FM RR 109 Putnik
10 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 22 Mar 2026 to 27 Mar 2026 in Novi Sad, Serbia. 4 titled players from 6 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 1945, and top seed was Milko Popchev (🇧🇬 BUL, GM, 2176).
Niharika Challa (🇮🇳 IND, WCM, 1961) won with 7.5/9, ahead of Milko Popchev (7.0) and Atakan Eken (6.5). Challa shared the lead from round 5 and won solo starting round 8.
The biggest upset came in round 9: Hillary Rooca Theng (1696) beat Andjelko Dragojlovic (IM, 2086), a +390-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 10 · 9 roundsWCM Niharika Challa led from R8 onwards, the runner-up race stayed tight.
WCM Niharika Challa takes the sole lead (6.5/8).
WCM Niharika Challa drew with GM Milko Popchev (Black).
WCM Niharika Challa 3+3 wins (R3–R5, R7–R9)GM Milko Popchev 3 wins (R1–R3)Atakan Eken 3 wins (R6–R8)
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇳WCMNiharika Challa | 1961 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.5 | 28.75 | 37.5 | +57.4 | 2217 |
| 2 | 🇧🇬GMPopchev, Milko | 2176 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 26.75 | 38.0 | +0.2 | 2163 |
| 3 | 🇹🇷Eken, Atakan | 2036 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.5 | 23.00 | 38.5 | +19.6 | 2102 |
| 4 | 🇷🇸Davidov, Lazar | 2026 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | 18.00 | 39.5 | +1.6 | 2017 |
| 5 | 🇮🇩Theng, Hillary Rooca | 1696 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5.0 | 17.75 | 40.0 | +126.8 | 2008 |
| 6 | 🇷🇺Aliabiev, Boris | 1954 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 16.50 | 40.0 | +9.2 | 1988 |
| 7 | 🇷🇸IMDragojlovic, Andjelko | 2086 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 10.50 | 41.5 | -26.0 | 1855 |
| 8 | 🇷🇸IMLjubisavljevic, Zivojin Z | 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 2.5 | 8.00 | 42.5 | -25.6 | 1774 |
| 9 | 🇷🇸Borbas, Petar | 1641 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1.5 | 4.25 | 43.5 | +3.4 | 1687 |
| 10 | 🇷🇸Knezevic, Milorad J | 1876 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1.0 | 2.00 | 44.0 | -51.8 | 1603 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1Theng, Hillary RoocaINA+126.85.0 pts · #5
- 2Niharika ChallaWCMIND+57.47.5 pts · #1
- 3Eken, AtakanTUR+19.66.5 pts · #3
- 1Knezevic, Milorad JSRB-51.81.0 pts · #10
- 2Dragojlovic, AndjelkoIMSRB-26.03.5 pts · #7
- 3Ljubisavljevic, Zivojin ZIMSRB-25.62.5 pts · #8
- R9+390 Elo gap
- R5+301 Elo gap
- R7+180 Elo gap