With the championship entering its penultimate stage, Round 8 delivered high-stakes battles, strategic clashes, and moments of brilliance. The leaderboard is razor-thin, and every move counts as players fight for position ahead of the final round. Both top masters and rising stars showed skill, creativity, and determination, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025.
Open Category
Board 1 — GM Fernandez Daniel Howard vs IM Neelash Saha (Draw)
The game opened with 1.Nf3, remaining balanced throughout. Despite Daniel having significantly less time on the clock, he stayed composed and never allowed the position to slip. A steady and accurate performance from both sides resulted in a well-fought draw.
Board 2 — GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. vs GM Sengupta Deep (Draw)
Another 1.Nf3 opening led to a fully equal battle. Both players navigated the middlegame with precision, and the game concluded with a repetition of checks — a fair result in a position where neither side could make progress.
Board 3 — IM Morris James vs FM Adireddy Arjun (Black Wins)
A sharp Sicilian Defence appeared on board 3. Morris gained the initiative in the middlegame with strong attacking ideas, but failed to find the precise continuation needed to convert the advantage. Momentum swung back and forth, and although the position equalized at one stage, critical blunders on moves 26 and 28 turned the game entirely in Black’s favour. Arjun’s extra piece and exposed white king allowed him to launch a decisive counterattack, securing a full point.
Board 4 — IM Liyanage Ranindu Dilshan vs GM Mitrabha Guha (Black Wins)
On move 14, after Black’s thematic …b4 break and White’s inaccurate response, Mitrabha seized complete control. His queenside attack became unstoppable, crashing through the position and overwhelming the white king. A powerful attacking win for the Indian grandmaster.
Board 5 — GM Lalit Babu M. R. vs GM Shyaam Nikhil P (White Wins)
The game was balanced for most of the middlegame, but as time pressure mounted, Black began to falter. A series of inaccuracies left his king exposed, allowing Lalit to launch a decisive attack and convert the advantage cleanly.
In Malaysian action, CM Shen Ree Herng was defeated by IM Raahul V S, while Lee Yun Rui secured an impressive draw against Mnyasta Charlton, who is rated over 300 points higher at 2160. Muhammad Nur Daie Bin Masli faced a tough challenge and lost to WGM Srija Seshadri. After Round 8, GM Fernandez Daniel Howard leads the tournament with 7/8 points, closely pursued by FM Adireddy Arjun and IM Neelash Saha, both on 6.5/8.
Age-Group Highlights
U18 Category
IM Sriram Adarsh Uppala continues his flawless run with 8/8, officially securing the U18 Championship title with one round to spare. Trailing behind at 5 points are: Borkhetariya Devarsh M & Lee Tsuen Jin Aiesec.
G18 Category
In the G18 Category, Round 8 delivered decisive results across the top boards. On Board 1, Fun Ven Vhue fell to WCM Anupam M. Sreekumar, while Sagar Siya secured a confident victory over Sutharshan Shasrutha on Board 2. Over on Board 3, Kaloki Zuri continued her strong run with a win against Matshego Thato. After these results, the leaderboard sees WCM Anupam M. Sreekumar and Sagar Siya jointly leading with 6.5 points, closely followed by Kaloki Zuri with 6 points, keeping the race for the title tightly contested heading into the final round.
Round 9: The Final Showdown — One Last Battle for Glory
As the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 enters its final round, the tournament teeters on the edge of history. After eight grueling rounds of strategy, precision, and nerves of steel, every calculation and prepared line now converges into one decisive moment.
The Round 9 pairings promise an electrifying final showdown as the championship reaches its climax. On Board 1, FM Adireddy Arjun will challenge the tournament leader, GM Fernandez Daniel Howard, while Board 2 features GM Mitrabha Guha against IM Neelash Saha in a crucial battle for the podium. On Board 3, Malaysia’s own A’qil A’lauddin Bin Abd Aziz faces the experienced GM Lalit Babu M R, marking a significant moment for the home contingent.
The final round will take place on Sunday, 16 November at 8:30 AM.
Re-watch the Round 8 action here:
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Report and Photography by IA Ellie Emira Syamimi
Media Officer, Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025