Fifth and sixth rounds see intense battles as title race heats up in boys’ and girls’ categories
Jamshedpur, December 19: The fifth and sixth rounds of the National Chess Championship, played on December 18 and 19, witnessed intense and high-quality competition as leading international and national players fought hard to improve their standings. With crucial victories and surprising upsets, the title race in both boys’ and girls’ categories has become more exciting.
Boys’ Category: Mayank on Top
Assam’s International Master Mayank Chakraborty emerged as the standout performer in the boys’ section. On the fourth day of play, Mayank registered his second consecutive win by defeating Maharashtra’s FIDE Master Jayveer Mahendu. With this victory, he strengthened his position at the top of the table and now leads with 6 points after six rounds.
Goa’s International Master Ethan Vaz, the top seed of the tournament, continued his strong run by defeating Telangana’s highly rated Vignesh Advait Vemula (rating 2428). Vaz currently holds second place with 5.5 points. In another key encounter, Tamil Nadu’s FM Arnav Maheshwari played out a draw against Andhra Pradesh’s IM M.D. Imran, leaving both players tied at 4.5 points.
The seventh round promises a crucial clash, as table-topper Mayank Chakraborty is set to face second-placed Ethan Vaz, a match that could significantly influence the final standings.
Girls’ Category: Shubhi Takes the Lead
In the girls’ section, Uttar Pradesh’s Woman FIDE Master Shubhi Gupta continued her impressive performance by defeating Andhra Pradesh’s Woman Candidate Master Shravyasri Bhimarasetty. With this win, Shubhi moved into sole leadership with 6 points.
West Bengal’s Mrittika Mallick produced one of the biggest upsets of the round by defeating higher-rated FIDE Master Sherali Patnaik of Uttarakhand. Telangana’s AIM Sharanya Gade also impressed by beating Tripura’s WFM Arshiya Das in a closely contested game.
After six rounds, Mrittika Mallick stands second with 5.5 points, keeping pressure on the leader.
Championship Heats Up
As the tournament progresses, competition on the top boards is becoming increasingly fierce. With several decisive rounds still to be played, thrilling encounters and potential shifts in the leaderboard are expected in the days ahead.
