After a hat trick of draws in the early rounds, GM Jianchao Zhou take down IM Olexiy Bilych, who found himself in a complicated middlegame resulting in an imbalanced material situation that he was not able to overcome.
GM Christopher Yoo surges ahead for a share of the lead, applying steady kingside pressure on the white side of a Sicilian against GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami until it became too great and Yoo broke through.
WGM Zoey has had a phenomenal so far in the 2026 National Open, holding back others with key draws against GM Christopher Yoo, IM Liam Putnam, GM Jianchao Zhou, and a win againt GM Arman Mikaelyan…all current leaders!Unfortunately, she is handed her first loss against GM Prraneeth Vuppala.
Sunday is a new day. With two more rounds to go, the last person they want to see themselves paired up against is WGM Tang
IM Liam Putnam beats fellow IM Alice Lee after a central push revealed an exposed queenside, allowing his well advanced rook to create threats of promotion.
IM Samrug Narayanan finds play on the queenside and center against a kingside attack by GM Arman Mikaelyan. A solid game on both sides but a misstep by Samurug leads to a way for Arman to crash through the position.
