Harshavardhan G B, Aarit Kapil and Daakshin Arun in Race to Score Norms

by Devansh Singh - 27/06/2026

7 rounds are completed at the Chola Chess IM and GM Norm Round Robin Tournament, and after 7 days of intense games and decisive results, only 3 players are left in the race to score IM and GM norms. In the GM Group, Harshavardhan G B scored a big win over tournament leader Michal Krasenkow, and now he has to score 1.5/2 to score his GM norm. In IM Group, Aarit Kapil needs 1 point in the last 2 games while Daakshin Arun needs 1.5. The next 2 days will be packed with action at Chola Chess, Chennai. Photos: Devansh Singh

Aarit misses a chance

FM Aarit Kapil and FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma played an insane game. Aarit was better in the middlegame, but then Madhvendra came back and got a winning advantage, under time pressure, both players made some inaccuracies, and eventually the game went into a rook endgame. Aarit had a big chance in the rook endgame, but he missed that, and eventually the game ended in a draw.

Madhvendra showed great resilience in this game

After the ceremonial move, Aravindh talked about His time in Hong Kong, playing alongside Pragg and Vaishali, representing S8UL in EWC, and much more. Check out this amazing interview with Aravindh.

GM Group

The GM Group was filled with decisive results, but the most important one was Harshavardhan's win over Michal Krasenkow, which keeps him in a race for a GM Norm. Alexei Fedorov defeated Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy, Mihail Nikitenko scored a win over Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla, and Kushagra Mohan defeated Antoine Bournel. Anuj Shrivatri drew against Harsh Suresh, and with this draw, Harsh is out of the race for GM Norm.

GM Aravindh Chithambaram made the ceremonial move

Harshavardhan G B vs. Michal Krasenkow (1-0)

Ajay Santhosh suffered a loss against experienced Alexei Fedorov

Anuj Shrivatri drew against Harsh Suresh with black pieces

Mihail Nikitenko played an aggressive game to beat Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla

Replay Round 7 Games

GM Round 7 Results

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	4	BLR	2479	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail	1 - 0	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	IND	2432	10	PGN
2	5	IND	2503	IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy	0 - 1	GM	Fedorov, Alexei	BLR	2388	3	PGN
3	6	IND	2493	IM	Harshavardhan, G B	1 - 0	GM	Krasenkow, Michal	POL	2483	2	PGN
4	7	FRA	2430	IM	Bournel, Antoine	0 - 1	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	IND	2456	1	PGN
5	8	IND	2435	IM	Harsh, Suresh	½ - ½	IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	IND	2483	9	PGN

Details

Standings after 7 Rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB2	TB3
1	2	GM	Krasenkow, Michal	POL	2483	5,5	18,25	5
2	6	IM	Harshavardhan, G B	IND	2493	5	15,25	3
3	4	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail	BLR	2479	4,5	11	4
4	8	IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2435	4	13,75	1
5	3	GM	Fedorov, Alexei	BLR	2388	4	12,5	2
6	9	IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	IND	2483	3	9	1
7	5	IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy	IND	2503	3	8,25	1
8	10	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad	IND	2432	2,5	8,25	0
9	1	IM	Kushagra, Mohan	IND	2456	2,5	6,5	1
10	7	IM	Bournel, Antoine	FRA	2430	1	3,25	0

Details

GM Round 8 Pairings

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	IND	2432	IM	Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad		IM	Anuj, Shrivatri	IND	2483	9
2	1	IND	2456	IM	Kushagra, Mohan		IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2435	8
3	2	POL	2483	GM	Krasenkow, Michal		IM	Bournel, Antoine	FRA	2430	7
4	3	BLR	2388	GM	Fedorov, Alexei		IM	Harshavardhan, G B	IND	2493	6
5	4	BLR	2479	GM	Nikitenko, Mihail		IM	Ajay, Santhosh Parvathareddy	IND	2503	5

Details

IM Group

In the IM Group, there were only 2 decisive results where Pranav KP won against Arshpreet Singh, and De Silva L M S T defeated David Gochelashvili. It was a long battle between Aarit and Madhvendra, which ended in a draw.

