Ukraine and India lead in IIFL Wealth Mumbai Open

Ukraine and India lead in IIFL Wealth Mumbai Open

Seven rounds of play have ended in the 2nd IIFL Wealth Mumbai International Open taking place at the Mount Litera School International. Two Ukrainians—GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy and GM Valeriy Neverov—and two Indians—GM Diptayan Ghosh and IM Rahul Sangma—share the lead with 6.0/7. The top table game between Neverov and Bernadskiy ended in a draw.

On the second table, IM Sayantan Das and GM Diptayan Ghosh started playing chess together and have been partners for the most part of their young careers. When the pairings force you to play a player whom you know intimately, it becomes difficult to prepare. Diptayan understood that and yet, he managed to spring a novelty on move 13 of a Kings Indian Defence with white pieces, which he had prepared some time back.

Rahul Sangma of the Railways beat the in-form youngster Tarun V Kanth of Tamil Nadu to join the leaders.

In the juniors section for competitors aged under 13, overnight leaders Pranav V and Sankarsha Shelke fought each other on the top board and Pranav came out victorious. Pranav V. thus became the sole leader with 7.5/8.

On the second table, National Under-11 champion Manish Anto Cristiano of Tamil Nadu beat third seed Aronyak Ghosh reaching 7.0/8.

The results have set up an exciting finale in the final round to be held on 03 January.