Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 14: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa continued to shine on the global stage as he held Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda to a tense draw in the sixth round of the Superbet Chess Classics, maintaining his joint lead with 3.5 points in this leg of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour.
Facing the black pieces in an English Opening, Praggnanandhaa showed composure and tactical awareness. Duda, in an aggressive attempt to unsettle the Indian prodigy, sacrificed his queen for a rook and minor piece midway through the game. However, Praggnanandhaa calculated accurately and ensured there was no room for error, eventually steering the match to a balanced draw.
Meanwhile, French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the other overnight co-leader, settled for a quick draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, ensuring the leaderboard remains tight going into the next round.
Al Ain (UAE): Back home in the women’s circuit, Woman Grandmaster Srija Seshadri displayed grit and determination in the Asian Continental Women’s Chess Championship, battling to a draw against India's top-rated woman player Vantika Agrawal. The result allowed Srija to retain her place at the top with six points from seven rounds, now sharing the lead with Mungunzul Bat-Erdene of Mongolia, who defeated India's PV Nandhidhaa.
The championship remains wide open as the tournament enters a crucial phase, with several top contenders vying for the crown.
In the Open category, Bardiya Daneshvar of Iran held on to his lead after a draw with Russia’s Ivan Zemlyanskii. Indian GM Murali Karthikeyan, placed second overnight, also drew his match against another Russian, Sergei Lobanov.
Interestingly, the presence of Russian players in an Asian event raised eyebrows among followers of the sport, as geopolitical developments have restricted their participation in European tournaments. This strategic shift could reshape the dynamics of Asian chess events in the near future.
The coming rounds promise to be thrilling as Indian players continue to make their mark on both global and continental stages.