Despite a tactical error in the opening, GM Surya Ganguly managed to beat the leader GM Luis Engel and is now tied with GM Matthias Blübaum at the top of the table with 6.5 points from 8 games.
The duel between the German national players ended in a draw at the top board.
‘I'm definitely happy with the draw after the game,’ said GM Dmitrij Kollars.
Matthias Blübaum had gained an advantageous position, but was unable to pose the most difficult challenges today, so the game ended in a draw in the rook endgame. The 14-year-old IM Khuong Duy Dau (photo) (Vietnam) continues to play outstandingly, winning uncompromisingly in attack against GM David Gavrilescu. It was not a good day for the Najdorf Sicilian, because just like Engel on board 2, Gavrilescu was crushed with the popular Sicilian. In the chasing pack, GM Matthieu Cornette tried for a long time to win against IM Ashot Parvanyan in a knight endgame, but after 5 hours he had to give up and settle for a draw.
This means that there are still three leaders going into the final round on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.: Matthias Blübaum, Surya Ganguly and Khuong Duy Dau, who have the best chances of winning the tournament.
Victory for Deimantė Daulytė-Cornette – Lu Miaoyi stopped for the first time
In the International Women's Tournament, Lu Miaoyi is already assured of victory after scoring 4 out of 4. She put in another fantastic performance today. She took advantage of a lapse in concentration by Elisabeth Pähtz and seized the initiative, which led to an endgame with an extra pawn. But after a long fight, Pähtz held on the draw without too many problems and defended her second place in the tournament.
Daulytė-Cornette celebrated her first victory with Black against Dinara Wagner in a very entertaining game, which she then commented on and analysed in a live commentary with GM Artur Jussupow. Also appearing on today's livestream: GM Rafael Vaganian, former world number 4 and a regular participant in the A Open.