2.5
17	GM	Nguyen Duc Hoa	2442	VIE	65b1	32w1	3b0	28w½	2.5
18	IM	Karthik Rajaa	2330	IND	78b1	25w½	38b1	6w0	2.5
19		Velarde Jerish John	2110	PHI	68b1	1b0	52w1	27w½	2.5
20	IM	Nolte Rolando	2299	PHI	64b1	9w½	59b1	4w0	2.5
21		Xie Chujun	2000	CHN	73b1	6w½	14b0	63w1	2.5
22		Vo Hoang Quan	1924	VIE	3b0	84w1	53b1	33w½	2.5
23	IM	Liu Xiangyi	2349	SGP	48w½	61b1	12w½	25b½	2.5
24	CM	Genkeswaran Genivan	1992	MAS	1w0	68b1	73w1	31b½	2.5
25	WFM	Mendoza Shania Mae	2069	PHI	85w1	18b½	32b½	23w½	2.5
26	WFM	Canino Ruelle	2065	PHI	84b1	8b0	46w1	16w½	2.5
27		Sebastian Mhage Gerriahlou	1930	PHI	8w0	85b1	55w1	19b½	2.5
28	WCM	Salimova Asal	2095	UZB	83w1	2b0	64w1	17b½	2.5
29		Muraley Rittesh	1967	MAS	2w0	83b1	37w½	59b1	2.5
30	FM	Lim Zhuo Ren	2332	MAS	43b1	59w½	33b½	35w½	2.5
31		Hong Mingren	2170	CHN	47w0	72b1	41b1	24w½	2.5
32	IM	Li Bo	2209	CHN	77b1	17b0	25w½	69w1	2.5
33	IM	Andyka Pitra	2148	INA	66w½	82b1	30w½	22b½	2.5
34	IM	Bancod Ronald	2106	PHI	86w1	5b0	58w½	62b1	2.5
35		Bhuvan Krishna Prasanth	2056	IND	81w1	16b0	75w1	30b½	2.5
36	FM	Castellano Christopher	2129	PHI	74b½	76w1	4b0	65w1	2.5
37		Tran Vo Quoc Bao	2095	VIE	60b0	71w1	29b½	61w1	2.5
38	WFM	Sreekarthika Velmurugan	2080	SGP	72w½	66b1	18w0	58b1	2.5
39	FM	Kamalsyah Muhammad	2314	INA	52w1	55b1	5w0	9b0	2
40	WGM	Frayna Janelle Mae	2313	PHI	63b1	50w1	2w0	15b0	2
41	WIM	Galas Bernadette	1989	PHI	4b0	79w+	31w0	77w1	2
42		Wee Yin Lin	1810	MAS	53b½	56w1	6b0	50w½	2
43	AGM	Julmiri Muhammad Zulfaqar Bin Abu Baka	1961	MAS	30w0	80b1	45w1	11b0	2
44	FM	Wong Yinn Long	2356	MAS	61w½	47b1	51w½	12b0	2
45		Le Dang Thanh An	2046	VIE	70b1	3w0	43b0	71w1	2
46	AIM	Rajasa Muhammad Andi	1904	INA	6b0	87w1	26b0	80w1	2
47		Cheah Cheok Fung	1868	MAS	31b1	44w0	50b½	56w½	2
48		Cheng Gongpu	1964	CHN	23b½	14w0	74b½	76w1	2
49	AIM	Abd Aziz A Qil A Lauddin	1920	MAS	16w0	81b1	15w0	73b1	2
50		Lee Zhia Chen Zachary	2034	MAS	57w1	40b0	47w½	42b½	2
51	WFM	Imomkuzieva Nilufarkhon	2104	UZB	76b½	74w1	44b½	10w0	2
52		Umayan Samantha Babol	1917	PHI	39b0	70w1	19b0	74w1	2
53	CM	Shen Ree Herng	2113	MAS	42w½	75b½	22w0	72b1	2
54		Shrutarshi Ray	1989	IND	5w0	86b½	72w½	75b1	2
55	WFM	Yash Jyoti Bir	2018	IND	87b1	39w0	27b0	78w1	2
56	WIM	Malikova Marjona	2071	UZB	75w½	42b0	82w1	47b½	2
57		Chen Baize	1649	CHN	50b0	63w0	79w1	82b1	2
58		Magpily Francois Marie	1912	PHI	7b0	88w1	34b½	38w0	1.5
59		Shahar Uzair	2070	MAS	80b1	30b½	20w0	29w0	1.5
60		Nik Norhisham Nik Muhd Haziq	1749	MAS	37w1	13b0	62w0	64b½	1.5
61		Zhao Chenyu	1980	CHN	44b½	23w0	67b1	37b0	1.5
