Aravindh, Praggnanandhaa and Sahaj in the lead at the London Chess Open 2019

by Shahid Ahmed - 01/12/2019

National Triple Crown champion GM Aravindh Chithambaram is the top seed of 11th CSC London Chess Classic 2019 Open. He is in the lead with a score of 3.0/3 along with eleven other players including two other Indians, Praggnanandhaa and Sahaj Grover. All three of them are vying for the top spot. The eleventh edition of tournament witnesses a total participation of 165 players including 15 GMs, 14 IMs, a WGM and a WIM from 35 different countries all over the globe. There are various other parallel and side events taking place, apart from this tournament and Grand Chess Tour finals starting on 2nd December 2019. Photo: Lennart Ootes/London Chess Classic and Tata Steel Chess

Indian trio make a strong start at London

11th CSC London Chess Classic Open started on 29th November 2019. National Triple Crown champion GM Aravindh Chithambaram is the top seed of the tournament. Along with him GM Praggnanandhaa R and GM Sahaj Grover are the other Indians who are in the lead with 3.0/3 at the conclusion of round 3.

Aravindh, Praggnanandhaa and Sahaj - The Indian trio made a strong start | Photo: Lennart Ootes/London Chess Classic and Tata Steel Chess

Aravindh showcases his creative finish | Photo: Lennart Ootes/London Chess Classic

Aravindh's most creative win came in the third round against IM Martin Percivaldi (2384) of Denmark.

Aravindh - Percivaldi, Round 3

It is evident that white is winning here, can you find the correct winning plan for White here?

Praggnanandhaa is poised for a podium finish | Photo: Lennart Ootes/London Chess Classic

Praggnanandhaa scored three clinical victories in three rounds. In round 3, he defeated IM Richard A Bates (2342) of England.

Sahaj Grover is also in the lead with 3.0/3 | Photo: Tata Steel Chess

Sahaj scored three fine victories in three rounds to be in the lead with eleven other players.

Cox - Sahaj, Round 3

Find the finish for black here

The tournament has a round everyday, only yesterday 30th November had double rounds. Total 165 players from 35 different countries including 15 GMs, 14 IMs, a WGM and a WIM are taking part in this 11th CSC London Chess Classic 2019 Open organized by Chess in Schools and Communities from 29th November to 6th December 2019 at Olympia Conference Centre, London.

Round 3 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	1	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr	2605	2	1 - 0	2	IM	Percivaldi Martin	2384	24
2	27	IM	Beinoras Mindaugas	2350	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Moussard Jules	2600	2
3	3	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2586	2	1 - 0	2	IM	Bates Richard A	2342	28
4	32	FM	Zujev Oleg	2316	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Smirnov Anton	2573	4
5	6	GM	Fodor Tamas Jr	2533	2	½ - ½	2	FM	Risting Eivind Olav	2298	34
6	33	IM	Cox John J	2306	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Grover Sahaj	2508	7
7	8	GM	Gordon Stephen J	2505	2	1 - 0	2	FM	Van Zyl-Rudd Jack	2290	36
8	37		Cumming Rhys	2284	2	0 - 1	2	IM	Petrov Martin	2497	9
9	10	GM	Gormally Daniel W	2491	2	1 - 0	2	FM	Czerw Dawid	2255	40
10	42	FM	Blackburn Jonathan Lb	2240	2	0 - 1	2	IM	Song Raymond	2468	11
11	12	GM	Flear Glenn C	2463	2	½ - ½	2	CM	Makkar Rajat	2125	71
12	43	FM	Lee Qing Aun	2228	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Arkell Keith C	2445	13
13	16	IM	Pert Richard G	2436	2	1 - 0	2		Pollack Oscar	2112	75
14	63	FM	Walker Martin G	2162	2	0 - 1	2	GM	Cherniaev Alexander	2428	19
15	5	GM	Maze Sebastien	2541	1½	1 - 0	2		Balaji Aaravamudhan	2080	80

Complete results

Round 4 pairings

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	9	IM	Petrov Martin	2497	3		3	GM	Aravindh Chithambaram Vr	2605	1
2	2	GM	Moussard Jules	2600	3		3	GM	Gormally Daniel W	2491	10
3	11	IM	Song Raymond	2468	3		3	GM	Praggnanandhaa R	2586	3
4	4	GM	Smirnov Anton	2573	3		3	IM	Pert Richard G	2436	16
5	7	GM	Grover Sahaj	2508	3		3	GM	Cherniaev Alexander	2428	19
6	13	GM	Arkell Keith C	2445	3		3	GM	Gordon Stephen J	2505	8
7	34	FM	Risting Eivind Olav	2298	2½		2½	GM	Maze Sebastien	2541	5
8	41	FM	Berry Neil	2250	2½		2½	GM	Fodor Tamas Jr	2533	6
9	46		Papadiamandis Elliot	2220	2½		2½	GM	Flear Glenn C	2463	12
10	15	GM	Hebden Mark L	2436	2½		2½		Ratnesan Ranesh	2180	58
11	48		Bukojemski Adam	2211	2½		2½	IM	Kirk Ezra G	2433	17
12	66		Ethelontis Alexandros N	2139	2½		2½	GM	McDonald Neil R	2412	22
13	71	CM	Makkar Rajat	2125	2½		2½	FM	Sowray Peter J	2316	31
14	43	FM	Lee Qing Aun	2228	2		2	IM	Clarke Brandon Gi	2431	18
15	47		Dong Bao Nghia	2217	2		2	IM	Merry Alan B	2426	20

Complete pairings

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