Anupama surprises English GM

International Masters (IM) Saravanan (2) and Abhijit Kunte (2) joined a band of 12 players with perfect scores of two points each.

Abhijit employed Nimzo-Indian defence and attacked ferociously on king-side against Ed Dearing (1) of Scotland. Dearing resigned when faced with an unavoidable checkmate.

In a close Sicilian game, Saravanan got a double bishop advantage against IWM Houska (1) of England. The Indian showed good technique to score a neat victory.

Top-seeded GM Julian Hodgson (1.5) and second-seeded GM Alexander Baburin (1.5) were held to a draw by Women’s Grandmaster (WGM) Harriet Hunt (1.5) of England and IM Agnus Dunnington(1.5) of England.

Kidambi holds GM Thipsay: In an all-Indian clash, S Kidambi (1.5), playing black, employed Caro-Kan defence to hold GM Pravin Thipsay (1.5) to a creditable draw. After playing 40 moves both players exchanged a majority of pieces and agreed to split the point with only knights remaining on board.

National champion IM Sashikiran (1) bounced back with an easy win over lowly-rated C Storey (0) of England in Ruy Lopez game.

IWM Bhagyashree Thipsay (1) fought well but finally had to give up against GM Peter Wells (2) of England.

IWM Koneru humpy (0) was defeated by England’s upcoming girl H Richards (1).

Major results from 2nd round

WGM H Hunt (1.5) Eng drew with GM J Hodgson (1.5) Eng; GM A Baburin (1.5) Ire drew with IM Dunning Ton (1.5) Eng; IM Rifat Binsatiar (1) Bang lost to GM J Emms (2) Eng; GM S Conquest (2) Eng bt Cobb (1) Wel; GM P Thipsay (1.5) drew S Kidambi (1.5) Ind; Ed Dearing (1) Sco lost to IM A Kunte (2) Ind; IWM Houska (1) Eng lost to IM V Saravanan (2)Ind; IWM A Gokhale (1.5) bt GM N Davies (0.5) Eng; IWM Bhagyashree Thipsay (1) lost to GP Wells (2) Eng; C Storey (0) Eng lost to (1) IM Sashikiran (1) Ind; H Richards (1) Eng bt IWM K Humpy (0) Ind