Parimarjan takes sole lead in Parsvnath Open

New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) National champion Parimarjan Negigot the better of International Master Rahul Sangma in thesixth round of the ongoing 9th Parsvnath International OpenGrandmasters chess tournament to emerge the sole leader, hereat Ludlow Castle today.

The local favourite Negi, with his sixth victory on atrot, is now the only player in the field to have won all hismatches in the tournament so far.

Playing white side of exchange variation of Ruy Lopezopening, Negi showed great attacking skills towards the end ofthe game against his city mate rival and garnered full pointsafter 38 moves.

Meanwhile, another city star in the fray, GrandmasterAbhijeet Gupta and International Master Sahaj Grover held topseed Alexander Areshchenko of Ukraine and fifth seed SlovenianGrandmaster Lenik Luka respectively to a draw each in thesixth round encounters.

Playing with black pieces in Grunfeld defence, top seedAreshchenko signed the peace treaty with former world juniorchampion in 38 moves while Sahaj and Lenic settled for half injust 21 moves by repetition of moves.

In other sixth round matches, Grandmaster S Arun Prasaddefeated International Master Himanshu Sharma, whilecontinuing his fine form West Bengal youngster Diptayan Ghoshheld Grandmaster S Kidmabi to a creditable draw.

Earlier, in the fifth round Diptayan produced the sameresult against Grandmaster Mikhailo Oleksienko of Ukraine.

In another surprising results in the fifth round, Maduraibased eleven-year-old boy Arvaindh Chithambaram shocked formerworld junior champion Vera Nebolsina of Russia. .