17 players from six categories share lead after four rounds of Maharashtra school chess

The contest at the SBI Life Maharashtra State School Chess Championship is tightening. After four rounds, 17 players across six categories share the lead on four points each. They have won all four of their games, posing a stiff challenge to the rest of the field.

After Thursday's games at Rustomjee Cambridge International School in Dahisar West, five players lead the under-7 open category: Ivaan Dubey (1545), Advik Verma (1447), Aarush Abhishek Malkar (1469), Aksh Srivastava (1513) and Yuvansh Nimja (1453), each with four points. In the under-7 girls' section, top seed Lia Krishnan (1558) and second seed Tanishka Bhandari (1477) have also won consecutively.

In the under-11 open category, four players lead on four points each: Agastya Kasat (1527), Priyansh Jain (1514), AFM Shivansh Karia (1506) and Kaushik Raete (1490). In the under-11 girls' section, top seed Tvesha Ashish Jain (1697) and second seed Aashvi Agarwal (1634) are battling for first place, both on four points.

In the under-15 open category, Vihaan Agarwal (1858) and Yuvraj Singh (1690) share the lead on four points each. Vihaan beat AFM Aarush Sarode, while Yuvraj defeated Hrishan Singh Sajwan. Top seed Samvid Pasbola (1912), AFM Rayan Merchant (1822) and Varad More (1697) remain in the title race on three and a half points, so the picture at the top could change in the coming rounds.

In the under-15 girls' category, Khanak Paharia (1588) and Mahua Deshpande (1527) share the lead on four points each. Top seed AFM Maisha Parvez (1991) is behind them on three points.

The championship is being organised by the Indian Chess School. In its first phase, 417 players are taking part across six FIDE-rated categories. Games are being played in the under-7, under-11 and under-15 open and girls' sections.