Mumbai, August 22, 2026: Top-seeded GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty ended Jaiveer Mahendru’s perfect run with a convincing victory in the fifth round of the Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship at ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai.
Mayank prevailed over Jaiveer in a Ruy Lopez battle to move to 4.5 points from five rounds and join the lead alongside IM Artem Pingin of Russia and FM Sharnarthi Viresh.
Pingin defeated Turkmenistan’s FM Amanmuhammet Hommadov, while Viresh produced an impressive win over IM Aaditya Dhingra. Jaiveer, who had started the round as the tournament’s sole leader with four straight victories, slipped into the chasing pack on four points.
He was joined by Hommadov, IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula, FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma and FM Nandish V S. Vignesh, Madhvendra and Nandish all registered wins in the fifth round.
In the Girls Championship, the highly anticipated clash between overnight co-leaders WCM Shohradova Leyla of Turkmenistan and India’s top seed WFM Pratitee Bordoloi ended in a draw. Both players remained at the top with 4.5 points from five rounds.
WFM Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan and FM Prishita Gupta also drew their game and moved to four points. Shivamshika G and WCM Shanmathi Sree S recorded important victories to stay in contention, while WCM Aadya Gowda pulled off a notable upset against higher-rated WCM Kirthika B.
With four rounds remaining, the battle for the Asian Junior titles remains wide open.
