Sardinia World Chess Festival 2025 Round 5-6: Christopher Yoo and Loic Travadon share the lead
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 IndiaReplay 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 | FRA | 2451 | 5,5 | 6 | 24 | 21,25 | 2393 | 10 | 21,4 | ||
2 | 4 | GM | USA | 2588 | 5,5 | 6 | 22,5 | 19,75 | 2416 | 10 | 13 | ||
3 | 5 | GM | ITA | 2576 | 5 | 6 | 22,5 | 17,00 | 2352 | 10 | 4,1 | ||
4 | 1 | GM | BEL | 2650 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 16,50 | 2324 | 10 | -0,3 | ||
5 | 2 | GM | IND | 2643 | 4,5 | 6 | 25,5 | 17,75 | 2410 | 10 | -0,8 | ||
6 | 28 | FM | ITA | 2355 | 4,5 | 6 | 24,5 | 18,25 | 2443 | 20 | 43,8 | ||
7 | 9 | GM | ISR | 2546 | 4,5 | 6 | 22,5 | 15,75 | 2380 | 10 | 3,6 | ||
8 | 8 | GM | NOR | 2546 | 4,5 | 6 | 21,5 | 15,50 | 2335 | 10 | -0,6 | ||
9 | 27 | IM | POL | 2361 | 4,5 | 6 | 21,5 | 15,00 | 2335 | 10 | 13,8 | ||
10 | 6 | GM | UKR | 2572 | 4,5 | 6 | 20,5 | 15,00 | 2295 | 10 | -2,2 | ||
11 | 15 | IM | NED | 2454 | 4,5 | 6 | 19,5 | 13,75 | 2263 | 10 | 1,3 | ||
12 | 26 | GM | KAZ | 2367 | 4,5 | 6 | 18 | 12,00 | 2274 | 10 | 9,4 | ||
13 | 12 | GM | IND | 2474 | 4 | 6 | 25,5 | 15,00 | 2359 | 10 | 1,9 | ||
14 | 14 | IM | MDA | 2459 | 4 | 6 | 22,5 | 14,25 | 2301 | 10 | -1,8 | ||
15 | 3 | GM | 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 | 2588 | 5½ | 5 | GM | 2576 | 5 | |||||||
2 | 16 | IM | 2451 | 5½ | 5 | GM | 2650 | 1 | |||||||
3 | 2 | GM | 2643 | 4½ | 4½ | IM | 2454 | 15 | |||||||
4 | 6 | GM | 2572 | 4½ | 4½ | GM | 2367 | 26 | |||||||
5 | 8 | GM | 2546 | 4½ | 4½ | IM | 2361 | 27 | |||||||
6 | 28 | FM | 2355 | 4½ | 4½ | GM | 2546 | 9 | |||||||
7 | 21 | IM | 2422 | 4 | 4 | GM | 2601 | 3 | |||||||
8 | 34 | FM | 2303 | 4 | 4 | GM | 2570 | 7 | |||||||
9 | 10 | GM | 2545 | 4 | 4 | FM | 2346 | 29 | |||||||
10 | 12 | GM | 2474 | 4 | 4 | FM | 2317 | 31 | |||||||
11 | 14 | IM | 2459 | 4 | 4 | FM | 2304 | 33 | |||||||
12 | 22 | IM | 2410 | 4 | 4 | IM | 2443 | 17 | |||||||
13 | 38 | FM | 2277 | 4 | 4 | IM | 2443 | 18 | |||||||
14 | 20 | IM | 2436 | 4 | 4 | FM | 2254 | 43 | |||||||
15 | 46 | 2228 | 3½ | 3½ | GM | 2472 | 13 |
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
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
