Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025, Kuala Lumpur
Round 5: Rising Tension and Decisive Games!
Round 5 of the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 saw thrilling encounters across the top boards!
On Board 1, GM Deep Sengupta drew with IM Neelash Saha in a balanced closed position featuring bishop and knight. On Board 2, GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. and GM Lalit Babu M. R. also split the point after a threefold repetition in an equal middlegame.
On Board 3, GM Daniel Howard Fernandez capitalised on a tactical oversight by GM Sayantan Das, who blundered on move 22 under time pressure — handing the initiative to his opponent, who converted it precisely into a win.
On Board 4, GM Mitrabha Guha faltered with two inaccuracies in the middlegame, allowing IM James Morris to seize the advantage and deliver checkmate.
On Board 5, Mnyasta Charlton held a promising position with the black pieces, but the game soon equalized. Just when it seemed balanced, White blundered, allowing GM Vignesh N. R. to unleash a precise tactical strike that secured him a decisive win.
The final game of the round — between CM Shen Ree Herng and Lee Yun Rui — lasted an incredible 4 hours and 30 minutes! In a dramatic endgame featuring kings and queens for both sides, Yun Rui’s extra pawn proved crucial as he promoted to a second queen and secured the win.
Report and photography: IA Ellie Emira Syamimi