The Masters category had witnessed a three-way tie for the top-spot, following which Aravindh defeated Armenian-American Grandmaster Aronian in the first blitz playoff before holding his nerve to win the second while playing with black pieces.

Grandmaster M Aravindh Chithambaram defeated Arjun Erigaisi in the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, ending Erigaisi's unbeaten streak. Aravindh

Grandmaster M Aravindh Chithambaram ended the unbeaten run of table topper Arjun Erigaisi to throw open the Chennai Grand Masters title race as Vidit Gujrathi eked out a draw against Levon Aronian in the sixth round.

Aravindh Chithambaram beat Arjun Erigaisi in the sixth round to open up the title race in the second edition of the Chennai Grandmasters classical chess tournament at the Anna Centenary Library auditorium here on Saturday.

Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States registered a resounding victory over GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France to close the gap on table-topper GM Arjun Erigaisi, who was held to a draw by Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo,

Despite the defeats Arjun and Aronian are now in joint lead with four points each while Aravindh, with his first win of the competition, and Amin Tabatabaei stand half a point behind.

Levon Aronian's victory over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Chennai Grandmasters chess tournament has intensified the race for the title. Aronian now trails leader Arjun Erigaisi by just half a point.