Indian men outwit Kyrgyzstan

Top seed Russia put up another good show to overwhelm Armenia with a huge margin of 3.5-0.5 in the men’s section. The Russians have 34 points in their kitty now and enjoy a 2-point lead over nearest rival Germany who downed USA 3-1.

India is tied for the 10-13 spot with 28.5 points to its credit. The next round of the remaining two rounds will be crucial for India as they take on a not-so-strong Poland.

In the women’s event, the Chinese (28 points) are cruising to a smooth victory. They defeated Germany 2-1 and have a 2.5 points lead over Georgia. Indian women have accumulated 20 points.

It was Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran who anchored the Indian victory today. Playing white against E Moldobaev, the Indian stalwart firmly put behind the loss yesterday and crushed the Modern Benoni defence.

After routine opening moves, Sasikiran emerged with a slight advantage and slowly squeezed the counter attack on the queenside with timely blockades by minor pieces.

When Sasikiran initiated a king-side attack, Moldobaev sensed imminent trouble. Fearing disaster, Moldobaev decided to sacrifice his queen bishop pawn but did not get the desired counter play.

Sasikiran pushed the central pawns to create decisive threats and won on the 51st move.

The other three boards for India ended in draws. On the second board, GM Abhijit Kunte took on V Magai from the black side of a Queens Indian defence and did not have any difficulty in equalising after the opening.

The pieces got exchanged at regular intervals and the peace treaty was signed after 39 moves.

IM P Harikrishna continued his unconquered run here holding GM Leonid Yurtaev to a draw with white pieces.

Harikrishna started with what appeared a Kings-Indian defence but he dexterously transposed it to a relatively new set up. A symmetrical pawn structure was arrived after Harikrishna simplified position in the centre and the game thereon looked set for a draw. The game lasted for merely 23 moves.

On the fourth board, GM Dibyendu Barua drew with Einarkiev with his Queen’s Gambit declined. In the conventional minority attack, Inarkiev exchanged a couple of minor pieces and could not claim much advantage with white pieces.

Barua sacrificed a pawn to force a draw by repetition after 33 moves.

WGM S Vijayalakshmi on an excellent run here, is on course for an individual medal now, having garnered 10.5 points from her 12 outings.

With black pieces Vijayalakshmi had to sweat hard in a lesser-known set up employed by R Eidelson. The opening did not offer much and after a rigourous fight in the middle game it took a whopping 89 moves for Vijayalakshmi to convert her miniscule advantage.

S Meenakshi played a hard fought draw with G Laqvilava while Saheli Barua lost to N Popova.

Important Results (Round 12):

Men:

Armenia lost to Russia 0.5-3.5; USA lost to Germany 1-3; Ukraine drew The Netherlands 2-2; Bulgaria lost to Hungary 1.5-2.5; Romania lost to Israel 1-3; Slovakia lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-3; France lost to England 1-3; China beat Sweden 2.5-1.5; Poland drew Denmark 2-2; Cuba drew Brazil 2-2; India beat Kyrgyzstan 2.5-1.5; Philippines lost to Georgia 1-3 and Greece drew Slovenia 2-2.

Women: China beat Germany 2-1; Hungary lost to Georgia 1-2; The Netherlands lost to Yugoslavia 1-2; Ukraine lost to Romania 1-2; Russia beat Armenia 3-0; Poland beat Bulgaria 2-1; Kazakhstan beat Spain 2-1; USA beat England 2-1; Vietnam drew Cuba 1.5-1.5 and Belarus drew India 1.5-1.5.

Standings after Round 12:

Men: Russia 34; Germany 32; Hungary, Ukraine 30; England, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Israel 29.5; The Netherlands 29; India, China, Georgia, Armenia 28.5.

Women: China 28; Georgia 25.5; Russia 24; The Netherlands, Yugoslavia 23; Romania 22.5; Ukraine 22; Poland, Hungary, Germany, Kazakhstan 21.5; India 20.