Big Boys’ checkmate for Indian knights

The women’s field is being led by China, US and Yugoslavia with 7.5 points each while the Indians have six points. In the men’s section, GM Krishnan S.sasikiran took on the world’s best player Garry Kasparov on the top board and was outplayed by the Russian despite having the advantage of white pieces.

Sasikiran was up against a slav chelyabinsk that is steadily becoming Kasparov’s favourtie weapon against the queen pawn players. Not satisfied with the level positions especially since he was playing white, Sasikiran went for a highly complicated variation that has not been serving the white player well off late.

Kasparov got the dynamic balance he was looking for right in the early middlegame and initiated attack against a backward queen pawn of Sasikiran. The Indian faught bravely but missed out a forced tactical sequence of moves that cost him a pawn.

Kasparov was merciless thereafter as he thwarted all counter-play attempts of Sasikiran in copybook fashion. The game lasted 38 moves. In the women’s encounter, IWM Aarthie Ramaswamy won her game on the third board against Nepeina-Leconte Maria to equalise for India after Meenakshi had lost her encounter to IWM Sebaq Marie. Subbaraman Vijaylakshmi had earlier played a draw against Almira Akripchenko-Lautier.