Indians boys enjoy a good day

Top seed Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam survived many anxious moments in Sicilian Defence against second seed Zhang Zhong of China and lost two pawns. But Dao bounced backto force a draw in 28 moves.

Among the Indian favourites Asian junior champion Tejas Bakre, Harikrishna and RR Laxman scored fifth-round wins. Harikrishna prevailed over Diego Belmonte of Argentina in 43 moves of English Opening. Hari broke through the Queenfile with his rooks and gobbled up black’s pawns in the Queen and rooks ending.

Tejas Bakre outwitted Salazar Fernand of Columbia in 53 moves of Ruy Lopez through a Kingside attack. In a same-coloured bishop ending, Bakre had an extra pawn. Laxman humbled 29th seed Simon Williams of England in 52 moves of Dutch Defence after getting opening advantage and winning an exchange in the middle game. K Sasikiran continued his drawing sequence when he failed to tame Damir Sutkovic of Bosnia in Kings Indian Defence. Sunderarajan Kidambi drew with 20th seed Salmensuu Olli of Finland in an irregular opening.

India’s Satyapragyan reached three points when he got the better of Sandipan Chanda, a Goodricke Academy product, in 30 moves of Sicilian DefenceScheveningen variation. Mahesh Chandran, Manthan Chokshi and Praveen R Menon also tasted success against Arjun Uberoi, Nirosh De Silva (Sri Lanka) and Gillford Thangkiew respectively. Among the Indian losers were Saurabh Kherdekar, K Ramu and Beenish Bhatia. Hoang Thanh takes lead: Hoang Thanh Trang, who has been silently climbing up the ladder, capitalised on Radziewicz’s blunder on the 12th move which won her a pawn. In the ending, Radziewicz, instead of defending, pushed her pawns with the notion of attacking which looked far-fetched. In an inferior position, she blundered a piece and lost in 41 moves.

Bobrowska surprised Vijayalakshmi in the opening by exchanging the bishop for knight, giving Viji, the double bishop advantage. However, it did not matter as Viji’s 13 Qe7 was dubious. Still it was not too late for the Indian girl, but she played a howler 14 Qd6. Bobrowska won a pawn and exchange and it looked like a routine victory, but Viji was in no mood to give up and fought hard. Bobrowksa’s techniquewas scrappy today and allowed dangerous counterplay. Viji had chances of draw, but could not find the right moves and lost after 63 moves. “I wanted to play a new move, that’s why I went for bishop exchange, I prefer knights and showed have won more easily, but missed the move Ne5 and Viji had chances for draw. I am still not satisfied with my play” said Bobrowska.

Ruth Sheldon ended the unbeaten run of Indian youngster Y Pratibha. She didn’t make a match of it. Meenakshi is literally playing the Indian National championship, Today she played her fourth Indian opponent, Koneru Humpy. Humpy defeated Meenakshi.

Ratiana Tatcu of Brazil had only one aim, shouldn’t lose, this she did it to near perfection against Pallavi Shah.

Top board results (5th round)
Boys: Banikas Hristodoulos (Greece) 4 lost to Darmen Sadvakasov (Kazakhstan) 5; Zhang Zhong (China) 4 drew with Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam) 3.5; Mirzoev Azer (3.5 drew with Kalod Radek (Cze) 3.5; Halkias Stelios (Greece) 4 bt Miroslav Houska (Eng)3; Bojan Vockovic (Yug) 3.5 bt Enamul Hussain (Bang) 2.5; Al Rakib (Bang) 3 drew with I.Dean (US) 3; Blehm Pawel (Pol) 3 drew with Herraz Herminio (Spain) 3; Harikrishna (Ind) 3.5 bt Diego Belmonte (Arg) 2.5; Soln Primoz (Slov) 3 bt Vikramaditya Kamble (Ind) 2.5; Sutkovic (Bos) 2.5 drew with Sasikiran (Ind) 2.5; Radovanovic (Yug) 2.5 drew with turzo attila (Hun) 2.5; Simon Williams (Eng) 2 lost to R R Laxman (Ind) 3; Satyapragyan (Ind) 3 bt Sandipan Chanda (Ind) 2; Tejas Bakre (Ind) 2.5 bt Salazar Fernand (Col) 2; Saurabh Kherdekar (Ind) 1.5 lost to Tihomir (Bulg) 2.5; Harald (Aut) 2.5 bt Ramu (Ind) 1.5.

Girls: Monika Bobrowska (4) bt S Vijayalakshmi (3.5), Hoang Thanh Trang (4.5) bt Iweta Radziewicz (3), Irina Krush (3.5) drew Lakos Nikoletta (3.5), Joanna Dworakowska (3.5) bt Nguyen T Tuongvan (3), Xu Yuan Yuan (3.5) bt Alena Bekarisova (2.5), Y Pratibha (2.5) lost to Ruth Sheldon (3.5), Jana Jackova (3.5) bt Aarthie Ramawsamy (2.5), Tatiana Ratcu (3) drew Pallavi Shah (3), Maria Kouvatsou (2) lost toIsabel Werner (3), Koneru Humpy (3) bt S Meenakshi (2), Swati Mohota (2.5) drew Jelena Miloradovic (2.5), Sofia Henziques (2.5) drew Ciuksyte Zivile (2.5), Swati Ghate (2) bt Lejla Smalkovic (1.5), Narelle Szuveges (1) lost to Helena Riznar (2), Oya Demirdag (1.5) drew Sanchez Sarai Caroli (1.5), Tania Stumberger (2) bt Yuette Erwee (1), Penas Yolanda (2) bt Clarie Marchadour (1), Sorli Maja (0.5) bye.