Indians continue to struggle

ELISTA (RUSSIA), OCT 7: In the men's section, India struggled for their 2.5-1.5 win over IBCA (the Blind Chess Association) in the eighth...

ELISTA (RUSSIA), OCT 7: In the men’s section, India struggled for their 2.5-1.5 win over IBCA (the Blind Chess Association) in the eighth round. Abhijit Kunte and K Sasikiran won their games quicky against S Wassin and D Bischoff respectively after V Saravanan lost tamely on the fourth board.

Sasikiran got huge advantage in the beginning itself with the Torre attack as Wassin played passively and wasted some moves. He won a piece after the 34th turn and crashed through the d file.

Kunte, playing with black pieces, got tremendous advantage in the Nimzo-Indian defence. The Indian then sacrificed a piece to get a mating combination after 46 moves.

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Dibyendu Barua got the advantage in the Sicilian defence against Dukaczewesky on the top board but in the end he had to struggle to get away. Barua fought for nearly 80 moves before he won a piece for two pawns.

V Saravanan missed drawing chances in the Silician defence ending againt M Manez and lost in 40 moves. The ending was a bishop and two pawns againstfour pawns. Manez’s piece became deadly and abolished all the pawns. Indian men totalled 16.5 points now.

S Vijayalakshmi and Pallavi Shah had good positions against M Tsiganova and T Laesson respectively on the first and second boards. Viji won a pawn and then lost an exchcange in the bishop’s opening after the 32nd move.

Pallavi had also material in the Caro-Kann defence but in time trouble she played erractically to lose an exchange. Swathi Chuto landed in time trouble losing a piece in the queens Indian defence against L Piarnapuu. Indian women have 12.5 points.

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In the men’s section United States of America drew with Bulgaria 2-2. USA lead the table with 22 points followed by Bulgaria on 21.5 points. England scored a crucial 2.5-1.5 win over third seed Ukraine while France scored an identical win over China.

In the women’s section, China routed Poland 2.5-0.5 on the top board. The Chinese have 20 points now and are 2.5 points ahead of Romania.