The 2025 Seattle Chess Classic concluded this weekend at Hotel 116 in Bellevue, Washington. The two-day event featured six rounds of play across two sections: the Tiglon Open and the Seirawan U1600.
In the Tiglon Open, FM Aziz Degenbaev (2387) and NM Siddharth Sundaram (2402) finished as co-champions, each scoring 5.5 points out of 6 rounds.
In the Seirawan U1600 section, Riaan Babbar (1417) and Noah Condit (1411) shared first place honors with 5 points each.
The tournament schedule included three rounds per day, with games starting at 9:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. The time control was G/90 with a 30-second increment. In total, players competed in approximately 25 hours of chess over the course of the weekend.
The event was organized by the Washington Chess Federation and directed by Josh Sinanan and Chief Arbiter Manunthon Atikankhotchasee. The tournament was triple-rated by NWSRS, US Chess, and FIDE. The tournament’s information could be found here.
The Washington Chess Federation, led by President and tournament director Josh Sinanan, extended thanks to all participants, volunteers, and parents who supported the event.
“Over the course of two days, we enjoyed 25 hours of chess,” the organizers wrote in their closing note. And while trophies were handed out, what lingered most was the sense of community, competition, and love for the game.
As the pieces are packed away and Hotel 116 returns to business as usual, one thing is clear: the Seattle Chess Classic has once again cemented itself as a highlight of the Pacific Northwest chess calendar.
Degenbaev and Sundaram may share the crown this year, but with so many rising stars, 2026 already promises even fiercer battles.
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
