World Youth Chess C’ship | R Praggnanandhaa slips to second position after disappointing draw
India’s Grand Master R Praggnanandhaa could only manage a draw against top seed Sargsyan Shant of Armenia that saw him losing his lead to Iran’s Aryan Gholami as the Indian went down to second spot. International Master Mitrabha Guha and Grand Master P Iniyan also joined him after their results.
Praggnanandhaa played a quick draw against Shant, while Gholami scored an easy win in round seven of the Under-18 Open category of the World Youth Chess Championship in Mumbai on Monday.Â
Praggnanandhaa was joined by Guha, who pulled off his second straight win to take his tally to 5.5 points and Iniyan, who had to settle for a draw and remain in striking distance of the lead trio.
In the Under 18 category, top seed WIM Polina Shuvalova of Russia held her top position easing to a quick win against WFM Anna Afonasieva. The Russian has 6 points now and could be joined by Poland’s Alicja Sliwicka.
India’s best hopes, however, is A Harshini, who inched to 4.5 points with a win over Makhija Aashna, with 4 points, although she was yet to play her match.
The Under-16 Open, CM Aronyak Ghosh also saw a draw with compatriot Moksh Amit Doshi as Ghosh took the second position along with Rudik Makarian of Russia. Rudik went on to lose to Moke Hans Niemann, giving him the top position with 6 points.
In the Under-14 Open, India’s duo, LR Srihari and R Abinandhan, registered victories to join top seed Aydin Suleymanli of Azerbaijan in the lead with 6 points apiece.
