The 2025 Christmas Day Tournament took place on December 21, 2025, at the Houston Chess Studio in Houston, TX. The event brought together 15 players for a five-round Swiss tournament with a time control of G/30, d10 (30 minutes per player with a 10-second delay per move).
View the official US Chess crosstable and rating report for the 2025 Christmas Day Tournament.
Results and Prizes
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 with 4.0 out of 5 and received $250.
Andrew Widener and Alex Bihn shared 3rd place with 3.5 out of 5. Each received $50.
Mostafa Wahsh won the U1600 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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