3rd Goa GM R6-7: Slizhevsky, Semetei and Fedorov in a three-way lead
by Shahid Ahmed - 17/01/2025
GM Alexei Fedorov joined IM Alexander Slizhevsky and IM Semetei Tologon Tegin (KGZ) in a three-way lead at Late Shri Manohar Parrikar Goa International GM Tournament 2025 after Round 7. The coleaders - Slizhevsky and Semetei drew their game against each other in Round 6. Fedorov defeated FM Quoc Hy Nguyen (VIE) in Round 7 to make it a three-way 6/7. Eight Indians are currently trailing the leaders by a half point at 5.5/7 each. Nithin Babu is the sole untitled player among them. He drew with IM Ethan Vaz and beat GM Deepan Chakkravarthy in consecutive rounds. Round 8 starts today at 10 a.m. IST. Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Eight in pursuit
Apart from Nithin Babu, Sriram Adarsh Uppala also had a great day. He drew with GM Mitrabha Guha and IM Ameya Audi in Round 6 and 7 respectively. Sarayu Velpula has emerged the top scorer among female players at 4.5/7.
The tournament banner | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Round 6: Slizhevsky and Semetei remain coleaders
IM Alexander Slizhevsky and IM Semetei Tologon Tegin (KGZ) drew their game to maintain the lead
| Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
IM Sanket Chakravarty analyzes his draw with GM Diptayan Ghosh and loss against IM Aronyak Ghosh in Round 6 and 7 respectively | Video: Sanket Chakravarty
IM Sanket Chakravarty (pictured) - GM Diptayan Ghosh: 0.5-0.5
| Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
GM Sethuraman S P comfortably defeated GM Duc Hoa Nguyen (VIE)
| Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Sriram Adarsh Uppala had a hard-fought draw against GM Mitrabha Guha in Round 6 and IM Ameya Audi in Round 7 | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Anirudhha Potawad drew with IM Shahil Dey and IM Uurtsaikh Agibileg (MGL) in Round 6 and 7 respectively | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Round 7: Fedorov moves to the top
IM Semetei Tologon Tegin (KGZ, 2351) had a well contested draw with GM Sethuraman S P (2560).
GM Alexei Fedorov defeated FM Quoc Hy Nguyen (VIE) to make it a three-way lead 6/7 | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Nithin - Deepan
Position after 44.Rb6
It was a difficult rook vs bishop and knight endgame. Nithin Babu (2169) had an extra pawn against GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (2413). 44...Bc4 is the correct way according to the computer to stay in the fight. Instead, Black played 44...Bd3?? 45.Rxf6+ Kg7 46.Re6 and White went on to win the game.
Nithin Babu drew with IM Ethan Vaz in Round 6 and defeated GM Deepan Chakkravarthy in Round 7 | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
IM Ethan Vaz - FM Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi (pictured): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
FM Ram Aravind L N drew with IM Kaustuv Kundu and GM Anurag Mhamal in Round 6 and 7 respectively | Photo: Shahid Ahmed
FM Arjun Adireddy drew with GM Siddharth Jagadeesh (SGP) and defeated IM Neelash Saha in Round 6 and 7 respectively | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
IM S Rohith Krishna got the better of GM Laxman R R
| Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
IM Kushagra Mohan drew with GM Laxman R R in Round 6 and defeated GM Saptarshi Roy in Round 7 | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
Sarayu Velpula is currently the top female scorer 4.5/7 | Photo: IA NI Vivek Sohani
A total of 187 players including 17 GMs, 34 IMs and 6 WIMs are taking part from 17 countries across the world including India in Category A (>2000). The tournament is organized by Goa Chess Association from 11th to 19th January 2025 at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panaji, Goa. The ten-round Swiss league tournament has a time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.