After a hat trick of draws in the early rounds, GM Jianchao Zhou takes 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 run 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