Aarit Kapil vs. Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (0.5-0.5)

Pranav KP defeated Arshpreet Singh

Daakshin Arun made a long 121 move draw against Aleksandrov

De Silva L M S T defeated David Gochelashvili

Madhesh Kumar S vs. Devindya Oshini (0.5-0.5)

Replay Round 7 Games

IM Round 7 Results

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	4	IND	2315	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S	½ - ½	WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini	SRI	2340	10	PGN
2	5	IND	2331	FM	Aarit, Kapil	½ - ½	FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	IND	2373	3	PGN
3	6	IND	2308	FM	Pranav, K P	1 - 0	FM	Arshpreet, Singh	IND	2337	2	PGN
4	7	BLR	2433	GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	½ - ½	FM	Daakshin, Arun	IND	2308	1	PGN
5	8	SRI	2382	IM	De Silva, L M S T	1 - 0	IM	Gochelashvili, David	RUS	2275	9	PGN

Details

Standings after 7 Rounds

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	5	FM	Aarit, Kapil	IND	2331	DEL	5	0	18,25	3	1
2	7	GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	BLR	2433	BLR	5	0	16,75	4	3
3	1	FM	Daakshin, Arun	IND	2308	TN	4,5	0	13	3	1
4	8	IM	De Silva, L M S T	SRI	2382	SRI	4,5	0	12	3	1
5	2	FM	Arshpreet, Singh	IND	2337	HAR	3,5	1	9,75	3	0
6	3	FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma	IND	2373	MP	3,5	2	10	2	0
7	9	IM	Gochelashvili, David	RUS	2275	RUS	2,5	1	8	1	1
8	6	FM	Pranav, K P	IND	2308	TN	2,5	2	6,25	2	1
9	4	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S	IND	2315	PON	2,5	3	8,75	1	0
10	10	WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini	SRI	2340	SRI	1,5	0	6,25	1	0

Details

IM Round 8 Pairings

Bo.	No.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	No.	PGN
1	10	SRI	2340	WIM	Gunawardhana, Devindya Oshini		IM	Gochelashvili, David	RUS	2275	9
2	1	IND	2308	FM	Daakshin, Arun		IM	De Silva, L M S T	SRI	2382	8
3	2	IND	2337	FM	Arshpreet, Singh		GM	Aleksandrov, Aleksej	BLR	2433	7
4	3	IND	2373	FM	Madhvendra, Pratap Sharma		FM	Pranav, K P	IND	2308	6
5	4	IND	2315	FM	Madhesh, Kumar S		FM	Aarit, Kapil	IND	2331	5

Details

Photo Gallery: Here

Can Harshavardhan score 1.5/2 GMs? The real test awaits

There was a dinner event in the evening

An Endgame is getting analysed

Can you guess the game?

Chess is everywhere

These GMs are playing at the highest level, making it competitive for all the players

Arbiters team with Aarthie Ramaswamy

Aravindh was here at Chola Chess to inaugurate the 7th round

Interview with IA Vasanth B H

Editor's Note

IA Vasanth B H is one of the most renowned Arbiters of the chess world. From managing the Delhi Open to being there in the top events, he has done it all. I caught up with Mr. Vasanth at the Chola Chess GM Norm Tournament. In this interview, he talked about how his journey started, the tricky situations he faced, faith in people, seeing Gukesh and Pragg since they were kids, and some bold, real answers!!

Video Gallery

Check out this amazing game between FM Arshpreet Singh and FM Aarit Kapil, who were co-leading the tournament before this round.

Interview with IA Vasanth B H

Points Required for Norm

As per the regulations and rating average of the tournament, 6 points are required to score an IM norm, while 6.5 for a GM Norm.

Lineup

GM Norm (L to R): GM Mihail Nikitenko, GM Alexei Fedorov, IM G B Harshavardhan, IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla, IM Antoine Bourne, IM Santhosh Parvathareddy Ajay, IM Kushagra Mohan, IM Shrivatri Anuj, IM Suresh Harsh, and GM Michal Krasenkow.

Participants of the GM Round Robin

IM Norm (L to R): GM Aleksej Aleksandrov, IM David Gochelashvili, IM L M S T De Silva, FM Kapil Aarit, FM Singh Arshpreet, FM Pratap Sharma Madhvendra, FM Kumar S Madhesh, FM Arun Daakshin, and FM K P Pranav. WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana was on her flight and will catch up soon!