Who Will Take the Lead? Mumbai Open Chess Update

Mumbai, June 23 (NationPress) The Mumbai International Grandmaster Chess Tournament experienced a significant shift in the leaderboard during the seventh round. Veteran Grandmaster Aleksej Aleksandrov from Belarus ascended to the top with a remarkable victory at the World Trade Centre. Meanwhile, in the junior category, Candidate Master Madhesh Kumar from Puducherry claimed the sole lead by defeating Ramanu Mishra, achieving a score of 6.5 out of 7.

His consistent performance positions him as the leading contender for the title, particularly after tournament favorite and top seed FM Aansh Nerurkar was held to a draw by Shaunak Badole.

In the Grandmaster Section, the much-anticipated clash between Armenian players GM Manuel Petrosyan and IM Arsen Davtyan concluded in a swift 16-move draw, with both players taking a cautious approach.

A similar result was noted on board 2, where GM Mamikon Gharibyan and Indian GM Lalit Babu agreed to a 36-move draw in the Ruy Lopez.

However, the day truly ignited on board 3, where GM Aleksej Aleksandrov showcased his extensive experience and sharp tactical skills, defeating GM Sanikidze Tornike from Georgia in a complex and thrilling match stemming from the Queen’s Pawn Opening.

This crucial victory propels Aleksandrov to lead with 6.5 points out of a possible 7, firmly positioning him as the favorite with only two rounds remaining.

A competitive group of seven players closely follows the leader, each with 6 points. This group includes GM Mamikon Gharibyan, GM Manuel Petrosyan, GM Nguyen Van Huy, GM Lalit Babu, GM Sergey Fedorov, Indian GM Neelotpal Das, and IM Arsen Davtyan. The seventh round has set the stage for an exhilarating conclusion to this tournament, boasting a total prize fund of Rs 25 lakh.

Earlier on Sunday, overnight leaders GM Lalit Babu (India) and IM Arsen Davtyan (Armenia) could not establish dominance, resulting in a balanced draw and opening the door for others to challenge for the lead after Round 6 of the Rs 40 lakh prize money Mumbai International Grandmaster and Junior Chess Tournament. After six rounds, five players are tied at 5.5/6, setting up a thrilling race to the finish.

In one of the tournament's most significant upsets, IM Nayaka Buddhidharma (Indonesia) held top seed GM Levan Pantsulaia (Georgia) to a well-deserved draw.

In other matches, GM Manuel Petrosyan (Armenia) seized the opportunity, winning a solid game with the White pieces against Alexander Slizhevsky (Russia), while GM Aleksej Aleksandrov (Belarus) made a statement by decisively defeating GM Luka Paichadze (Georgia).