Frederik Svane won the Sardinia World Chess Festival's Open A section with 7½/9, edging out a brutally tight field. He clinched clear first in the final round by beating India's Murali Karthikeyan, separating himself from three players who all finished on 7/9.
Haik Martirosyan, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Mamikon Gharibyan shared second place, with tiebreaks determining the exact order. Martirosyan's superior tiebreak score gave him the runner-up spot. The closeness of the finish shows the tournament's strength. Svane's final push mattered.
This was the third edition of the festival, held at Club Hotel Marina Beach in Orosei. The event has established itself as one of Italy's strongest open tournaments, combining competitive chess with Sardinia's appeal as a destination.
Separately, Faustino Oro achieved a historic result by securing his grandmaster title at the same event. That breakthrough marks a significant step in Oro's career. The Sardinia festival continues to produce results worth watching, mixing established names like Nepomniachtchi with rising talent making breakthroughs.