62		Tin Shan Wen	1994	MAS	10b0	67w½	60b1	34w0	1.5
63		N. Tarun	1915	IND	40w0	57b1	69w½	21b0	1.5
64		Khandhar Kaushal	1907	MAS	20w0	94b+	28b0	60w½	1.5
65	WIM	Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien	1996	VIE	17w0	77b½	66w1	36b0	1.5
66	WFM	Mohd Afif Ainul Mardhiah	1861	MAS	33b½	38w0	65b0	84w1	1.5
67	AGM	Ong Way Justin	1867	MAS	11w0	62b½	61w0	83b1	1.5
68	ACM	Kumaran Ashwiniy	1805	MAS	19w0	24w0	84b½	85b1	1.5
69	AIM	Chua Chee Sian Sebastien	1998	MAS	0	78w1	63b½	32b0	1.5
70		Huang Aaron Yu-Hsi	1667	TPE	45w0	52b0	83w½	86b1	1.5
71		Largo Franchesca	1904	PHI	13w0	37b0	86w1	45b0	1
72		Ainul Fikri Aqilah Husna	1746	MAS	38b½	31w0	54b½	53w0	1
73		Mohd Nazlee Muhd Adlee Hakimi	0	MAS	21w0	-1	24b0	49w0	1
74		Lum Zhun Hoong	1814	MAS	36w½	51b0	48w½	52b0	1
75		Lau Sau Ching	1884	MAS	56b½	53w½	35b0	54w0	1
76		Helmy Muhammad Adnin Nuaym	1760	MAS	51w½	36b0	77w½	48b0	1
77		Ramakrishnan Yoggenraj	1890	MAS	32w0	65w½	76b½	41b0	1
78	WCM	Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan	1891	MAS	18w0	69b0	81w1	55b0	1
79		Suneth Shyam Keshaav	1725	MAS	12w0	41b-	57b0	87w1	1
80		Wee Yu Heng Lucas John	1710	SGP	59w0	43w0	88b1	46b0	1
81		Wang Xin Yu Aimee	1678	MAS	35b0	49w0	78b0	88w1	1
82	AFM	Meiyazhagan Kaviinayan	1885	KOR	14b½	33w0	56b0	57w0	0.5
83		Lim Kian Guan	1754	MAS	28b0	29w0	70b½	67w0	0.5
84		Wang Xin Ran Claire	1686	MAS	26w0	22b0	68w½	66b0	0.5
85		Hasnul Hashim	1695	BRU	25b0	27w0	87b½	68w0	0.5
86		Nizzardo Mattia	1795	ITA	34b0	54w½	71b0	70w0	0.5
87		Shoban Babu Lavinesh Babu	1515	MAS	55w0	46b0	85w½	79b0	0.5
88		Teoh Je Hern	1622	MAS	15w0	58b0	80w0	81b0	0
89	WIM	Pandey Srishti	2213	IND	0	0	0	0	0
90	CM	Nimay Agrawal	2208	IND	0	0	0	0	0
91	CM	Le Phan Hoang Quan	2030	VIE	0	0	0	0	0
92		Liu Haoling	1950	CHN	0	0	0	0	0
93		Miao Zixin	1722	CHN	0	0	0	0	0
94		Narayanan Sri Shiva Kumar	1529	MAS	9b-	64w-	0	0	0
95		Kaattari Konsta	0	FIN	0	0	0	0	0

Pairing for Round 5

 

Bo.		White	Rtg	Pts.	Pts.		Black	Rtg
1	FM	Winkelman, Albert	2324	3½	3½	IM	Zou, Chen	2416
2	GM	Nguyen, Van Huy	2352	3½	3½	IM	Nguyen, Quoc Hy	2413
3	GM	Laxman, R.R.	2271	3½	3½	IM	Concio, Michael Jr.	2409
4	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	2432	3	3		Jin, Ruijun	2079
5	CM	Swayham, P Das	2160	3	3	FM	Bacojo, Mark Jay	2326
6	FM	Kavin, Mohan	2309	3	3	CM	Mahmood Shah, Mukhriez Shah	2030
7	CM	Gireman, Ja	2208	3	3	FM	Lye, Lik Zang	2240
8	GM	Nguyen, Duc Hoa	2442	2½	3		Cantela, Oscar Joseph	2007
9	IM	Liu, Xiangyi	2349	2½	2½		Tran, Vo Quoc Bao	2095
