Vijayalakshmi, Deepan follow the leaders

After a dull seventh-round for Indians, the lead is shared by Yuri Solodovnichenko (Ukraine), Vladimir Belous, Mikhail Mozharov  (both Russia) and Marat Dzhumaev (Ukbekistan) with six points each. GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (Madurai) and IM Vijayalakshmi Subburaman (TN) are among the eight players sharing second place with 5.5 points each.  

The only interest is whether Vijayalakshmi, India’s first Woman Grandmaster, would be able to get a (men’s) GM norm but for that she needs to score 2.5 points from the remaining three rounds. Otherwise, there are a few Indians such as Shyamnikhil, Rathnakaran, Kumar Gaurav, Ravi Teja, Akash Thakur, Swapnil Dhopade, Rakesh Kulkarni, Kunal M, Rathnavel and Mohammed Shaikh in the third spot with five points each, looking for a GM norm. 

Topboard results (Round 7):  

Ernst Sipke (Ned) 5.5 drew with Ivan Popov (Rus) 5.5, Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb) 6 bt Anton Demchenko (Rus) 5, Solodovnichenko (Ukr) 6 bt Kumar Gaurav 5, Marat Mozharov (Rus) 6 bt Rathnakaran K (5), Swapnil S Dhopade (5) lost to Vladimir Belous (Rus) 6, Deepan Chakkravarthy J (5.5) drew with Vitaly Bernadsky (Ukr) 5.5