Lalit Babu held to a draw by Arsen Davtyan
Manuel Petrosyan exchanged a rook for a bishop and plotted his way to victory in 39 moves, against Alexander Slizhevsky.
Mamikon Gharibyan was spectacular, as he sacrificed his bishop to open the attack and sealed victory in 38 moves, against Boris Savchenko. Aleksej Aleksandrov was the other player with 5.5 points as he beat Luka Paichadze.
In the under-13 section, top seed Aansh Nerurkar and Madhesh Kumar drew their sixth round to be in joint lead with 5.5 points. Madhesh was also doing well in the main event with five points following a victory over Vedant Varasada.
The results (sixth round): Lalit Babu 5.5 drew with Arsen Davtyan 5.5; Nayaka Budhidharma 5 drew with Levan Pantsulaia 5; Manuel Petrosyan 5.5 bt Alexander Slizhevsky 4.5; Aleksej Aleksandrov 5.5 bt Luka Paichadze 4.5; Mamikon Gharibyan 5.5 bt Boris Savchenko 4.5; Mihail Nikitenko 5 bt Viresh Sharnarthi 4; Soumya Swaminathan 4 lost to Tornike Sanikidze 5; Deepan Chakkravarthy 5 bt Hrishikesh Kumar 4; Advik Agrawal 4 lost to Duc Hoa Nguyen 5; Yohan Yadav 4 lost to Alexei Fedorov 5; Aamuktha Guntaka 4 lost to Neelotpal Das 5; Nithin Babu 4.5 drew with Sri Sandipagu 4.5; Arnav Koli 4 lost to Van Huy Nguyen 5; Rachit Gurnani 4.5 drew with David Gochelashvili 4.5; Madhesh Kumar 5 bt Vedant Varasada 4.
Under-13: Aansh Nerurkar 5.5 drew with Madhesh Kumar 5.5; Madhvendra Sharma 5 bt Ramesh Goutham 4.5; Advik Agrawal 5 bt Siddhant Salunke 5; Aadik Lenin 5 bt Shubh Atha 4; Shaunak Badole 5 bt Advik Reddy 4; Andalamala Varshan 4 lost to Mitra Adhiraj 5; Ramanuj Mishra 5 bt Kushagra Paliwal 4; Mahir Taneja 4 ost to Jagreet Misra 4.5.
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The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Aurionpro Champion Lalit Babu: ‘I still have the fire'
For M.R. Lalit Babu, it was not just another win when he clinched the Aurionpro International Chess Tournament in Mumbai recently. The 32-year-old, who earned the GM title in 2012 and was part of the bronze medal-winning Indian team at the Chess Olympiad in 2014, believes this could mark the beginning of a new chapter as he pursues fresh goals. In a chat with Sportstar, Lalit shares his thoughts on his latest win and his future plans. Q: How important is this win when you look ahead? This win means a lot — on so many levels. It's not just about the trophy or rating points. From round six onwards, I was down with fever, cough, and cold, and it took everything I had — physically and mentally — to keep going. But somehow, I stayed focused and kept pushing through each round. Winning the tournament despite being unwell reminded me of what I'm still capable of, and it gave me a renewed sense of purpose. It felt like life was testing me — and I managed to pass that test. That makes this victory even more special — because it wasn't just about chess, it was about grit. Q: What was the best part of this championship, game-wise? Round two was a big turnaround for me — I was actually losing but somehow managed to fight back and win. And the last round against Levan Pantsulaia was super important too. I'm really happy with how I converted both games. Q: What do you feel are your strong points? I'd say my strategic understanding and endgame technique have always been my strengths. But lately, I've been experimenting a lot— taking big risks and trying to reinvent the old 'Lalit Babu' who used to play very carefree chess. Q: How do you assess your career at this point? It's been a journey of highs and challenges. I achieved the Grandmaster title a decade ago, which was a major milestone, but I couldn't fully capitalise on it due to insufficient institutional support. Still, I've stayed active and continue to grow. I believe there's still a lot ahead of me. Q: What are the realistic goals you've set for yourself? In the short term, I want to improve my rating and break back into the 2600+ club. Long term, I aim to qualify for more elite events and represent India in team competitions again. I also hope to mentor young talents eventually. Q: What are you looking to focus on more in the future? I want to focus more on physical fitness and psychological resilience, which are often underrated