IM Bardiya Daneshvar is a new Iranian champion. The 16-year-old youngster from Teheran, who has rapidly progressed in the FIDE rating list this year, emerged as the winner of the 55th Iranian Championship and took his maiden national title.

The 14-player round-robin with classical time control took place in Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province in northern Iran, from June 15-24. The event, which did not attract top Iranian GMs, turned into a close race between Bardiya Daneshvar and the rating-favourite IM Seyed Khalil Mousavi, who was coming into the final round a half-point ahead of his main rival.

However, Bardiya pulled off a crucial victory over Arash Dahli and caught up with Seyed Khalil (pictured below), who made a quick draw with White against Ali Rastbod. Both scored an impressive 9½/13 and tied for the first place, but the title went to Daneshvar by dint of better Sonnerborn-Berger (second tiebreak variable).

The 13-time national champion Ehsan Ghaem Maghami took the last place on the podium after edging out Ali Rastbod again, thanks to better tiebreaks.

Final standings:

Photos: Sharif Nataj and Mazandaran Chess Association Telegram channel