Fedoseev, Saleh, Aravindh gunning for Biel GMT Triathlon title
GMs Vladimir Fedoseev, Salem A R Saleh (both 24.5 pts) & Aravindh Chithambaram (23.0) are gunning for the Biel GMT Triathlon title with just two rounds to go. It’s still a close race with any of the leading trio having their chances to finish on top of the GMT Triathlon in the 58th Biel Chess Festival at Biel, Switzerland. A win or two in the classical game in the remaining rounds would see one of the three crossing the tape ahead of the rest.
World rapid champion Volodar Murzin (18.0) in the fourth place can aspire for the podium, if he can notch two wins against the top seeds. In the home run for the title, the games between GMs Aravindh & Fedoseev and Murzin & Saleh ended in hard fought draws.
In the Challengers section, the tournament leader GM Nikolas Theodorou (30.5) has a good lead, but would need to be cautious, as a single defeat, especially against second placed GM Aram Hakobyan (25.5), might ruin his title chances.
In a unique format designed for thrill and excitement the Biel Chess Festival pooled the top four after the triathlon stage – classical, rapid & blitz – when the quartet play one more time under the classical format deciding the champion.
Round 6 Standings: (Biel GMT Masters Triathlon): 1-2 Salem A R Saleh, Vladimir Fedoseev (24.5), 3. Aravindh Chithambaram (23.0), 4. Volodar Murzin (18.0), 5. Radoslaw Wojtaszek (16.0), 6. Frederik Svane (10.0)
Round 6 Standings: (Biel GMT Challengers Triathlon): 1. Nikolas Theodorou (30.5), 2. Aram Hakobyan (25.5), 3. Rinat Jumabayev (17.0) 4. David Navara (15.5), 5. Ma Qun (15.0), 6. Daniel Dardha (13.5)
Aravindh Chithambaram (2724) – Fedoseev Vladimir (2739) 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 g6 3. c4 e6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nd5 9. e4 Nb6 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. e5 h6 12. h4 f6 13. Be3 Nd5 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Ne5 Kh7 (A half chance from Fedossev which Aravindh missed playing 16. Nxc6)
16. Nxc6? (better was 16. h5! with initiative) bxc6 17. Bc2 e5 18. dxe5 Ng4 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Bf4 Rb8 21. Rfe1 Rxb2 22. Rac1 Re8 23. h5 Bf5 24. hxg6+ Kxg6 25. Bxf5+ Kxf5 26. Nd1 Rxa2 27. Bg3 Re6 28. f3 Nxe5 29. Rc5 Ra4 30. Kh2 h5 31. Kh3 Bf6 32. Nc3 Rd4 33. Re3 Re7 34. f4 Rxf4 35. Bxf4 Kxf4 36. Re2 Bg7 37. Ra5 Rd7 38. g3+ Kf5 39. Ne4 Rd5 40. Rxa7 Nf3 41. Kg2 Nd4 42. Re1 Nc2 43. Re2 Nd4 44. Re1 Nc2 45. Re2 Nd4 1/2-1/2
Pictures Courtesy: Biel Chess Festival 2025
Official Site: https://www.bielchessfestival.ch/Homepage.html