but crucial during long tournaments. On the chessboard, I'm working on strengthening my middle-game tactics and dynamic decision-making, as well as refining my opening preparation to stay competitive at the highest level. Q: What kind of support are you looking for? Financial sponsorship, invitations to strong tournaments, and access to high-level coaching are crucial. Even logistical support — like visas, travel arrangements, or seconding during events — can make a big difference. Q: Do you feel India should host more GM tournaments to help Indian players compete better? Absolutely. Hosting more GM tournaments will provide essential exposure for young talents and help them earn norms without the huge cost of travelling abroad. It's a practical way to grow our chess ecosystem. Q: What have been the defining moments of your career? There have been several, but a few truly stand out — for both what they meant to me and what they gave back to Indian chess. Winning the Commonwealth Championship in 2012 was a breakthrough moment; it gave me the belief that I could hold my own among the best. Soon after, representing India at the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø in 2014 and contributing to the team's historic bronze medal was something deeply emotional. To stand on the podium with the Indian flag — those are moments you never forget. Becoming the Indian National Champion in 2017, and winning titles in Rapid and Blitz in later years, helped me grow as a complete player. I've been fortunate to win more than 20 gold, 15 silver, and 14 bronze medals across international and national events — and every one of them represents years of silent hard work. Another defining chapter was the streak of international wins in 2021–2022, after a long and challenging phase in my career. Winning tournaments like the Thailand Pattaya Open, the Vergani Cup in Italy, the Marienbad Open in the Czech Republic, and the First Saturday GM tournament in Budapest — all without losing a single game — felt like a personal renaissance. I proved to myself that I still had the fire, the fight, and the love for the game. What made it more special was that these victories came after years of striving without much external recognition or support. They were fuelled by sheer passion—and that's what continues to drive me even today. Q: Do you feel you haven't done full justice to your talent despite becoming a GM long ago? Yes, I do feel that way at times. I became a GM early, but due to lack of sustained support, I couldn't reach the heights I had aimed for. But I've never lost the fire or the discipline. This recent success shows there's still time to script a strong second phase. Q: What kind of support has your employer extended? I'm truly grateful to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). They recognised my talent very early, long before I became a Grandmaster, and offered me a job, which provided much-needed stability during my formative years. IOCL has consistently supported me in my domestic chess journey, and that backing has been invaluable. While their support has laid a strong foundation, I do hope for extended assistance — especially in terms of international exposure, advanced training, and participation in high-level global tournaments, which are critical at this stage of my career. Q: What keeps you going? Chess has been my life since childhood, and I've devoted everything to the game. I've always believed that hard work and results would speak for themselves — and to a large extent, they have. But at the same time, it's disheartening that despite representing India at the Chess Olympiad and bringing home a medal, along with several international achievements over the years, there has been no recognition from the Andhra Pradesh government. I've seen athletes from sports like badminton and cricket rightfully celebrated — and that's wonderful — but it's hard not to notice how chess, and my efforts in particular, have been overlooked. This isn't just about me personally — it's about how chess, despite India being a global powerhouse in the game, still struggles for institutional support and acknowledgment. Even at the national level, I feel there's room for much more to be done for chess players who consistently represent the country with pride. Recognition and support shouldn't be selective — they should reflect the merit and dedication of athletes across all sports. I say this not out of resentment, but out of hope — that someday, chess will get the place and respect it truly deserves in India, and so will those who've dedicated their lives to it.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- The Hindu
