Indians make winning start

In the Rossolimo variation as black equalised in the opening, Saravanan’s opponent found the right moves in the early middlegame.

The Indian managed to seize a slight advantage and won a pawn. In a rook and bishop endgame Saravanan faced little difficulty in converting the material advantage into a smooth victory as Erwich lost on time on the 40th move.

In the upset of the day, unknown J Werle held second-seeded Grandmaster Jeroen Piket to a draw with black pieces.

Ramesh got a comfortable advantage from the white side of the Pric defence against Hoeven. Ramesh won a piece for two pawns in the middlegame but his opponent had some compensation in the form of a formidable pawn chain.

Ramesh managed to neutralise his opponent’s initiative and checkmated him with a timely counter-attack.

IM Konguvel changed the move orders in the opening of the Sicilian Pelikan variation from the white side. Though his opponent had the initiative, Konguvel managed to complicate matters by offering a pawn in an opposite coloured bishop middlegame.

Konguvel’s opponent could not find the correct defence and lost the game in 85 moves.

Young Kidambi faced the four knights defence with Black against Berg of The Netherlands.

In an equal position Kidambi sacrificed a pawn for initiative and double bishop advantage.

Kidambi did not continue forcefully to let his opponent exchange bishop and queens. In a rook and pawn endgame, Berg showed superb technique to clinch a victory in 60 moves.

TS Ravi too lost the game against lowly-rated R Nep of The Netherlands. The Indian played the Panov-Botwinnik variation against his opponent’s Caro-Kann defence and obtained a slight advantage.

In time-trouble Ravi played a rash move `g4′ weakening his kingside permanently. His opponent started an attack on the kingside and in a hopeless position Ravi failed to make his 40th move and lost on time.

Results: Giddins (0) lost to M Gurevich (1); J Piket (0.5) drew J Werle (0.5); F Harreneld (0) lost to Jan Timman (1); Milov (1) bt Lorschied (0); R Backelin lost to Tregubov (1); R Ramesh (1) bt Hoeven (0); Erich (0) lost to V Saravanan (1); TS Ravi (0) lost to R Nep (1); Berg (1) bt Kidambi (0); Konguvel (1) bt J Amesz (0).