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Siddhanth Poonja and Lokesh N win the Global Star Offline Cup Rapid and Blitz sections respectively

by Tina Popli - 19/08/2025

CircleChess hosted its second rated tournament at the Global Malls Divinity, Bangalore, bringing together passionate players for some exciting chess battles. In the rapid section, Siddhanth Poonja took first place, while Lokesh impressed everyone by winning the blitz category. The total prize pool was Rs. 5 Lakh, with top prizes awarded to the best three players. Beyond individual wins, the tournament also recognized the Best Academy, Best Caissa School of Chess students, and a creative Parent-Child Duo, adding a fun and personal touch to the competition. Read the article to know more. Photo: CircleChess

A tournament with special prizes

The Global Star Offline Cup took place in Bangalore on 10th and 12th August 2025. A total of around 620 participants registered for the event. It featured both Rapid and Blitz sections. The event attracted strong participation from players and their families, especially because of the special prizes for Best Academy and the Parent-Child Duo category. This was a second rated tournament organised by CircleChess at the Global Malls Divinity, Bangalore.

Rapid section

Siddhanth Poonja, was the champion of the Global Star Offline Cup, 13th CircleChess Global Star Offline Cup. He scored 9/9, undefeated in the whole rapid tournament.

Siddhanth's mindblowing performance at the Global Star Offline Cup. | Source: Chessresults

Siddhanth Poonja receiving an award from the Founder and CEO of CircleChess, Kumar Gaurav. | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Karan J P(8/9) and Peter Anand(8/9) followed in the second and third positions, respectively.

Podium finishers of the 13th CircleChess rapid-rated tournament. | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Final rankings of the 13th CircleChess rapid-rated tournament. | Photo: Chessresults

Check out the complete list.

Blitz Section

In the blitz section, Lokesh N was unstoppable, scoring an 8/9 to take the championship title. Siddhanth Poonja(8/9) secured second, while Peter Anand A secured third place with a score of 7.5/8.

Podium finishers of the Blitz tournament. | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Top 10 finishers at the 13th CircleChess Blitz Tournament. | Photo: Chessresults

Check out the complete list.

"When we hosted our first tournament, our aim was to make it special for everyone - setting new standards for players and organizers in chess events. That same vision carried forward into our second FIDE-rated tournament, where we worked to raise the bar even higher. With the support of BUDCA President Mrs. Sowmya and Chief Arbiter Vasanth B.H. and Banshu (From CircleChess), every detail was planned with care. Hosting it in a spacious, air-conditioned venue in Bangalore ensured comfort for players and provided ample seating for parents and guardians, making it an enjoyable experience for all."

-Kumar Gaurav, Founder of CircleChess

Some special captures from the tournament

A special Father Daughter moment captured before the round starts :). | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Smile before an intense round. | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess
Waiting for the game to begin. | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Deep in thought! | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Concentration at its best! | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

Future Grandmaster! | Photo: Tina Popli/CircleChess

How CircleChess is Making an Impact

CircleChess, a tech startup founded by chess enthusiasts, parents, and technology professionals. They focus on simplifying various aspects of chess tournaments like player registration, pairing notifications, real-time updates, and scheduling. They have also recently organized a huge chess tournament, with over 19,000 players registering for a single event on International Chess Day through its platform, Caissa. Their Caissa School of Chess has now expanded to multiple countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. You can visit their official website here.


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