GMs Sarana and Bortnyk Dominate Titled Tuesdays on June 4, Sarana Secures Second Victory of the Year

GMs Alexey Sarana and Oleksandr Bortnyk emerged victorious in the early and late Titled Tuesdays on June 4, respectively, each scoring an impressive 10 points without the need for tiebreaks. Sarana secured his second win of the year, while Bortnyk claimed his first title.

In the early tournament, Sarana dominated with a perfect 7/7 start, showcasing his skills against strong opponents like Levon Aronian and Daniel Naroditsky. He entered the final round with a half-point lead and secured the victory with a draw. Meanwhile, Bortnyk’s journey in the late tournament included a crucial win against Pavel Eljanov and a final round draw to clinch the title.

Both players received cash prizes for their victories, with Sarana taking home $1,000 and Bortnyk earning the same amount. The top performers in each tournament also received monetary rewards, with the women’s prize going to IM Anna M. Sargsyan.

The Titled Cup standings saw Sarana closing in on second place, while Hikaru Nakamura maintained a comfortable lead. In the women’s category, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk continued to lead, with IM Karina Ambartsumova in fourth place. Additionally, GM Denis Lazavik, GM Gata Kamsky, and WCM Veronika Shubenkova held onto their top positions in the juniors, seniors, and girls categories, respectively.

Titled Tuesday, a weekly tournament for titled players on Chess.com, continues to attract top talent and provide exciting competition for chess enthusiasts worldwide.