The 2025 Christmas Day Tournament took place in Houston, TX, on December 21 at the Houston Chess Studio. The event brought together 15 players in a 5-round Swiss system format, with a time control of G/30, d10 (30 minutes per player with a 10-second delay per move).
You can view the official crosstable and rating report here:
👉 View Crosstable & Rating Report
Tournament Highlights
The tournament’s top seed, Arsal Gardezi, captured 1st place with 4.5 points out of 5. In addition to a commemorative plaque, he earned $450 for his performance.
Elvin Iskandarov claimed 2nd place, scoring 4.0 out of 5 and receiving $250, a well-deserved reward for his strong play throughout the event.
3rd place was shared by Andrew Widener and Alex Bihn, who both finished with 3.5 out of 5. Each received $50.
In the U1600 section, Mostafa Wahsh won the rating prize with 3.0 out of 5, earning the $100 category award.
Appreciation
Azeri Chess Academy extends its gratitude to all participants for making the event a success. Special thanks go to Edgar Acosta, whose efforts in handling the setup and technical details were invaluable.
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