Ljubljana has a long and rich chess tradition. For many years, the traditional international Ljubljana Open was organized in Ljubljana, which unfortunately died in 2009. In 2013, Velim Minister Darja Kapš recognized the potential of the capital of Slovenia for the organization of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. Together with the chess player Indira Bajt, they organized the first Ljubljana Chess Festival in March 2014. The one-day chess festival with a rich fund (11,000 euros), an interesting cultural program and eminent guests attracted 250 chess players from all over Europe and set the following standards of the organization. With the establishment of the Chess Club Ljubljana from the end of 2015, the capital gained a new chess drive. Every year (with the exception of the period of the pandemic), an interesting one-day chess spectacle takes place in the capital. Chessdom has been closely following the event since its first edition, that was won by Vladimir Dobrov and we will provide live games, reports, and information on Ljubljana 2025 as well. The event will be featured at the Chessdom Newsletter, for which you can signup for FREE with your email in the form below

Ljubljana Chess 2025 live games

Ljubljana Chess 2025 participants

Sohum Lohia commented for Chessdom, “My main goal is to keep enjoying chess. I would also like to make improvements in the areas I’m currently struggling in. I would like to thank my family for believing in me and my Coaches for pushing me.” His mother Aarti Lohia noted, “I am very happy for Sohum. It hasn’t been an easy road for him because we moved to the UK when Sohum was 7. It was extremely difficult navigating the chess ecosystem in the UK as there was hardly any information or help available from chess parents or the federation. Despite the ups and downs Sohum stuck to chess and worked hard. His success comes from his focus and determination.”

Sohum Lohia – a rising chess star

Profile: International Master (IM) 
Sohum Lohia
Age: 15 | Nationality: Indian | Title: International Master (2025)

Sohum Lohia is a 15-year-old chess prodigy from England and one of some 35 International Masters under the age of 16 worldwide. With a FIDE rating on the rise and a string of successes to his name, he is fast becoming a name to watch in the world of competitive chess.

Born in Singapore, Sohum began playing chess at the age of 6—learning the game alongside his mother, Aarti Lohia. His natural talent quickly caught the attention of a visiting Indian chess coach, who urged Aarti to invest in formal training. Unfortunately, by the time Sohum turned 7 the family had to move to the UK which resulted in a one year break from chess for young Sohum.  It was difficult for the family to navigate the chess ecosystem in the UK so Aarti reached out to family friend Aruna Anand (5-time world champion Vishwanathan Anand’s wife) for advice and this led to his early mentorship under RB Ramesh, the renowned coach of several Indian chess stars, including GM R. Praggnanandhaa.

By age nine, Sohum was back at the board—and rising fast. In 2019, he made history by winning both the British Under-10 and Under-11 Championships in the same year, a feat not repeated since 1996.  Earlier he had won the British under-8 championships and won 2nd place in the under-9 championships.   

Sohum’s growth continued steadily. By the end of 2021, he had crossed a FIDE ELO rating of 2200, and with the support of his coaches, he kept climbing. Chess columnist Leonard Barden identified Sohum as one of England’s top juniors. 

His training has been shaped by the guidance of world-class mentors, including RB Ramesh and GM Luke McShane. Sohum also draws immense inspiration and guidance from GM Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand, close family friends whose counsel has deeply influenced his growth both on and off the board.

Behind his rise is not just talent, but also a family’s dedication. His mother, Aarti, has been his constant companion—traveling across continents, balancing life with two other children, and spending countless hours outside tournament halls. Her advocacy for chess and belief in its power to develop discipline and resilience have been pivotal in shaping Sohum’s journey. Aarti is currently filming her first chess documentary.  

With the International Master title now to his name, Sohum stands at the edge of even greater challenges—with the Grandmaster title in sight. Whether it’s his ability to be calm under pressure, deep strategic insight, or love for the game, one thing is clear: this is just the opening act of a remarkable chess career.

The winner of the Southend Chess Masters Grandmaster group is GM Pawel Teclaf with 6,5/9. FM Alex Golding finished second with 6,0/5, while FM Sohum Lohia received the bronze, edging GM Vojtech Plat and GM Igor Janik, who all finished with 5,5/9. Alex Golding and Sohum Lohia both won IM norms.

Paweł Teclaf, born June 18, 2003, in Kartuzy, Poland, is a Polish chess Grandmaster (GM) since 2023, having earned the International Master (IM) title in 2019. His peak FIDE rating was 2586 in August 2023, ranking him 7th in Poland and 237th globally at the time. Seven-time Polish Junior Champion in classical chess (2011–2021, ages 8–18) and six-time champion in blitz. Won bronze medals at the World Junior Championships (U10, 2013; U14, 2017). Pawel Teclaf also qualified for the 2021 FIDE World Cup, losing to Gukesh D in the first round.

Southend Chess Masters Grandmaster final standings

The IM Round Robin was won by Wenxiang Li with 6,5/9, ahead of FM Koby Kalavannan with 6,0/9 and FM Kenneth Hobson with 5,5/9. For Wenxiang Li the result also brings an IM norm.

Southend Chess Masters IM group final standings

More about the Southend Easter Chess Festival and the final norm of Sohum Lohia in the Chessdom Newsletter, that begins this week. Signup for FREE to get it daily into your mailbox