TN teenager Aakash on giant-killing mode, shocks third GM in a row

Tamil Nadu teenager Aakash G continued his giant-slaying act by defeating Armenian GM Karen Movsziszian in round 7 of the 1st Kottayam Chess Academy GM International at Kanjikuzhy in Kerala's Kottayam district on Sunday.

With three rounds remaining, the 15-year-old from Coimbatore, with a rating of 2100, is joint-second on 6 points alongside Karnataka native A Balkishan (2134). Georgian GM Levan Pantsulaia (2532) leads the event with 6.5 points.

Aakash has scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds, in which he played against three GMs. After defeating GM P Karthikeyan in round 5, Aakash drew with Vietnamese GM Van Huy Nguyen. He will play IM Semetei Tologon Tegin in round 8 on Monday.

Karnataka native Balkishan is only the third Indian to have an unbeaten run in the top bracket, with experienced GM Deepan Chakkravarthy being the other.

Balkishan, 31, upset IM Chinna Reddy Mehar in round 7. On Saturday, he held GM Chakkravarthy and defeated GM Tornike Sanikidze in consecutive rounds. He has been paired against tournament leader GM Pantsulaia in round 8. Chakkravarthy defeated Belarusian GM Vitaly Teterev in round 7 to extend his tally to 5.5 points, comprising four wins and three draws.

Among Kerala players, Ahaz E U and Karan J P have scored 5 points each. Eight Kerala players are on 4.5 points, including Abhishek T M, who had an unbeaten run till round 7 but lost to Spanish FM Daniel Sanz Wawer today.

The tournament, which began on April 30, features 16 GMs and is reportedly the strongest open tournament held in Kerala.