8th Malatya Golden Apricot International Open Chess Tournament - A

SwissStandard

71 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 25 Aug 2025 to 30 Aug 2025 in Malatya, Turkey. 18 titled players from 7 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2281, and top seed was Gaioz Nigalidze (🇬🇪 GEO, IM, 2371).

Mahdi Nikookar (🇮🇷 IRI, FM, 2221) won with 7.5/9, ahead of Mohammadamin Biriya (7.0) and Mirac Melih Topuz (6.5). Nikookar broke clear in the final round.

The biggest upset came in round 4: Kemal Arda Atug (1766) beat Enes Yusuf Maruflu (2183), a +417-point gap.

Location

🇹🇷Malatya, Turkey

Dates

25 Aug 2025 → 30 Aug 2025

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 9 rounds

Top seed

🇬🇪IMGaioz Nigalidze2371

Avg top 10

2,281

Participants

Titled players · 18

GM×1

IM×5

FM×5

CM×5

WFM×2

Federations · 7 represented

🇹🇷Turkiye×35

🇮🇷Iran×22

🇦🇿Azerbaijan×10

🇸🇾Syria×1

🇺🇿Uzbekistan×1

🇬🇪Georgia×1

🇮🇶Iraq×1

Top 3

🥇
FMMahdi Nikookar
🇮🇷IRI·2221
7.5pts·2506perf+63.4
🥈
Mohammadamin Biriya
🇮🇷IRI·2259
7.0pts·2394perf+32.0
🥉
CMMirac Melih Topuz
🇹🇷TUR·2191
6.5pts·2179perf+6.4

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 9 rounds

FM Mahdi Nikookar led from R3; +0.5-point edge over the runner-up.

Co-leaders

Nikookar7.5Biriya7Nigalidze6.5Topuz6.5Omonov6Asgari6

R3–R9 · LEAD HELD

FM Mahdi Nikookar held the sole lead from R3 through R9 without losing it.

R6 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

FM Mahdi Nikookar lost to Mohammadamin Biriya (Black).

WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers

FM Mahdi Nikookar 5 wins (R1–R5)IM Gaioz Nigalidze 4 wins (R3–R6)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1FMMahdi Nikookar	*	0	—	1
2Mohammadamin Biriya	1	*	½	—
3IMGaioz Nigalidze	—	½	*	—
4CMMirac Melih Topuz	0	—	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Nikookar, MahdiFM	2221	IRI	+60B	+26N	+13B	+7N	+19B	−2N	=5B	+3N	+6N	7.5	46.5	49.5	39.50	2506	+63.4
2	Biriya, Mohammadamin	2259	IRI	=12N	+42B	+11N	=5B	+29N	+1B	=6N	+8B	=4N	7.0	47.5	51.0	39.00	2394	+32.0
3	Topuz, Mirac MelihCM	2191	TUR	−20N	+27B	+32N	+21B	+34N	=6B	+41N	−1B	+11N	6.5	42.0	45.5	30.00	2179	+6.4
4	Nigalidze, GaiozIM	2371	GEO	−58N	=12B	+70N	+60B	+14N	+20B	=11N	+9B	=2B	6.5	40.5	41.5	29.50	2239	-10.6
5	Mohammadian sechani, ArshiaFM	2323	IRI	+16B	+68N	=8B	=2N	=41B	+17N	=1N	=11B	=7N	6.0	46.5	47.5	29.75	2254	-11.2
6	Omonov, AsrorjonIM	2366	UZB	F	+54N	+23B	+28N	+26B	=3N	=2B	+15N	−1B	6.0	43.5	43.5	29.25	2297	-4.4
7	Gasimov, ParvizIM	2336	AZE	+10B	=33N	+58B	−1B	+12N	−11B	+21N	+41N	=5B	6.0	43.0	46.0	28.00	2219	-10.5
8	Hamidi, Amir MohammadFM	2217	IRI	+14N	+18B	=5N	=52B	−20N	+39B	+35N	−2N	+22B	6.0	42.0	45.5	28.75	2182	-3.6
9	Asgari, MortezaFM	2200	IRI	+23B	=58N	=33B	−41N	+42B	+28N	+10B	−4N	+13B	6.0	38.5	41.5	28.00	2202	+2.2
10	Ucoluk, Umut	2074	TUR	−7N	=63B	+50N	=36B	+30N	+34B	−9N	+39B	+35B	6.0	36.0	38.5	23.25	2025	-12.0
11	Khalesi, VahidFM	2111	IRI	+54B	=19N	−2B	+37N	+38B	+7N	=4B	=5N	−3B	5.5	45.0	48.0	25.75	2240	+32.0
12	Gulumov, Muthat	2012	AZE	=2B	=4N	=17B	+31N	−7B	+46N	−22B	+43N	+44B	5.5	41.5	45.0	24.50	2084	+28.9
13	Maruflu, Enes Yusuf	2183	TUR	+32N	+20B	−1N	−34B	+55N	+54B	=19N	+26B	−9N	5.5	39.5	42.5	22.50	2116	-10.2
14	Rabbani, Abtin	2006	IRI	−8B	+57N	+31B	=35N	−4B	=47N	+37B	+56N	=15B	5.5	37.0	40.0	21.00	2007	+2.7
15	Poormosavi, Seyed Kanan	2093	IRI	−42N	=22B	+48N	+63N	=35B	+27B	+20N	−6B	=14N	5.5	37.0	39.5	22.75	1997	-35.2
16	Habibifard, Parham	2022	IRI	−5N	+70B	=22N	+48B	=33N	−19B	=27N	+30B	+26N	5.5	37.0	38.0	20.25	2059	+12.8
17	Kilic, Nurullah	1852	TUR	=64N	+66B	=12N	+18B	=52N	−5B	−33N	+27B	+29N	5.5	36.0	38.0	22.25	2075	+49.4
18	Alizadeh, Amirhosein	2087	IRI	+61B	−8N	+42B	−17N	−44B	+31N	=43B	+46N	+41B	5.5	33.5	36.5	19.75	1989	-38.0
19	Sevdimaliyev, UrfanGM	2329	AZE	F	=11B	=21N	+55B	−1N	+16N	=13B	=22N	+23B	5.0	43.5	46.5	24.00	2137	-16.2
20	Roshantab, Sadra	2000	IRI	+3B	−13N	+68B	+49N	+8B	−4N	−15B	=24N	=28B	5.0	43.0	44.0	21.75	2153	+69.6
21	Shahmoradi, Arash	1937	IRI	+24N	=52B	=19B	−3N	+49B	=26N	−7B	=25N	+56B	5.0	39.0	42.0	20.50	2083	+30.4
22	Keloglu, Ismail Cinar	1871	TUR	+71N	=15N	=16B	=33B	=58N	=29B	+12N	=19B	−8N	5.0	39.0	39.0	19.25	2113	+105.2
23	Seyidli, MirsalehCM	2002	AZE	−9N	+62B	−6N	=45B	+65N	+59B	=29N	+34B	−19N	5.0	35.0	37.0	16.00	2040	+12.2
