Negi settles for third draw in row

After three losses in the first three rounds, this has been a good recovery by Negi and the Indian can now look forward to an improved finish in the last three rounds slated to start after the only rest day in the tournament.

Fabiano Caruana of Italy remained in sole lead after thwarting the challenge of Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam. Being on the defensive for the major part of the game, Caruana managed to eke out good defensive moves to get a draw.

The Italian took his tally to four points and he now remains a half point adrift of the nearest contenders.

Top-seeded Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scored his first victory in the tournament to elevate himself to joint second spot. On the receiving end was British David Howell who proved no match in the complexities of a King’s Indian defense game.

Vachier-Lagrave now shares the second spot with Maxim Rodshtein of Israel, Wesley So of Philippines and Russian duo of Dmitry Andreikin and Evgeny Tomashevsky.

Results round 6: Anish Giri (Ned, 2.5) drew Parimarjan Negi (Ind, 1.5); Dmitry Andreikin (Rus, 3.5) drew Maxim Rodshtein (Isr, 3.5); David Howell (Eng, 1.5) lt to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 3.5); Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vie, 3) drew Fabiano Caruana (Ita, 4); Evgeny Tomashevsky (Rus, 3.5) drew Wesley So (Phi, 3.5).