Grandmaster Ivan Rozum of Russia defeated Indian GM R R Laxman today in the eighth round to move into sole lead with eight points in the 10th Chennai Open International Grand Master Chess tournament here.
The win gives second-seeded Rozum a cushion of one point, with just a round to go.
Following the leader at seven points are GMs Timur Gareyev (US), Laxman, Marat Dzhumaev (Uzbekistan), IMs N R Visakh, Sidhant Mohapatra (both India), Marcos Llaneza Vega (Spain), FMs Karthik Venkataraman and Erigaisi Arjun (India).
Meanwhile, Chennai's Woman FIDE Master C Lakshmi achieved her maiden Woman International Master norm after the ninth and penultimate round, in which she held experienced G B Joshi of Air India to a draw.
Karthik Venkataraman from Andhra Pradesh who has played steadily, clinched a nine-game IM Norm defeating A L Muthaiah.
Also, Maharashtra's Nikhil Dixit secured his maiden IM norm, scoring an upset win over higher rated P Saravana Krishnan.
The tournament concludes tomorrow.
Important results (Round 9) (Indians unless specified): Ivan Rozum (Rus) 8 bt R R Laxman (7), N R Visakh (7) drew with Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb) 7, Erigaisi Arjun (7) drew with Yuri Solodovnichenko (Ukr) 6.5, Attila Czebe (Hun) 6 lost to Timur Gareyev (US) 7.
Adam Tukhaev (Ukr) 6.5 drew with S Nitin (6.5), Vitaly Sivuk (Ukr) 6.5 drew with Deepan Chakkravarthy (6.5), Sidhant Mohapatra (7) bt Tran Tuan Minh (Vie) 6, Atalik Suat (Tur) 6.5 drew with Raghunandan Kaumandur Srihari (6.5), Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury (6.5) drew with Roeland Pruijssers (Ned) 6.5.
Adam Horvath (Hun) 6 lost to Marcos Llaneza Vega (Esp) 7, A L Muthaiah (6) lost to Karthik Venkataraman (7), Sergei Tiviakov (Ned) 6.5 bt Ravi Gopal Hegde (6), V Pranav (5.5) lost to P Karthikeyan (6.5).
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