Ian Nepomniachtchi leads the Candidates chess tournament with 5.5 points, alongside D Gukesh.
The Russian player secured a draw against Frenchman Firouza Alireza in the ninth round.
What happened?
Vidit Gujrathi made a stunning comeback, beating second seed Hikaru Nakamura of the United States.
Gukesh's match against R Praggnanandhaa ended in a draw, showcasing the young Indian talents' prowess.
Why it matters for Ian Nepomniachtchi
Nepomniachtchi's draw against Alireza kept him in the lead, with Gukesh closely following.
The tournament is heating up, with Praggnanandhaa just half a point behind the leaders.
Nakamura, Gujrathi, and Fabiano Caruana share the fourth spot with 4.5 points.
What comes next?
The tournament will continue, with the leaders facing tough competition from the rest of the field.
Gujrathi's strategic brilliance was evident in his win against Nakamura, capitalizing on the American's early pawn push.
The Indian Grandmaster's confidence in his opening choices paid off handsomely.
As of the ninth round, the standings are: Nepomniachtchi and Gukesh with 5.5 points, Praggnanandhaa with 5 points.
The women's section saw R Vaishali face another setback against Zhongyi Tan of China.
Koneru Humpy managed to salvage a draw against Kateryna Lagno of Russia.
The competition is tight, with Tingjie Lei maintaining her lead after a draw against Nurgyul Salimova.
Results from the ninth round include: D Gukesh drawing with R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi beating Hikaru Nakamura.
Firouza Alireza drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi, while Nijat Abasov drew with Fabiano Caruana.
The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting one, with the leaders facing challenges from the rest of the field.
Ian Nepomniachtchi's lead is tentative, with Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa close behind.
The Candidates chess tournament will continue, with the next round promising more excitement.