The 5th edition of El Llobregat Open Chess Tnmt. continues to show a high level competition, consolidating its reputation as the strongest open chess event in Spain. After four intense rounds, Israeli GM Ido Gorshtein and Georgian GM Mikheil Kekelidze lead the standings with a perfect score of 4/4. Close behind them, six players are chasing with 3.5 points. Behind them follow six players with 3.5 points, including top seeds GM Martin Kraemer and GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra. With six rounds still to be played in this 10-round event, the race for the top spot is heating up, promising exciting battles in the rounds to come. Among the Indian players, WIM Tejaswini G secured his second win in the tournament, defeating IM Valenzuela Gomez Fernando of Chile.

Photographs and reporting by Niklesh Jain

Gorshtein and Kekelidze lead with perfect scores

The 5th edition of El Llobregat Open Chess Tnmt, recognized as the strongest open event in Spain, is gaining momentum as GM Ido Gorshtein of Israel and GM Mikheil Kekelidze of Georgia lead the pack with perfect scores of 4/4 after four rounds. Their next encounter in the fifth round promises to be a crucial battle for the tournament lead.

Miguel Illescas, eight times Spanish chess champion and International Grandmaster, and Miquel Garro, local businessman, participated in the traditional ringing of the bell of today’s round.

In today’s round, GM Ido Gorshtein secured a crucial win on board 2 against Kazakh FM Artyom Bogdanov in 49 moves using the English Opening. His precise endgame play helped him maintain his unbeaten streak.

Meanwhile, GM Mikheil Kekelidze, with Black, defeated Swedish IM Seo Jung Min in a 66-move Sicilian. His sharp strategy in the endgame, especially with the knight, led him to his fourth consecutive victory.

On board 1, German GM Martin Kraemer made a draw with Spanish GM Josep Manuel López Martínez.

while GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra of Chile tied with GM Renato Quintiliano of Brazil.

The Spanish U-16 world champion, FM Javier Habans, also made a draw.

against GM Julen Luis Arizmendi Martinez,

On board 4, the best player of the tournament, Hungary’s Zsoka Gaal, lost to Yahli Sokolovsky of Israel in a double rook and double bishop ending.

Among the Indian players, WIM Tejaswini G got her second win in the tournament by defeating IM Valenzuela Gomez Fernando of Chile. With this win, she stands with 2.5 points and a live rating of 2253.

Another notable game was that of 11-year-old French player Ruben Coles, who defeated English player Indy Southcott-Moyers in a bishop and rook endgame of the same color. With six rounds remaining in this 10-round event, two players are in the lead with 4 points, followed by six competitors with 3.5 points. The tournament is set for more intense battles as players chase the top positions.

Highlights of the 4th round results

• GM Ido Gorshtein 1 – 0 FM Artyom Bogdanov
• GM Mikheil Kekelidze 1 – 0 IM Seo Jung Min
• GM Martin Kraemer ½ – ½ GM Josep Manuel Lopez Martinez
• GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra ½ – ½ ½ GM Renato Quintiliano
• FM Javier Habans ½ – ½ GM Julen Luis Arizmendi Martinez

After four intense rounds of El Llobregat OpenCHess, GM Ido Gorshtein of Israel and GM Mikheil Kekelidze of Georgia lead the standings with a perfect score of 4/4. Gorshtein, who represents the Kfar Saba Chess Club, has maintained his good form, while Kekelidze of Georgia has performed impressively, with a significant increase of +23.9 Elo points to date. The chasing pack includes six players with 3.5 points each, led by GM Martin Kraemer of Germany. He is closely followed by Spanish GM Josep Manuel Lopez Martinez, Chilean GM Cristobal Henriquez Villagra, Brazilian GM Renato Quintiliano, Israeli GM Yahli Sokolovsky and Turkish GM Cem Kaan Gokerkan.