Aronian Defeats Vachier-Lagrave, Trails Arjun By Half-Point

GM Arjun Erigaisi continues to lead the Masters section of the Chennai Grand Masters 2024 with four points after a draw with GM Parham Maghsoodloo in the fifth round. Trailing him by half a point is GM Levon Aronian who defeated GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to reach 3.5 points. Aronian was the only winner of the day in the Masters.

In the Challengers section, GM Pranav Venkatesh was held to his maiden draw by GM Raunak Sadhwani but continues to lead the field by a full point on 4.5 points. GM Leon Mendonca and Sadhwani follow the leader with 3.5 and three points respectively.

GM Murali Karthikeyan scored his second win in as many games to be the only winner of the day when his opponent GM Abhimanyu Puranik blundered in an equal-looking endgame when each player had just around a minute on their clocks.

Round six will start on Sunday, November 10, at 4:30 a.m. ET/10:30 CET/3 p.m. IST.
Round 5 Standings: Masters