Raja Rithvik, an up-and-coming Indian grandmaster, is taking part in the A-Open at the International Dortmund Chess Festival. The GM, with an Elo rating of 2535, is already listed among the participants for 2026 and is one of the most interesting young title holders in the field.
Over the past few years, Rithvik has made a name for himself as a talented and tenacious tournament player. With consistently strong performances in open tournaments and solid results against experienced opponents, the 21-year-old has gradually worked his way up to grandmaster strength. He has held this title since 2022 and has a peak Elo rating of 2557. His participation in Dortmund now offers him the chance to prove himself once again in a field of top-class players.
The A-Open at the Dortmund Chess Days is traditionally regarded as one of the strongest open tournaments in Europe – and the list of participants for 2026 impressively confirms this reputation. The field is led by top grandmasters such as Matthias Blübaum, David Navara and Dmitrij Kollars, among others. Surya Shekhar Ganguly is another registered grandmaster from the chess powerhouse of India. The experienced tournament player returns to Dortmund following his strong second-place finish last year.
The field already promises an attractive tournament, and not just for spectators. Players with a rating of 1951 or higher can already register for the A-Open and compete against the aforementioned players. The B-Open is open to club players with a rating of up to 2050. This is always played in the mornings, so that participants can follow the A-Open and the International Women’s Tournament in the afternoons, with live commentary by GM Artur Yusupov.