Biel GMT R2: Aravindh Chithambaram emerges sole leader

by Shahid Ahmed - 17/07/2025

GM Aravindh Chithambaram won an exciting battle against GM Frederik Svane (GER) in Round 2 of 58th Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters Qualifiers event. It was a back and forth game which could have gone either player's way. The Germany no.2 erred in time trouble and arrived at a lost rook and bishop vs queen endgame. Aravindh had no trouble converting his advantage into a win. He is now the sole leader 12.5/18. GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) increased his sole lead in the Challengers by defeating the gentleman of the sport, GM David Navara (CZE). GM Karthikeyan Murali and GM Pranav Anand are the two Indians with a perfect score 3/3 in the Master tournament (MTO). GMT Round 3 starts today at 2 p.m. local time, 5:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Master: Karthikeyan and Pranav Anand score a hat-trick

GMT Masters: GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO) - GM Aravindh Chithambaram: 1.5-1.5 | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Frederik- Aravindh: 0-4

GM Frederik Svane (GER, 2659) faced GM Aravindh Chithambaram (2724) for the first time in a Classical rated game.

Position after 21...Rd4

Aravindh offered an exchange sacrifice 21...Rd4? which is a mistake as 22.Qg3 Qd6 23.Bxh6+- would have given White the upper hand. Instead, 23.Rf5? allowed Black to get back as he sacrificed an exchange Rxc4 to alleviate the threats 24.bxc4 Nxe4 25.Qxe5 Nxc3 26.Qxc3 Qg6 Black is out of the woods. In time trouble, White blundered, the evaluation swung back and forth. White arrived at a rook and bishop vs queen endgame which Aravindh had no trouble converting into a win.

GMT Challengers: GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) scored a fine victory over GM David Navara (CZE) | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Interview with GM Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) | Video: Biel Chess Festival

MTO: GM Karthikeyan Murali and... | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

...GM Pranav Anand are the two Indians to score a hat-trick 3/3 | Photo: Biel Chess Festival

Scoring

Classical: 4 points for a win; 1½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.

Rapid: 2 points for a win; 1 point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.

Blitz: 1 point for a win; ½ point for a draw; 0 point for a loss.

Replay live stream

Watch Biel Chess Festival GMT Masters and Challengers Round 2 live commentary by GM Arturs Neiksans (LAT) and Angelika Valkova (UKR) | Video: Biel Chess Festival

Replay Biel GMT Masters Round 2 games

Replay Biel GMT Challengers Round 2 games

Standings after GMT Masters Qualifiers Round 2

Aravindh Chithambaram emerged sole leader 12.5/22 | Graphic: Biel Chess Festival

Details

Standings after GMT Challengers Qualifiers Round 2

Nikolas Theodorou (GRE) extended his sole lead 16/22 | Graphic: Biel Chess Festival

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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