Barua beats American IM

UBEDA (SPAIN), January 23: Indian Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua (3 points) scored an emphatic victory over American International Master Boris Kreiman (2) in the third round of Ubeda International chess tournament here today. Barua now shares the lead with seven players. National champion Abhijit Kunte (2.5) is only half-a-point behind the leaders. National women’s champion Anupama Gokhale (2) shocked GM norm holder Julian Estrada (1) of Mexico who had beaten GM Victor Korchnoy and Pravin Thipsay last week at Linares. GM norm holder S Vijayalakshmi (1) went down fighting to Chinese GM Zhu Chenc (2) in a game of Nimzo Indian Defence.

Kunte (2.5) had little difficulty in beating Gabriel Sargissian (1.5) of Armenia in Sicilian Defence. Kunte gave up his queen for three pieces. Gabriel’s queen watched helplessly as Kunte’s minor pieces checkmated the white king in the centre of the board.

Playing with black pieces in French defence, Anupama Gokhale (2) launched a deadly attack against Julian Estrada’s king. Estrada’s queen could not return in time for defence and the IWM from Mumbai inflicted the checkmate with a stunning sacrifice of her queen on 36th move.