Indian Grandmaster GM Chanda Sandipan (2555) extended his superb unbeaten run as he tamed Bangladesh Grandmaster Rahman Ziaur (2468) in a fifth round match of the EKA IIFWL Investment Mangers 4th Mumbai International GM Chess Tournament 2018, organized under the auspices of Mumbai City District Chess Association and All India chess federation by ACT, SMCA and Indian Chess School and played at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade.
Indian IM Visakh N.R. (2491) defeated compatriot Balasubramaniam H. (2270) in a fifth round match of the EKA IIFWL Investment Mangers 4th Mumbai International GM Chess Tournament 2018.
Playing on the top board, the fourth ranked 35-year-old Sandipan playing with white pieces easily outshone his 44-year-old Bangladesh rival Rahman coasting to victory in just 22 moves to collect the full point and retain the pole position.
Meanwhile, in a contest between two young Indian challengers and both from Tamil Nadu, 20-year-old IM Visakh N.R. (2491) halted the solid winning streak of 15-year-old Balasubramaniam H. (2270) by scoring a win with the black pieces in 53 moves on the third board.
At the halfway stage, Sandipan with 4.5 points and a better tiebreaker score stays atop the standings. Vietnam GM Tran Tuan Minh (2524) who defeated India’s IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh (2437) on the second board and Visakh, both with the same number of 4.5 points each follow in second and third place respectively.
Results – Round 5 (top-10 boards): GM Chanda Sandipan (IND, 2555) 4.5 beat GM Rahman Ziaur (BAN, 2468) 3.5.
IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh (IND, 2437) 3.5 lost GM Tran Tuan Minh (VIE, 2524) 4.5.
Balasubramaniam H (IND, 2270) 3.5 lost IM Visakh N.R. (IND, 2491) 4.5.
GM Manik Mikulas (SVK, 2410) 3.5 drew GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR, 2590) 3.5.
GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (IND, 2550) 4 beat FM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN, 2381) 3.
IM Sardana Rishi (AUS, 2398) 4 beat GM Mosadeghpour Masoud (IRI, 2520) 3.
IM Rathnakaran K. (IND, 2366) 4 beat GM Movsziszian Karen (ARM, 2505) 3.
GM Saptarshi Roy (IND, 2494) 3 lost IM Muthaiah Al (IND, 2408) 4.
IM Khusenkhojaev Muhammad (TJK, 2455) 3.5 drew Pranesh M (IND, 2125) 3.5.
Ritviz Parab (IND, 2338) 4 beat IM Das Sayantan (IND, 2453).
Standings after round 5: 1. GM Chanda Sandipan (IND) 4.5 pts, 2. GM Tran Tuan Minh (VIE) 4.5, 3. IM Visakh N.R. (IND) 4.5, 4. IM Muthaiah Al (IND) 4, 5. IM Sardana Rishi (AUS) 4, 6. GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (IND) 4, 7. IM Shyaamnikhil P. (IND) 4, 8. Ritviz Parab (IND) 4, 9. IM Rathnakaran K. (IND) 4, 10. GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR) 3.5.