Magnificent Seven share the lead

As many as 14 players are in the joint second spot, half a point adrift of the leaders.

The top board game was an exciting affair. Top seeded Krishnan Sasikiran played the black side of a Queens Gambit accepted variation against Grandmaster Viktor Laznicka of the Czech Republic and seemed to have an advantage throughout. He even won a pawn in the endgame but could not break through in the king and pawn endgame.

City-based Grandmaster Sandipan Chanda had a quick victory over International Master V Saravanan in 26 moves of a Slav defence. Saravanan pushed his kingside pawns to create weaknesses, which were well exploited by the local Grandmaster. He is now in the joint lead.

International Master Saptarshi Roy maintained his good form to draw against Grandmaster Ziaur Rahaman from the black side of a Reti opening in 22 moves. Both players did not bother to play on in a balanced position. Saptarshi is zeroing in to his GM norm.

Super Grandmaster Koneru Humpy defeated Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua with the white pieces. Barua opted for the Semi-Slav variation after decling the Queens gambit and was slowly crushed. He had to resign on the 48th turn in a hopeless position. The fifth board game between Grandmasters Tejas Bakre of India and Alberto David of Luxembourg was a dampener ending in only eleven moves of an English opening.

World Junior Champion Adly Ahmed bounced back with a fine victory over Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines in 28 moves of a Reti Opening. Adly went for a kingside attack and sacrificed an exchange to eventually break through.

Grandmaster Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam kept himself at the top of the table with a hard fought draw against Grandmaster Ghaem Maghami of Iran.