10	WCM	Salimova, Asal	2095	2½	2½	FM	Lim, Zhuo Ren	2332
11	IM	Karthik, Rajaa	2330	2½	2½	WFM	Canino, Ruelle	2065
12	WIM	Aakanksha, Hagawane	2320	2½	2½	WFM	Mendoza, Shania Mae	2069
13	WFM	Sreekarthika, Velmurugan	2080	2½	2½	IM	Nolte, Rolando	2299
14		Bhuvan, Krishna Prasanth	2056	2½	2½	IM	Li, Bo	2209
15		Muraley, Rittesh	1967	2½	2½		Hong, Mingren	2170
16	IM	Andyka, Pitra	2148	2½	2½		Xie, Chujun	2000
17		Sebastian, Mhage Gerriahlou	1930	2½	2½	FM	Castellano, Christopher	2129
18	CM	Genkeswaran, Genivan	1992	2½	2½		Velarde, Jerish John	2110
19	IM	Bancod, Ronald	2106	2½	2½		Vo, Hoang Quan	1924
20	FM	Wong, Yinn Long	2356	2	2	WIM	Galas, Bernadette	1989
21	FM	Kamalsyah, Muhammad	2314	2	2		Cheng, Gongpu	1964
22	WGM	Frayna, Janelle Mae	2313	2	2		Wee, Yin Lin	1810
23	CM	Shen, Ree Herng	2113	2	2		Cheah, Cheok Fung	1868
24		Shrutarshi, Ray	1989	2	2	WFM	Imomkuzieva, Nilufarkhon	2104
25	WIM	Malikova, Marjona	2071	2	2		Umayan, Samantha Babol	1917
26	AIM	Abd Aziz, A Qil A Lauddin	1920	2	2		Le, Dang Thanh An	2046
27		Lee, Zhia Chen Zachary	2034	2	2	AIM	Rajasa, Muhammad Andi	1904
28		Chen, Baize	1649	2	2	WFM	Yash, Jyoti Bir	2018
29	AGM	Julmiri, Muhammad Zulfaqar Bin Abu Baka	1961	2	1½		Shahar, Uzair	2070
30	AIM	Chua, Chee Sian Sebastien	1998	1½	1½		Khandhar, Kaushal	1907
31	WIM	Nguyen, Thanh Thuy Tien	1996	1½	1½	AGM	Ong, Way Justin	1867
32	ACM	Kumaran, Ashwiniy	1805	1½	1½		Tin, Shan Wen	1994
33		Zhao, Chenyu	1980	1½	1½	WFM	Mohd Afif, Ainul Mardhiah	1861
34		N., Tarun	1915	1½	1½		Nik Norhisham, Nik Muhd Haziq	1749
35		Huang, Aaron Yu-Hsi	1667	1½	1½		Magpily, Francois Marie	1912
36		Largo, Franchesca	1904	1	1		Ainul Fikri, Aqilah Husna	1746
37	WCM	Nithyalakshmi, Sivanesan	1891	1	1		Suneth, Shyam Keshaav	1725
38		Ramakrishnan, Yoggenraj	1890	1	1		Wang, Xin Yu Aimee	1678
39		Helmy, Muhammad Adnin Nuaym	1760	1	1		Lau, Sau Ching	1884
40		Lum, Zhun Hoong	1814	1	1		Mohd Nazlee, Muhd Adlee Hakimi	0
41		Wee, Yu Heng Lucas John	1710	1	½		Nizzardo, Mattia	1795
42		Wang, Xin Ran Claire	1686	½	½	AFM	Meiyazhagan, Kaviinayan	1885
43		Shoban Babu, Lavinesh Babu	1515	½	½		Lim, Kian Guan	1754
44		Teoh, Je Hern	1622	0	½		Hasnul, Hashim	1695
45	WIM	Pandey, Srishti	2213	0			not paired
46	CM	Nimay, Agrawal	2208	0			not paired
47	CM	Le, Phan Hoang Quan	2030	0			not paired
48		Liu, Haoling	1950	0			not paired
49		Miao, Zixin	1722	0			not paired
50		Narayanan, Sri Shiva Kumar	1529	0			not paired
51		Kaattari, Konsta	0	0			not paired