Awate maintains lead after four rounds

On the top board, Awate with black pieces replied with his favourite Modern Defence to N Neelakantan’s king pawn opening. Neelakantan lost a pawn on 18th move. His both the rooks had no mobility while Awate’s both the rooks had space advantage. So Neelakantan gave up his one rook for one bishop and 2 pawns. The game was adjourned after 4 hours play with Awate exchange up but one pawn down. Neelakantan fought for a draw but Awate maneuvered his rooks properly and won the game in 57 moves.

In a Scotch game a keen tussle was witnessed between Hasan and Vinayak Ghate. This game was also adjourned after 4 hours of play. In the adjourned position Ghate playing with white had one knight and 3 pawns against Hasan one bishop and 3 pawns. The game ended in a draw after 69 moves and 6 hours play.

Unrated Date played well to defeat Fide-rated player Ravi Bhave in a Dutch Defence game. After gaining a rook for bishop Date pushed forward his B and C pawns ahead with a queening threat and won the game in 43 moves.

VKN Solanki and Fankaj Joshi outwitted Manish Kumar and Santosh Khedekar respectively. Teenager Balaji held Fide-rated player Arun Pandit to a draw in 18 moves. Ketan Borich beat Paresh Gandhi.

Neelakantan, Ghate, Solanki, Joshi, and Boricha are on the third rung with 3 points each to their credit. Balaji, Anil Ghadigaokar, Rohitsingh Rana and Suhas Pednekar are on the 4th spot with 2.5 points each.

Bhave, Pandit, Manishkumar, Saumil Desai, Dilip Desai, Khedekar, Subhash Honmurgi and Vispy Pardiwala are on 2 points each.

So far Date and Balaji had done well to attain FIDE’s ELOrating. Date has scored 2 points against 2 Rated players while Balaji has 1.5 points to his credit.