24	Azimov, YasinCM	2094	AZE	−21B	+61N	−28B	−38N	+69B	+57N	+54N	=20B	=36N	5.0	31.5	32.5	14.50	1939	-42.3
25	Aksu, Yusuf Alp	1723	TUR	=45N	−55B	=59N	−27B	=40N	+51B	+50N	=21B	+65N	5.0	30.0	32.0	16.75	1887	+79.2
26	Azali, TannazWFM	2101	IRI	+27N	−1B	+39N	+30B	−6N	=21B	+44B	−13N	−16B	4.5	42.5	46.0	19.00	2008	-19.8
27	Gursu, Sungur	1800	TUR	−26B	−3N	+64B	+25N	+37B	−15N	=16B	−17N	+46B	4.5	40.0	42.5	17.75	1927	+52.4
28	Ebrahimi Rashti, Asal	2000	IRI	−52N	+30B	+24N	−6B	+36N	−9B	−34N	+47B	=20N	4.5	38.0	41.5	19.50	1992	-4.2
29	Mohandesi, ShahinIM	2024	IRI	F	+46N	+63B	+43N	−2B	=22N	=23B	=44N	−17B	4.5	38.0	40.5	16.25	1964	-12.0
30	Ibrahim, Mohammed Salim	1730	IRQ	+43B	−28N	+57B	−26N	−10B	+53N	+38B	−16N	=31B	4.5	36.0	39.0	16.25	1947	+46.8
31	Celik, Cem Akin	1789	TUR	=66N	+64B	−14N	−12B	+32N	−18B	=59N	+54B	=30N	4.5	34.0	36.0	14.75	1894	+23.6
32	Fathi, Himan	1968	IRI	−13B	+65N	−3B	=47N	−31B	+64N	−56N	+50B	+45N	4.5	32.5	34.5	13.25	1873	-22.2
33	Gurbanov, IsmayilCM	2143	AZE	+38B	=7B	=9N	=22N	=16B	−44N	+17B	−35N	F	4.0	40.0	43.5	20.75	1982	-29.8
34	Atug, Kemal Arda	1766	TUR	+51N	−39B	+53B	+13N	−3B	−10N	+28B	−23N	F	4.0	38.5	42.0	17.00	2018	+95.2
35	Unal, Burak Kayra	1753	TUR	+44N	+40B	−52N	=14B	=15N	F	−8B	+33B	−10N	4.0	38.0	41.0	17.00	2040	+103.2
36	Hajjarzadeh, Mohammad Reza	1746	IRI	=40N	=45B	=46B	=10N	−28B	=61N	F	+42N	=24B	4.0	33.0	35.5	16.00	1944	+38.8
37	Citil, Feyzullah	1761	TUR	−63N	+44B	+51N	−11B	−27N	+45B	−14N	+59B	F	4.0	33.0	35.5	13.50	1902	+28.4
38	Alhaj,Mohamad Saleh Ahmad.	1966	SYR	−33N	=48B	+65N	+24B	−11N	=56B	−30N	F	+43B	4.0	32.0	34.0	13.75	1891	-28.8
39	Kilic, Cihan	1959	TUR	−68B	+34N	−26B	+57N	+61B	−8N	+47B	−10N	F	4.0	31.0	31.0	13.50	1985	+5.2
40	Karakurt, Mirac	1847	TUR	=36B	−35N	−54B	=64N	=25B	+67N	−42B	=49N	+66B	4.0	27.5	29.0	11.00	1723	-56.2
41	Inciroglu, Emir Cihangir	1920	TUR	−50N	+71B	+62N	+9B	=5N	F	−3B	−7B	−18N	3.5	40.0	40.0	12.00	2012	+25.6
42	Konusoglu, Kemal Safa	1916	TUR	+15B	−2N	−18N	+50B	−9N	=55B	+40N	−36B	F	3.5	39.5	42.5	14.50	1937	+1.2
43	Ogur, Nidal Hevi	1847	TUR	−30N	+56B	+67N	−29B	−54N	+48B	=18N	−12B	−38N	3.5	33.5	35.0	10.75	1791	-14.8
44	Mursalzade, Javad	1854	AZE	−35B	−37N	+71B	F	+18N	+33B	−26N	=29B	−12N	3.5	33.0	33.0	11.75	1912	+18.8
45	Baghirova, KhatunWFM	1842	AZE	=25B	=36N	−49B	=23N	=53B	−37N	=62B	+67N	−32B	3.5	32.5	34.0	11.75	1728	-28.6
46	Ghanbarpour, Mahan	1856	IRI	+69N	−29B	=36N	−58B	+66N	−12B	+49N	−18B	−27N	3.5	32.5	33.5	8.50	1799	-15.6
47	Bicen, Ada	1832	TUR	−48N	−51B	+69N	=32B	+60N	=14B	−39N	−28N	=53B	3.5	32.0	33.0	10.75	1830	-2.7
48	Yorkan, Ahmet Selim	1713	TUR	+47B	=38N	−15B	−16N	=63B	−43N	=53B	−57B	+71N	3.5	31.0	31.0	8.50	1816	+41.2
49	Capraz, Arda	1699	TUR	=55N	=59B	+45N	−20B	−21N	=63N	−46B	=40B	=51N	3.5	30.5	33.0	11.50	1799	+21.4
