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Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025 Round 5-6: Christopher Yoo and Loic Travadon share the lead

by Himank Ghosh - 01/05/2025

It was an exciting day of double-round action yesterday at the Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025. After the 5th and 6th rounds, there have emerged two players who are sharing the lead - GM Christopher Yoo and IM Loic Travadon, both on 5.5/6 points. GMs Francesco Sonis and Daniel Dardha are hot on the trail with 5/6 points. Leon Mendonca is leading among the Indian players right now with 4.5/6 points. Photo: Niklesh Jain

Christopher Yoo wins key game against Leon Mendonca

It was all set for an exciting clash in Round 5 of the Sardinia World Chess Festival as Grandmaster Leon Mendonca had the White pieces against Grandmaster Christopher Yoo. Christopher was the one who came out on top - he defeated Leon in a marathon game, taking advantage of Leon over-pushing his position and displaying some fantastic endgame skills.

The starting moments of the game between Christopher Yoo (2588, USA) and Leon Mendonca (2643, IND) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

"I am one of the most talented players" | Christopher Yoo takes down Leon Mendonca | Sardinia Chess | Video: ChessBase India

On the other top board, IM Loic Travadon played yet another amazing game - he won a marathon battle against GM SL Narayanan with the White pieces. Loic created a small edge out of the middlegame and just kept pushing - winning a nice game eventually. Him and Christopher Yoo are joint leaders now with 5.5/6 points!

International Master Loic Travadon (2451, FRA) en route to defeat GM SL Narayanan (2643, IND). Photo: Niklesh Jain

In the 6th round, GM Daniel Dardha scored a strong win with the White pieces against GM Luca Moroni in a very long game. This brings him back to the chase of the leaders with 5/6 points!

GM Daniel Dardha (2650, BEL) deep in thought against GM Luca Jr Moroni (2545, ITA) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The Italian National Champion GM Francesco Sonis played a wonderful game with the White pieces to defeat GM Harshit Raja. With this miniature win, Francesco is back in the running with 5/6 points!

GM Francesco Sonis (2576, ITA) en route to defeat GM Harshit Raja (2474, IND) | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Don't Rush to Punish Your Opponent! | Game of the Day: Sonis vs Harshit | Sardinia Chess 2025 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay all the Round 5-6 Games

Open-A Standings after Round 6

Rk.

SNo

 

Name

FED

Rtg

Pts.

 TB1 

 TB2 

 TB3 

 TB4 

K

rtg+/-

1

16

IM

Travadon, Loic

FRA

2451

5,5

6

24

21,25

2393

10

21,4

2

4

GM

Yoo, Christopher Woojin

USA

2588

5,5

6

22,5

19,75

2416

10

13

3

5

GM

Sonis, Francesco

ITA

2576

5

6

22,5

17,00

2352

10

4,1

4

1

GM

Dardha, Daniel

BEL

2650

5

6

21

16,50

2324

10

-0,3

5

2

GM

Mendonca, Leon Luke

IND

2643

4,5

6

25,5

17,75

2410

10

-0,8

6

28

FM

Bettalli, Francesco

ITA

2355

4,5

6

24,5

18,25

2443

20

43,8

7

9

GM

Sokolovsky, Yahli

ISR

2546

4,5

6

22,5

15,75

2380

10

3,6

8

8

GM

Amar, Elham

NOR

2546

4,5

6

21,5

15,50

2335

10

-0,6

9

27

IM

Kiolbasa, Oliwia

POL

2361

4,5

6

21,5

15,00

2335

10

13,8

10

6

GM

Samunenkov, Ihor

UKR

2572

4,5

6

20,5

15,00

2295

10

-2,2

11

15

IM

Admiraal, Miguoel

NED

2454

4,5

6

19,5

13,75

2263

10

1,3

12

26

GM

Ibrayev, Nurlan

KAZ

2367

4,5

6

18

12,00

2274

10

9,4

13

12

GM

Raja, Harshit

IND

2474

4

6

25,5

15,00

2359

10

1,9

14

14

IM

Martinovici, Ilia

MDA

2459

4

6

22,5

14,25

2301

10

-1,8

15

3

GM

Narayanan S, L

IND

2601

4

6

22

13,50

2323

10

-7,1

Round 7 Pairings for Open-A

Bo.

No.

 

White

Gr

Rtg

Pts.

Result

Pts.

Black

Gr

Rtg

 

No.

1

4

GM

Yoo, Christopher Woojin

2588

5½

5

GM

Sonis, Francesco

2576

5

2

16

IM

Travadon, Loic

2451

5½

5

GM

Dardha, Daniel

2650

1

3

2

GM

Mendonca, Leon Luke

2643

4½

4½

IM

Admiraal, Miguoel

2454

15

4

6

GM

Samunenkov, Ihor

2572

4½

4½

GM

Ibrayev, Nurlan

2367

26

5

8

GM

Amar, Elham

2546

4½

4½

IM

Kiolbasa, Oliwia

2361

27

6

28

FM

Bettalli, Francesco

2355

4½

4½

GM

Sokolovsky, Yahli

2546

9

7

21

IM

Favaloro, Andrea

2422

4

4

GM

Narayanan S, L

2601

3

8

34

FM

Dalaud, Dorian

2303

4

4

GM

Lodici, Lorenzo

2570

7

9

10

GM

Moroni, Luca Jr

2545

4

4

FM

Noy, Eyal

2346

29

10

12

GM

Raja, Harshit

2474

4

4

FM

Adharsh, K

2317

31

11

14

IM

Martinovici, Ilia

2459

4

4

FM

Xu, Grant

2304

33

12

22

IM

Van Der Lende, Ilias

2410

4

4

IM

Lumachi, Gabriele

2443

17

13

38

FM

Urbani, Gabriel

2277

4

4

IM

Panjwani, Raja

2443

18

14

20

IM

Fromm, Marius

2436

4

4

FM

Zakin, Ilay

2254

43

15

46

Maldonado Gonzales, Stefano

2228

3½

3½

GM

Knaak, Rainer

2472

13

Check all the details here

Round 6 Livestream: India 🆚 Poland I Leon (2643) vs Oliwia (2361) | Sardinia World Festival 2025 - Round 6 | Video: Hindi ChessBase India

Round 6 Livestream: Loic 🆚 Yoo I Sardinia world chess festival 2025 ! Round 6 | Video: UniChess Italy

Photo and video Gallery

Official Facebook album link

IM Ulviya Fataliyeva all smiles before the start of the round! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

This is where the players phones are collected before the start of the round! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

The president of the Italian Chess Federation made the inaugural move in Round 5! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Official YouTube playlist link

Grandmaster misses Backrank Checkmate! | Lorenzo vs Francesco | Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025 | Sardinia Open 2025 | Video: ChessBase India

One mistake, no mercy | GM SL Narayanan Masterclass against Migouel Admiral | Sardinia World Chess | Video: ChessBase India

IM completely outplays Grandmaster | IM Loic Travadon goes 4/4 at the Sardinia World Chess Festival | Video: ChessBase India

This Polish IM is very strong | Oliwia Kiolbasa on 4.0/5 at the Sardinia Open 2025 | Video: ChessBase India

Official Tournament website


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