Alekhine Memorial: Aronian splits point with Fressinet

Boris Gelfand is the sole leader at the Alekhine Memorial in St Petersburg after eight rounds. On Tuesday the Israeli grandmaster saved a difficult endgame against Vladimir Kramnik, while co-leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave lost with the white pieces to Nikita Vitiugov.

Tournament leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave lost his first game of the tournament, and hours later the other leader, Boris Gelfand, escaped with a draw. The 44-year-old World Championship Candidate is now half a point ahead of Levon Aronian, Michael Adams, Viswanathan Anand and Maximw Vachier-Lagrave.

Levon Aronian split the point with Laurent Fressinet.