Ganguly goes down fighting

BELAGUER, July 18: India8217;s S S Ganguly put up a splendid fight before going down to the top-seeded Grandmaster Alexander Baburin, while International Masters K Sasikiran and P Konguvel were held to draws by unfancied opponents in an eventful 2nd round of the international chess tournament here today. All the other Indians posted smooth victories.

GM Baburin opted for his favourite Alekhine defence against Ganguly who answered with a sharp four-pawn attack. The Grandmaster gained a slight advantage in the middlegame due to whites weak queenside but Ganguly defended stubbornly. Other results: GM Lev Psakhis 2 bt Parez Ramon 1 GM Karen Mowsziszian 2 bt Camarasa Monell 1 Mata Borrego 1 lost to GM Julio Becerra 2 Davor Komljenovic 2 bt Joaquim Burao 1 Gohzalex Soria 1 lost to V Saravanan 2 Rahul Shetty 2 bt Guerrero Pham 1.