Being the only one to win at the first tables, the Armenian GM, who has already won the tournament twice, isolated himself again in command of the classification, now with ½ point more than the competition. The last two rounds promise to be electrifying, as the strongest candidates for victory remain just ½ point away.

In the women's classification, French WGM Andreea Navrotescu, who defeated Portuguese Miguel Morais in this seventh round, enters the fray. Thus, the last two rounds promise a very tight dispute until the end.