50	Rzayev, Parviz	1787	AZE	+41B	−60N	−10B	−42N	=64B	+66N	−25B	−32N	+67B	3.5	30.0	31.5	8.25	1782	-3.4
51	Oztekin, Ahmet	1885	TUR	−34B	+47N	−37B	=67N	−56B	−25N	+64B	=62N	=49B	3.5	28.5	30.0	10.00	1665	-53.8
52	Soozankar, A.M.IM	2190	IRI	+28B	=21N	+35B	=8N	=17B	F	F	F	F	3.5	28.5	28.5	16.75	2108	-6.4
53	Gupluce, Melih	1894	TUR	−62N	+69B	−34N	=65B	=45N	−30B	=48N	=66B	=47N	3.5	26.0	27.0	8.25	1686	-102.4
54	Alkan, Ferman	1903	TUR	−11N	−6B	+40N	F	+43B	−13N	−24B	−31N	+57B	3.0	37.0	38.0	10.50	1913	-3.0
55	Yilmaz, Atakan	1822	TUR	=49B	+25N	=60B	−19N	−13B	=42N	=61B	F	F	3.0	32.5	32.5	11.50	1904	+10.6
56	Ozu, Sunguralp	1701	TUR	−57B	−43N	F	=59B	+51N	=38N	+32B	−14B	−21N	3.0	32.0	32.0	11.50	1829	+23.2
57	Unesi, Erdal	1826	TUR	+56N	−14B	−30N	−39B	+62N	−24B	−60B	+48N	−54N	3.0	31.5	34.5	9.50	1751	-18.8
58	Baardeh, Tahmoores	2083	IRI	+4B	=9B	−7N	+46N	=22B	F	F	F	F	3.0	31.0	31.0	15.50	2199	+30.0
59	Aktas, Ilker	1894	TUR	−65B	=49N	=25B	=56N	+67B	−23N	=31B	−37N	−62B	3.0	30.0	31.5	9.50	1646	-59.4
60	Norouzi Chenari, Parham	2008	IRI	−1N	+50B	=55N	−4N	−47B	=65B	+57N	F	F	3.0	29.0	29.0	9.00	1899	-44.0
61	Seven, Ali Oytun	1926	TUR	−18N	−24B	+66N	+62B	−39N	=36B	=55N	F	F	3.0	28.5	28.5	8.50	1833	-35.2
62	Kiray, Tuncer Efe	1771	TUR	+53B	−23N	−41B	−61N	−57B	F	=45N	=51B	+59N	3.0	28.0	28.0	10.00	1812	+7.6
63	Girgin, Muhammed Furkan	1826	TUR	+37B	=10N	−29N	−15B	=48N	=49B	F	F	F	2.5	31.0	31.0	10.50	1838	-0.4
64	Kapusuz, Hasan Huseyin	1747	TUR	=17B	−31N	−27N	=40B	=50N	−32B	−51N	+71B	F	2.5	30.0	30.0	6.50	1695	-10.8
65	Kerimoglu, Kaan Kerim	1784	TUR	+59N	−32B	−38B	=53N	−23B	=60N	F	F	−25B	2.0	31.0	32.0	6.25	1764	-10.0
66	Seyhanli, Yusuf Timucin	1702	TUR	=31B	−17N	−61B	+71N	−46B	−50B	F	=53N	−40N	2.0	27.5	27.5	4.00	1646	-22.0
67	Arkan, Ege	1704	TUR	−70N	F	−43B	=51B	−59N	−40B	+71N	−45B	−50N	1.5	22.0	22.0	1.75	1582	-44.8
68	Darvishi, Mohammad HosseinCM	2142	IRI	+39N	−5B	−20N	F	F	F	F	F	F	1.0	18.5	18.5	4.00	1970	-27.6
69	Uyan, Onur	1756	TUR	−46B	−53N	−47B	F	−24N	+71B	F	F	F	1.0	17.5	17.5	0.00	1648	-13.6
70	Keser, Cem	1800	TUR	+67B	−16N	−4B	F	F	F	F	F	F	1.0	16.5	16.5	1.50	1850	+2.8
71	Ganbarli, Huseyn	1761	AZE	−22B	−41N	−44N	−66B	F	−69N	−67B	−64N	−48B	0.0	22.5	22.5	0.00	984	-150.8

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Keloglu, Ismail CinarTUR
+105.2
5.0 pts · #24
2Unal, Burak KayraTUR
+103.2
4.0 pts · #33
3Atug, Kemal ArdaTUR
+95.2
4.0 pts · #34

Top rating losers

1Ganbarli, HuseynAZE
-150.8
0.0 pts · #71
2Gupluce, MelihTUR
-102.4
3.5 pts · #45
3Aktas, IlkerTUR
-59.4
3.0 pts · #62

Biggest upsets

R4+417 Elo gap
Atug, Kemal Arda1766 beat Maruflu, Enes Yusuf2183
R8+390 Elo gap
Unal, Burak Kayra1753 beat CMGurbanov, Ismayil2143
R6+289 Elo gap
Mursalzade, Javad1854 beat CMGurbanov, Ismayil2143