Sunway Sitges Open R7: Korobov is back at the top

by Shahid Ahmed - 21/12/2020

Top two boards ending up in hard fought draws allowed the defending champion and top seed of the tournament Anton Korobov to catch up with the leaders with 5.5/7. Korobov along with four overnight leaders Jaime, Cheparinov, Niemann and Moussard are now joined by Checa, Fier and Nevednichy at the top spot with an eight-way lead. With three rounds to go, the tournament is still wide open, anyone can win. IM Leon salvaged a draw against FM Marc Sancho, Souhardo beat Alex Morales and Shubham drew with Antonio Sole in Round 7. Round 8 will start tonight from 7:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Sunway Chess Open

Eight-way lead

All four leaders GM Jaimes Santos Latasa, GM Ivan Cheparinov, IM Hans Niemann and GM Jules Moussard drew their respective games. Thus allowing GM Anton Korobov, GM Nicolas Checa, GM Alexandr Fier and GM Vladislav Nevednichy to join them at the top of the leaders table with 5.5/7. IM Leon Mendonca faced a stiff competition in the form of FM Marc Carbonell Sancho. He managed to salvage a draw from a completely lost position. Souhardo Basak beat Alex Catarineu Morales and Shubham Bandikatte drew with Antonio Madrid Sole to move to 5.0/7 in Group B.

Korobov is back at the top | Photo: Lennart Ootes/Sunway Chess Open

Korobov - Martinez: 1-0

The defending champion and the top seed of the tournament Anton Korobov defeated Josep Manuel Lopez Martinez to get back in the lead.

Korobov - Martinez

Position after 20...h5

What is the best way for white to continue after 20...h5 ?

Checa - Grigoryan: 1-0

GM Nicolas of USA won against GM Karen Grigoryan of Armenia in just 29 moves to join the eight-way lead.

Checa - Grigoryan

Position after 22...Rg4

22...Rg4 is a blunder. Find out why.

Carbonell - Leon: 0.5-0.5

Leon was in great trouble for the better part of the game. However he put up a great fight against Marc Carbonell Sancho and managed to salvage a draw.

Carbonell - Leon

Position after 28...Kh8

Find out the best continuation for white after 28...Kh8

Photo Gallery

Beautiful vista from one of the tournament hall | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Sunway Chess Open

View from the terrace of the tournament hall | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Sunway Chess Open

It is absolutely pleasant to play when the scenery looks that beautiful | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Sunway Chess Open

Outside of the Hotel Sunway Playa Golf and Spa | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Sunway Chess Open

Replay Round 7 games

Round 7 results

Bo.	No.		Name	Rtg	Pts.	Result	Pts.		Name	Rtg	No.
1	6	GM	Santos Latasa Jaime	2588	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Cheparinov Ivan	2660	2
2	24	IM	Niemann Hans Moke	2478	5	½ - ½	5	GM	Moussard Jules	2626	5
3	1	GM	Korobov Anton	2693	4½	1 - 0	4½	GM	Lopez Martinez Josep Manuel	2542	15
4	18	GM	Checa Nicolas	2527	4½	1 - 0	4½	GM	Grigoryan Karen H.	2651	3
5	4	GM	Lagarde Maxime	2651	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Flom Gabriel	2499	20
6	7	GM	Santos Ruiz Miguel	2581	4½	½ - ½	4½	IM	Sochacki Christophe	2469	26
7	29	GM	Vasquez Schroeder Rodrigo	2459	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Maze Sebastien	2557	10
8	11	GM	Plat Vojtech	2552	4½	½ - ½	4½	GM	Narciso Dublan Marc	2495	21
9	19	GM	Bellahcene Bilel	2510	4½	0 - 1	4½	GM	Fier Alexandr	2549	12
10	13	GM	Nevednichy Vladislav	2546	4½	1 - 0	4½	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2466	28
11	9	GM	Cornette Matthieu	2558	4	½ - ½	4	FM	Msellek Ilyass	2316	52
12	27	GM	Batsiashvili Nino	2466	4	1 - 0	4	GM	Krysa Leandro	2544	14
13	51	FM	Carbonell Sancho Marc	2318	4	½ - ½	4	IM	Mendonca Leon Luke	2530	16
14	23	IM	Dardha Daniel	2485	4	1 - 0	4	IM	Hernando Rodrigo Julio Antonio	2275	60
15	25	GM	Asis Gargatagli Hipolito	2470	4	0 - 1	4		Lever Erwan	2200	69
16	31	IM	Gines Esteo Pedro Antonio	2437	4	½ - ½	4	FM	Jimenez Ruano Adrian	2279	58
17	53	FM	Boyer Mahel	2307	3½	1 - 0	3½	GM	Dragnev Valentin	2564	8
18	55		Dalaud Dorian	2291	3½	½ - ½	3½	IM	Garriga Cazorla Pere	2487	22
19	30	IM	Maurizzi Marc Andria	2445	3½	1 - 0	3½	IM	Ootes Lars	2373	44
20	64	FM	Antova Gabriela	2247	3½	½ - ½	3½	IM	Gatineau Yovann	2423	34