29-07-2025
Para chess: Molenda takes on Liplin for gold on exciting final day
After eight rounds of fluctuating fortunes, the champion will be decided on Wednesday morning
Panaji: The battle for gold in the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula is going down to the wire.
On the final morning, three players will believe they have a chance to become champion as IM Molenda Marcin (Poland), FM Sargissyan Sargis (Armenia) and FM Lipilin Llia (Russia), all with 6.5 points each, jointly share the lead.
Most eyes will be on the first board as Molenda takes on the might of Lipilin in a decisive clash, while Sargissyan has been drawn to play FM Valenta Vit Vaclav (Czech Republic).
On Tuesday, IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel) drew with Molenda in 16 moves in a Nimzo India defence opening, while on the second board, Liplin defeated FM Ayapov Alimzhan (Kazakhstan) in 55 moves against Caro kann defence opening.
On Board 3, Sargissyan kept himself in the hunt for the title after putting it across FM Soltanov Serik (Kazakhstan) in Reti Kings Indian attack opening in 65 moves.
Sargissyan stuttered in the middle with two draws from three games but has recovered well to pick up wins from two of his last three.
Dzenisenia Mikhail (Russia), Ayapov Alimzhan (Kazahkstan), Anfinogenov Artem (Russia), FM Valenta Vit Vaclav, Glazar Domagoj (Croatia) and IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel) are in close contention with six points. CM Samarth Rao and FM Venkata Krishna Karthik K of India, along with Gedgafov Chamal (Russia), are with 5.5 points each.
The final round will be played on Wednesday morning.
