Leading Indians suffer reverses

LINARES, JAN 12: Overnight leaders Abhijit Kunte, K Sasikiran and RB Ramesh lost their share of the top position to go down the order as ...

LINARES, JAN 12: Overnight leaders Abhijit Kunte, K Sasikiran and RB Ramesh lost their share of the top position to go down the order as the Indians had a poor day at the Linares Open Chess Tournament here last night.

GM Alexi Dreev of Russia and IM Suetushkin of Maldova grabbed the lead with four points after the fourth round by beating Sasikiran and Kunte respectively while Ramesh missed many winning chances in a draw against a Grischuck.

Ramesh (3.5) was following at the second position along with six other players while Sasikiran and Abhijit Kunte were in the third place with three points each.

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On the top board, the highly-rated GM Dreev played Semi Slav defence against Sasikiran’s pet Queen Pawn opening. Sasikiran played some dubious line and the Russian GM earned an edge in the middlegame. Later he grabbed Sasikiran’s bishop which compelled the Indian to surrender.

Ramesh played the Ruy-Lopez defence against Grischak and found a novelty in the position to grab a pawn on the 23rd move. But hemissed many winning chances under time pressure and had to share the point.

Kunte’s fine run in the tournament was halted by Suetushkin when the Indian blundered a piece and resigned immediately.

Former national champion DV Prasad and IM elect V Saravanan also lost their games against GM V Bologan (Maldova) and IM Georgiev Vladimir (Bulgaria) respectively.

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However, IM norm holder CS Gokhale and International Women Master (IWM) Mrunalini Kunte scored easy victories against their opponents to move up the ladder as did national women’s champion S Vijayalakshmi, who held former National `A’ champion P Konguvel in an all-Indian affair.

In a Ruy-Lopez game, IWM Vijalalakshmi played correctly to force Konguvel, who lost to GM Jesus Nogueiras in the third round, to sign the peace treaty on 37th move.

IWM Pallavi Shah also continued her fine run by holding GM Garcia Silvino of Cuba.

Results: Fourth round: IM K Sasikiran (Ind) 3 lost to GM A Dreev (Russia) 4, IM Svetuskin (Moldova) 4 bt IM A Kunte (Ind) 3,IM RB Ramesh (Ind) 3.5 drew with IM A Grischuk (Rus) 3.5, IM MN Dublan (ESP) 3.5 drew with GM J Nogueiras (Cuba) 3.5, GM S Tiviakov (Rus) 3.5 bt GM N Rashkovsky (Rus) 2.5GM Minasian Ava 2.5 lost to GM A Sokolov (Rus) 3.5, V Burmakin (Rus) 3.5 bt GM Romanishin (Ukr) 2.5.