Round 3 : 1st Chola Chess International Grandmaster Norm Round Robin Tournament 2026, Chennai.

   India’s International Master Vaz Ethen of Chola Chess is sharing the lead with Grandmaster Suleymenov Alisher (Kazkhastan) with 2.5 points  at the end of the third round of the 1^st Chola Chess International Grandmaster Norm Round Robin Tournament 2026 now going on in Chola Chess, Chennai.

           In Queen’s Gambit accepted variation GM Suleymenov Alisher emerged pawn in the early part of opening with white pieces. Again on the 34^th move Alisher could usurp one more central pawn. With two pawns down GM Girel Joseph also from France tried his might with pair of bishops against white’s two knights. But Alisher’s meticulous handling of ending earned him a full point in 37 moves.

         In an interesting encounter between two GM norm holders Vaz Ethen and Aronyak Ghosh the game ended in favour of the former. Ethen, needing a desperate win chose  sharp Trompowsky attack on the white side. He secured an extra pawn towards end game to outclass Aronya in  a theoretical rook and pawn ending which lasted for 74 moves.

            Against Reti opening of GM Delgado Neuris the Indian boy Harsh Suresh slipped into little inferior position in the latter part of the middle game. However Harsh put up a stubborn defense and did not allow any breakthrough forcing the GM from Paraguay to split the point in a equal queen and pawn end game.

           The exchange variation of Ruy Lopez opening employed by Mahel Boyer against Mayank Chakraborthy was without any blood shed and the players decided to settle for a draw in an absolute rook and pawn end game.

              In a sicilian game both Akshay Borgaonkar and Ameya Audi signed a peace treaty after 32 moves when both maintained Queen, Rook and a minor piece plus equal number of pawns.