Chennai Grand Masters 2024: Aronian closes gap on Erigaisi after Round 5

The Chennai Grand Masters 2024 tournament in Chennai saw some intense battles in the fifth round, with Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States securing a crucial victory over GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France. The win helped Aronian close the gap on table-topper GM Arjun Erigaisi, who was held to a draw by Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo.

In a thrilling encounter, Aronian, playing white, opted for the King’s Indian Defence against Vachier-Lagrave, who responded with the Alekhine Anti-Grunfeld Variation. The game seemed evenly matched in the beginning, but Aronian gradually took control of the board and capitalized on a crucial error by his opponent to secure the win. With this victory, Aronian now sits in second place with 3.5 points, while Erigaisi maintains his lead with four points.

Meanwhile, in the Challengers category, the all-women clash between Dronavalli Harika and Vaishali Rameshbabu ended in a stalemate, showcasing tactical prowess from both players. In other matches, all games in the Masters’ section ended in draws, with Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi unable to secure a win despite their best efforts.

The Chennai Grand Masters 2024 tournament, held at the Anna Centenary Library, features two categories – Masters and Challengers. With a competitive field and high-rated players, the tournament promises exciting chess action for fans and enthusiasts. Stay tuned for more updates as the competition heats up in the coming rounds.