GMs SP Sethuraman of Chennai and Vladislav Borovikov of Ukraine took the lead with 4.5 points each after the fifth round of the second Hyderabad International Grandmasters chess tournament on Thursday.
Playing the white side of Alekhine’s Defence, Sethuraman exploited the weaknesses on the king side of GM MR Lalith Babu to garner full point after 41 moves, while Borovikov defeated Azerbaijan GM Azer Mirzoev in a Slav Defense game that lasted 37 moves.
The top board battle between Georgian GMs Merab Gagunashvili and Levan Pantsulaia ended in a draw after 25 moves.
The second board game between GM Vidit Gujarathi and GM Alon Greenfeld of Israel produced some exciting moments but the latter failed to convert his advantage into a win and the rivals agreed to split the point after 64 moves.
Earlier, the B category of the event for those below 2100 in Elo rating started with 221 players. In the opening round, Andhra Pradesh lad Raja Rithvik held second seed Ketan Khaire of Maharasthra. Tulasi Ram Kumar of Andhra outwitted sixth seed and statemate B Kranthi Kumar.
Important results (Category A): GM Merab Gagunashvili (Geo, 4) drew with GM Levan Pantsulaia (Geo, 4); GM Vidit Gujarathi (Ind, 4) drew with GM Alon Greenfled (Isr, 4); GM SP Sethuraman (Ind, 4.5) bt GM MR Lalith Babu (Ind, 3.5); GM Vladislav Borovikov (Ukr, 4.5) bt GM Azer Mirzoev (Aze, 3.5); GM Levon Babujian (Arm, 4) bt IM Mikhail Mozharov (Rus, 3.5); GM Ivan Popov (Rus, 4) bt MS IM Thejkumar (Ind, 3); WGM Soumya Swaminathan (Ind, 3.5) drew with GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (Arm, 3.5); IM Shardul Gagare (Ind, 3.5) drew with GM Tornike Sanikidze (Geo, 3.5); IM C Praveen Kumar (Ind, 3.5) drew with GM Vasily Papin (Rus, 3.5); GM Hovik Hayrapetyan (Arm, 3.5) drew with IM P Konguvel (Ind, 3.5); Aravindh Chithambaram (Ind, 3) lost to GM Valeriy Neverov (Ukr, 3.5); GM S Arun Prasad (Ind, 3.5) bt IM Rahul Sangma (Ind, 2.5); IM Jacek Stopa (Pol, 3) drew with IM Ravichandran Siddharath (Ind, 3).