Aurionpro Grandmaster tournament
A passed pawn did the trick as Lalit Babu beat Levan Pantsulaia with black and emerged the champion with eight points from nine rounds in the Aurionpro Grandmaster chess tournament at the World Trade Centre here on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Lalit was tied with Mamikon Gharibyan, who also capitalised on a passed pawn to prevail in 95 moves against Neelotpal Das. The tie-breaker score put Lalit ahead. The champion won Rs.4,00,000 and the runner-up Rs.3,00,000. Deepan Chakkravarthy finished fifth behind Duc Hoa Nguyen and Boris Savchenko, and collected Rs. 1.25 lakh. In the under-13 section, Madhesh Kumar won the title outright with eight points, and pocketed Rs. 200,000. Advik Agrawal finished runner-up and won Rs. 1.5 lakh. The results: Ninth round: Mamikon Gharibyan 8 bt Neelotpal Das 7; Levan Pantsulaia 6.5 lost to Lalit Babu 8; Van Huy Nguyen 7 drew with Manuel Petrosyan 7; Boris Savchenko 7.5 bt Aleksej Aleksandrov 6.5; Siddhanth Poonja 6.5 lost to Deepan Chakkravarthy 7.5; Duc Hoa Nguyen 7.5 bt David Gochelashvili 6.5; Arsen Davtyan 7 bt Shankhodip De 6; Alexei Fedorov 7 bt Rupesh Jaiswal 6; Viresh Sharnarthi 6 lost to Nayaka Budhidharma 7; Avirat Chauhan 7 bt Sherla Prathamesh 6; Luka Paichadze 6.5 bt Alluri Reddy 6; Hrishikesh Kumar 5.5 llost to Mihail Nikitenko 6.5. Final placings: 1. Lalit Babu; 2. Mamikon Gharyban; 3. Duc Hoa Nguyen; 4. Boris Savchenko; 5. Deepan Chakkravarthy. U-13: Advik Agrawal 7.5 bt Aansh Nerurkar 7; Madhesh Kumar 8 bt Vyom Malhotra 6.5; Madhvendra Sharma 7 bt Shaunak Badole 6.5 R Nijesh 6.5 drew with Aadik Lenin 6.5; Adhiraj Mitra 6.5 drew with Siddhant Salunke 6.5; Jagreet Misra 7 bt Anvita Sathi 6. Final Placings: 1. Madhesh Kumar; 2. Advik Agrawal; 3. Aansh Nerurkar.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- The Hindu
Lalit Babu held to a draw by Arsen Davtyan
Grandmaster Lalit Babu and International Master Arsen Davtyan drew their sixth round on the top board, and were joined by three others in the lead with 5.5 points in the Aurionpro Grandmaster chess tournament at the World Trade Centre on Saturday. Manuel Petrosyan exchanged a rook for a bishop and plotted his way to victory in 39 moves, against Alexander Slizhevsky. Mamikon Gharibyan was spectacular, as he sacrificed his bishop to open the attack and sealed victory in 38 moves, against Boris Savchenko. Aleksej Aleksandrov was the other player with 5.5 points as he beat Luka Paichadze. In the under-13 section, top seed Aansh Nerurkar and Madhesh Kumar drew their sixth round to be in joint lead with 5.5 points. Madhesh was also doing well in the main event with five points following a victory over Vedant Varasada. The results (sixth round): Lalit Babu 5.5 drew with Arsen Davtyan 5.5; Nayaka Budhidharma 5 drew with Levan Pantsulaia 5; Manuel Petrosyan 5.5 bt Alexander Slizhevsky 4.5; Aleksej Aleksandrov 5.5 bt Luka Paichadze 4.5; Mamikon Gharibyan 5.5 bt Boris Savchenko 4.5; Mihail Nikitenko 5 bt Viresh Sharnarthi 4; Soumya Swaminathan 4 lost to Tornike Sanikidze 5; Deepan Chakkravarthy 5 bt Hrishikesh Kumar 4; Advik Agrawal 4 lost to Duc Hoa Nguyen 5; Yohan Yadav 4 lost to Alexei Fedorov 5; Aamuktha Guntaka 4 lost to Neelotpal Das 5; Nithin Babu 4.5 drew with Sri Sandipagu 4.5; Arnav Koli 4 lost to Van Huy Nguyen 5; Rachit Gurnani 4.5 drew with David Gochelashvili 4.5; Madhesh Kumar 5 bt Vedant Varasada 4. Under-13: Aansh Nerurkar 5.5 drew with Madhesh Kumar 5.5; Madhvendra Sharma 5 bt Ramesh Goutham 4.5; Advik Agrawal 5 bt Siddhant Salunke 5; Aadik Lenin 5 bt Shubh Atha 4; Shaunak Badole 5 bt Advik Reddy 4; Andalamala Varshan 4 lost to Mitra Adhiraj 5; Ramanuj Mishra 5 bt Kushagra Paliwal 4; Mahir Taneja 4 ost to Jagreet Misra 4.5.
