GM Aleksandar Indjic expands his lead in the European Individual Chess Championship 2024

Individual Chess Championship 2024 after defeating the top seeded GM Vladimir Fedoseev (SLO, 2712).

Playing with black pieces, Aleksandar Indjic reached an equal position straight after the opening. He improved it to gain a slight advantage and started repeating the moves. However, Fedoseev refused a three-fold repetition, and entered a worse position which Indjic used to create a beautiful mating motive on Fedoseev’s weakened kingside.

Taking a win today, Indjic secured a full point lead in the tournament ahead of 13 players who tie for second place scoring 5.5 points each: GM Frederik Svane (GER, 2654), GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2687), GM Maksim Chigaev (ESP, 2605), GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM, 2613), GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL, 2632), GM Daniel Dardha (BEL, 2606), GM Ihor Samunenkov (UKR, 2523), GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2651), GM Alexander Donchenko (GER, 2617), GM Manuel Petrosyan (ARM, 2612), GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM, 2623), GM Alexander Motylev (ROU, 2577) and GM Daniele Vocaturo (ITA, 2597).

20-year-old WIM Sofia Pogorelskikh (SRB, 2252) is currently the best-ranked female player in the event with the impressive score of 5/7 points. Sofia Pogorelskikh today heroically drew against the 2023 World Junior Chess Champion GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi (FRA, 2585) to secure herself WGM and IM norms with two rounds to spare. Earning 63 rating points and performing with rating 2607, Sofia keeps her chances for a GM norm in the next rounds.

Many young chess players used the opportunity to show their talent at the European Individual Chess Championship 2024. One of them is 13-year-old FM Atilla Kuru (TUR, 2371) who today drew with black pieces against GM Jobava Baadur (GEO, 2587). Atilla Kuru scores 5/7 points and performs in the event with incredible 2750 rating, earning 68.4 ELO points.

After today’s game, Atilla Kuru joined the ECU TV studio to analyze his game with our host GM Alojzije Jankovic. Replay the interview here.

The 8th round starts tomorrow at 15:00 CET and the top-board pairings are:

1. GM Aleksandar Indjic (SRB, 2623) – GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2687)
2. GM Frederik Svane (GER, 2654) – GM Daniel Dardha (BEL, 2606)
3. GM Manuel Petrosyan (ARM, 2612) – GM Rauf Mamedov (AZE, 2651)
4. GM Ihor Samunenkov (UKR, 2523) – GM Ivan Cheparinov (BUL, 2632)
5. GM Daniele Vocaturo (ITA, 2597) – GM Aram Hakobyan (ARM, 2623)

Live games with video broadcast and commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic and WIMs Sandra Djukic and Lena Miladinovic can be followed through the ECU TV platform.

Photos by ECU