Top seed & GM Norm holder Shyam Nikil shared the lead with IM Nitin Senthilvel and B Kumaran (all TN) with 4.5 points after the fifth round of the 23rd National Youth (Under 25) Chess Championship at Dhanalakshmi College premises, here today.
Seven players including International Masters VAV Rajesh and T U Navin Kanna (both TN) follow the leaders half a point behind at 4.
IM Norm holder B Kumaran held International Master Nitin Senthilvel to a draw, while top seed International Master Shyam Nikil P caught up with the leaders with a hard fought 51-move win over Dusthageer Ibrahim on the second board.
This nine round Swiss tournament concludes on Friday.
Main Results (Round 5) : Kumaran B (4.5) drew with Nitin S (4.5), Shyam Nikil P(4.5) bt Dusthageer Ibrahim M (3.5), Navin Kanna T U (4) drew with VAV Rajesh (4), Sai Vishwesh C (4) bt Pranav Vijay (3.5), Dahale Atul (4) bt Karthik Raj C (3), Aaditya Jagadeesh (3.5) drew with Bavankumar (3.5).
