Grand Swiss: Maghsoodloo keeps the lead, Theodorou shocks Gukesh

Parham Maghsoodloo kept his lead at the FIDE Grand Swiss, drawing with Arjun Erigaisi to stay half a point clear on 5/6 going into the rest day. Nihal Sarin defeated Szymon Gumularz, while Anish Giri overcame Marc'Andria Maurizzi to join the five-player pack of pursuers. Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju suffered a second consecutive defeat, this time against Nikolas Theodorou (pictured). In the women's section, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno both won to remain tied at the top.

The top-board clash of round six saw Parham Maghsoodloo once again retain his sole lead. Paired with white against Arjun Erigaisi, the Iranian played a quiet English Opening, and after mass exchanges the players reached a balanced knight endgame in which neither side had realistic winning chances. A draw left Maghsoodloo on 5/6, still half a point ahead of the field going into the rest day.

Behind him, a number of players tried to keep pace. Marc'Andria Maurizzi, who had beaten Vladislav Artemiev, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Vincent Keymer in successive rounds, faced Anish Giri with the white pieces. In a Najdorf Sicilian, Giri was merciless, generating a direct kingside attack and winning quickly with black.

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Another duel among immediate pursuers paired Matthias Bluebaum against Abhimanyu Mishra. Both had upset world-class opponents in earlier rounds, but this time neither was able to make headway. Mishra, armed with a Grünfeld Defence, neutralised Bluebaum's preparation, and the game ended in a draw.

Meanwhile, world champion Gukesh Dommaraju suffered a second consecutive upset loss, this time against Nikolas Theodorou. The Greek grandmaster, in excellent recent form, chose the Petroff Defence against 1.e4 and reached a balanced position heading into a rook endgame. Gukesh had an extra pawn, but Theodorou's passed pawns proved more dangerous. Precision was required on both sides, and it was the Greek who navigated the complications better, consigning the reigning champion to another setback.

Elsewhere, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, after his defeat in round five, settled for a short draw with Rauf Mamedov, following the pragmatic advice of the old Soviet school that "after a loss, one plays for a draw".

By contrast, Nihal Sarin continued his fine run. Still unbeaten, he scored his third win of the event, defeating Szymon Gumularz to move to 4½/6. Nihal now sits just half a point behind Maghsoodloo and will meet the leader on the top board in round seven.