Top seed GM Iniyan Pa joins Alexey Fedorov, Audi Ameya and Alexander Sizhevsky at the summit; teenage talents Akshay Borgaonkar and Daaevik Wadhawan impress with draws against higher-rated opponents
Mumbai: National Champion and top seed Grandmaster Iniyan Pa of Tamil Nadu emerged among the joint leaders after the second round of the Masters Category at the 360 ONE Global Chess Festival, currently underway at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai.
Iniyan, one of India’s leading grandmasters, shares the lead with GM Alexey Fedorov, IM Audi Ameya and IM Alexander Sizhevsky, with all four players maintaining a perfect score of two points from two rounds in the 56-player Masters field.
The biggest upset of the day came when Belarusian Grandmaster Alexey Fedorov defeated compatriot Mihail Nikitenko, the tournament’s seventh seed, to move into the leading pack.
Among the emerging talents, teenager Akshay Borgaonkar continued his impressive run by holding higher-rated IM Harsh Suresh to a draw. Another promising youngster, Daaevik Wadhawan, earned a creditable draw against Grandmaster Luka Paichadze, showcasing his growing stature on the national chess circuit.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old sensation Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, the top seed in both the Challengers and Junior Masters categories, maintained his perfect record to jointly lead both sections after two rounds.
The Challengers category has witnessed intense competition, with 43 players among a field of 261 participants remaining on a perfect score of two points. In the Junior Masters section, 28 players from a field of 137 competitors have registered full points after the opening two rounds.
Notably, nearly 25 junior players are simultaneously competing in the Challengers category, playing two rounds daily. All three sections of the tournament are being conducted in a nine-round Swiss League format.
The prestigious event has attracted some of the strongest domestic and international players, reaffirming Mumbai’s status as one of India’s premier chess destinations.
