Round 6 report of World Youth Chess Championship 2024 in Brazil :Mrittika Mallick is trailing the leader by Half point in Girls Under 16 category.

After a second-round loss, Mrittika Mallick bounced back impressively with four consecutive wins, keeping her medal hopes alive. In her latest game, she played the Najdorf as Black, initially slipping into a worse position after the opening. However, her opponent, Zhapova Yana, couldn’t capitalize, and after Mrittika’s bold piece sacrifice, Yana faltered under tactical pressure.

Meanwhile, medal contender Harsh Suresh suffered a crucial loss against the USA’s Chasin Nico in the Kann-Paulsen variation of the Sicilian. Harsh was caught off guard early in the opening and missed a decisive Nd5 tactical blow. He now stands in a joint fourth position with five rounds remaining.

Jihan Shah managed a draw against England’s Badacsoni Stanley in a Queen’s Pawn opening after his opponent opted for a repetition in a superior position, making Jihan the only Indian player still undefeated. In the under-16 category, Samyak Dharwa confidently held his higher-rated opponent to a draw in the Sicilian Najdorf, while Daksh Goyal was defeated.

National under-14 champion Viresh Sharnarthi kept his medal hopes alive with a sixth-round victory over Boulos Paul of France, bringing his score to 4.5/6, though the leader remains at a perfect 6/6. Abheek Bhatt, in the same category, also won, reaching 3.5 points. In the girls’ section, Sanmathi Sree won to reach 4 points, while Rajanya Datta and Shreya, still seeking their form, scored 3 and 3.5 points, respectively. With tomorrow as a rest day, the Indian team will look to recharge and regroup for the second half of the tournament.