Filipov nears title

RASHT IRAN, May 15: Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan is just a stone's throw away from winning the boys under-12 title in the Asian Age-Group C...

RASHT IRAN, May 15: Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan is just a stone8217;s throw away from winning the boys under-12 title in the Asian Age-Group Chess Championship here. He conceded a draw to H Tahmassebi of Iran in the Seventh round today but the results on other boards helped him to keep his lead with two more rounds remaining. Filipov, with 6.5 points, needs only a draw from the last two rounds to win the title.

Deepan Chakravarthy of India was the main donor to Filipov8217;s cause.The Indian mishandled a winning attack against A Akbarnia of Iran in Queen8217;s Gambit Accepted and lost in 30 moves. Deepan, who had won a pawn, lost a Bishop and knight for rook in a counter-attack. Alavi Javed Mogadam of Iran overtook Deepan 4 5 with a 26-move win over Khusnutdinov of Kazakhstan.

In the under-10 section, leader Omid Nourouzi of Iran crashed to his first defeat in the seventh round, thus throwing open the competition. Phan Thanh Tung of Vietnam, with his victory over Omid in 36 moves of Sicilian Defence, reached fivepoints. Omid still has 5.5 points. But lead is now in the hands of fifth seed Erdene G who beat Vakili Shahin of Iran in the seventh round to reach six points. India8217;s L Mahesh reached four points with a convincing 63 move win over B Sadegi of Iran.

In the under-14 section, India8217;s Harikrishna sttled for a draw against Kuklin of Kyrgystan. Hari has four points from seven games.

Moradi Ehsan and Haddad, both of Iran, were in the front in this section with five pints each.

VIJI, BAKRE IN COURSE:

Tejas Bakre and S Vijayalakshmi are in the lead in their respective sections in the under-20 competition.

Viji takes on Pallavi Joshi in the seventh round. It will be mainly a three-day battle among Viji, T Nguyen Vietnam and Babatayeva Kazakhstan who all have 4.5 points each. Viji had a tough time against compatriot Aarthie in a Queen and bishop versus Queen and knight ending. Viji forced a draw by perpetual checks in the end.

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Tejas Bakre is also involved in a three-way tie with top seed DaoThien Hai Vietnam and Abdulla-Al-Rakib Bangladesh, with 4.5 points each. Bakre takes on Dao Thien in the seventh round.