Chola Chess GM Norm RR Round 7: Ethan Vaz and Ameya Audi in joint lead, going into the penultimate round

by Devansh Singh - 09/02/2026

Ethan Vaz and Ameya Audi scored important wins in round 7 of the Chola Chess International GM Norm Round Robin Tournament. Ethan Vaz won his game against the event leader Alisher Suleymenov with the white pieces, while Ameya Audi won his game against Girel Joseph to stay in the race for a GM norm. Ethan and Ameya are now on 4.5/7 points. In another decisive game, Harsh Suresh lost against Boyer Mahel. The last two games between Aronyak Ghosh and Mayank Chakraborty, Akshay Borgaonkar and Delgado Ramirez Neuris, ended in a draw. The 8th round starts on 10th February at 2 PM IST. Photos: Himank Ghosh

The Situation for the GM Norms

At the start of the event, it was clear that 6/9 points would be needed to achieve the GM norm for all players except Aronyak Ghosh and Vaz Ethan; they would need 6.5/9 points to make the GM norm. After completion of 7 rounds in the Chola Chess GM Norm Round-Robin event, only two players can achieve the GM Norms now. Ethan needs to score 2/2 in the last 2 rounds to reach 6.5/9, while Audi Ameya has to score 1.5/2 to reach 6/9 to achieve the Grandmaster Norm.

Ethan Vaz vs Alisher Suleymenov

In the above position, Ethan is playing with the white pieces and played 21.f3 to attack Alisher's rook, and in response, Alisher played 21.Re5, which turned out to be a big mistake as Ethan got the initiative and played 22.Rh1 with the attacking ideas on the 'h' file. Eventually, after 8 moves, Ethan won this game against the leader of the tournament and joined him in the first place.

Ethan Vaz vs Alisher Suleymenov (1-0)

Ameya Audi vs Girel Joseph

In the above position, Ameya played his Knight to e3, giving a check to the black king. This position was equal, and Girel could have played Kd4, but instead he decided to play 82.Kc5 and missed 83.g4, and then there was no way to stop those two passed pawns. This game helped Ameya to take the joint lead with Alisher and Ethan, and now he needs 1.5/2 points to score his GM norm

Ameya Audi vs Girel Joseph (1-0)

Boyer Mahel vs Harsh Suresh (1-0)

Aronyak Ghosh vs Mayank Chakraborty (0.5-0.5)

Akshay Borgaonkar vs Delgado Ramirez Neuris (0.5-0.5)

All the Participants and Officials during the photoshoot

Left to right: Paul Arokia Raj S (Deputy Chief Arbiter), Shenvi Nitin (Chief Arbiter), GM RB Ramesh (Tournament Director), and Bhaskar V (Anti Cheating Arbiter)

Mr Bharat Singh Chauhan with GM RB Ramesh

Tournament Hall during round 7

Photos by Himank Ghosh: Here

Replay Round 7 Games

Round 7 Results

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	PGN
1	FRA	2486	GM	Boyer, Mahel	1 - 0	IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2443	PGN
2	IND	2518	IM	Vaz, Ethan	1 - 0	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher	KAZ	2500	PGN
3	IND	2381	IM	Borgaonkar, Akshay	½ - ½	GM	Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	PAR	2511	PGN
4	IND	2418	IM	Audi, Ameya	1 - 0	GM	Girel, Joseph	FRA	2499	PGN
5	IND	2533	IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	½ - ½	IM	Mayank, Chakraborty	IND	2473	PGN

Details

Rankings after Round 7

Rk.	SNo		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4
1	5	IM	Vaz, Ethan	IND	2518	4,5	1	17,75	3	1
2	3	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher	KAZ	2500	4,5	2	13,75	3	1
3	7	IM	Audi, Ameya	IND	2418	4,5	2	12,5	3	2
4	2	GM	Delgado Ramirez, Neuris	PAR	2511	4	0	12,25	1	1
5	8	IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	IND	2533	4	0	12	2	0
6	9	IM	Mayank, Chakraborty	IND	2473	3,5	0	13	1	0
7	1	GM	Girel, Joseph	FRA	2499	3	0	9	1	0
8	6	IM	Borgaonkar, Akshay	IND	2381	2,5	0	9,5	0	0
9	10	IM	Harsh, Suresh	IND	2443	2,5	0	9	0	0
10	4	GM	Boyer, Mahel	FRA	2486	2	0	5,75	1	0

Details

Round 8 Pairings

Bo.	FED	Rtg		White	Result		Black	FED	Rtg	PGN
1	IND	2443	IM	Harsh, Suresh		IM	Mayank, Chakraborty	IND	2473
2	FRA	2499	GM	Girel, Joseph		IM	Aronyak, Ghosh	IND	2533
3	PAR	2511	GM	Delgado Ramirez, Neuris		IM	Audi, Ameya	IND	2418
4	KAZ	2500	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher		IM	Borgaonkar, Akshay	IND	2381
5	FRA	2486	GM	Boyer, Mahel		IM	Vaz, Ethan	IND	2518