Average start by Indian men

It turned out to be an average start for the Indian men as Grandmasters Krishnan Sasikiran and Abhijit Kunte were held to easy draws in the opening round of the 36th Chess Olympiad here at Gran Casino.

Pitted against Uruguay, the Indians failed to do anything with the Black pieces. Sasikiran drew against GM Andres Rodriguez and Abhijit Kunte against Curi Gabriel. GM Sandipan Chanda salvaged some pride defeating Alejandro Bauza, while Harikrishna was involved in a draw with Bernardo Mailhe Roselli.

Viswanathan Anand and Surya Shekhar Ganguly were rested.