Mumbai Mayor Intl Chess: Siddharth, Kathmale score upset wins

International Master Ravichandran Siddharth of Tamil Nadu (ELO 2361) stunned GM Fodor Tamas of Hungary (ELO 2475) in the Rs 21.5-lakh prize money 6th Mumbai Mayor International Chess Tournament hosted by the National Sports Club of India here today.
Unheralded Sameer Kathmale of Maharashtra (ELO 2325) also scored an upset win over Indian IM Karthikeyan P (ELO 2415) that helped him to move into joint second lead along with Siddharth with six points along with six others after eight rounds.
Overnight leaders - GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil (ELO 2654) and GM Pentasulaia Levan (ELO 2563) - both from Georgia, agreed for a quick draw thus maintaining their half point slender lead with 6.5 points apiece.

GM Amonatov Farrukh (ELO 2616) of Tajakhstan, GM Papin Vasily (ELO 2552) of Russia and GM Petrosian Davit (ELO 2436) of Armenia, who were trailing the leaders by half a point, could not convert their games into wins.
IM Siddharth overcame GM Tamas in a game of Slav Defence against the Queen Pawn opening. On the 8th move the former opened his 'h' file and on the 17th grabbed a pawn with his knight at 'h2', opening the file completely.
Fodor tried to trap that piece, which was smartly guarded by his Indian rival who then connected the rooks by playing his king at 'd7', which worsened the situation for Fodor.

With the loss of his bishop on the 31st move, Fodor had no option but to accept defeat.