Menorca Masters 2026 R6-7: Ruslan Ponomariov join Nihal Sarin in the lead

By admin April 11, 2026 0 comments

Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) defeated Richard Rapport (HUN) and the World Champion, D Gukesh in Round 6 and 7 to join the lead with Nihal Sarin at Menorca Masters 2026. Nihal drew both of his games against Pentala Harikrishna and Leinier Dominguez Perez (USA). Both Nihal and Ponomariov are at 4.5/7 each. Gukesh defeated Leinier and then lost to Ponomariov.

Ponomariov catches up with Nihal, Gukesh in pursuit

Nihal Sarin drew both of his games on the fourth day, while Ruslan Ponomariov scored two crucial wins Richard Rapport and the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh respectively to catch up with Nihal.

Round 6: Gukesh – Leinier: 0.5-0.5

The reigning World Champion D Gukesh won the second game against the World Blitz 2008 champion, Leinier Dominguez Perez (USA).

Position after 20.b4

Gukesh offered his exchange as he wanted to get rid of Black’s strong bishop on the long diagonal and build up a strong pawn mass on the queenside. Leinier decided to accept it 20…Bxa1 21.Qxa1 Ne6 22.Bd5 Nf8 23.c4 e6 24.Bf3 e5 25.Qb2 Rb8 26.Bd5 Ne6 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Bxe6 fxe6 29.b5 Rd8? 30.Qh2+- and it became just a matter of time before White won the game.

The World Champion, D Gukesh started the day with a victory over Leinier Dominguez Perez | Photo: Saji Mathew

Pentala Harikrishna – Nihal Sarin: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Saji Mathew

Ponomariov – Rapport

Position after 31…Qc7??

Find out why 31…Qc7?? is a blunder and how his opponent Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) made the most out of his opportunity.

Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) won a nice game by capitalizing on Richard Rapport’s (HUN) mistake | Photo: Saji Mathew

Round 7: Ponomariov – Gukesh: 1-0

The youngest World Champion, Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) defeated the reigning World Champion, D Gukesh in their second encounter at this event.

Position after 42…Ra3?

Gukesh made the mistake of playing 42…Ra3? 43.Kf4+- Ra8 44.e4 Bc4 45.Rxb7 soon the c6-pawn also fell and White’s connected passed pawns on the queenside proved to be stronger than Black’s isolated passed pawn on the h-file.