Sharing the lead at 5.5 points along with Vidit Gujrathi was Russian International Master Mozharov Mikhail.
The third spot is shared by FM Aravindh Chithambaram (India) and Rishi Sardana (Australia) at 5.0 points each.
Fourteen-year-old FIDE Master Aravindh continued his fine run as he upset fourth seed Ter-Sahakyan Samvel of Armenia.
Showing exemplary skills beyond his age, Aravindh converted a complicated Sicilian middle-game into a favourable end-game, sewing up the game in 47 moves.
Results (Round 6): (Indians unless specified)
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (5.5) bt M R Lalith Babu (4.5), Mozharov Mikhail (Rus) 5.5 bt Mirzoev Azer (Aze) 4, Drazic Sinisa (Srb) 4.5 drew with Popov Ivan (Rus) 4.5, Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (Arm) 4 lost to V R Aravindh Chithambaram (5), Sardana Rishi (Aus) 5 bt Babujian Levon (Arm) 4, Papin Vasily (Rus) 4 drew with V Vishnu Prasanna (4), Batsiashvili Nino (Geo) 3.5 lost to Neverov Valeriy (Ukr) 4.5, Gagare Shardul (4) drew with Loeffler Stefan (Ger) 4, Karthikeyan Murali (3.5) lost to Ravichandran Siddharth (4.5), Maz Hafizulhelmi (Mas) 3.5 lost to Udeshi Aditya (4.5).