JULY 9: International master RB Ramesh started the day’s proceedings with a fluent win over Rodriguez Perez in a French tarrasch variation. Playing with white pieces, Ramesh sacrificed a pawn for a lead in the developement.
Saravanan continued to put pressure and won the opponent’s queen for a rook and bishop. Thereafter he played a weak move giving his opponent an opportunity to hit back but neutralised just in time to finish the game.
Vedant Goswami kept up the tempo and won a fairly good game against Pellicer Cemeli with white pieces in a bogo Indian defence.
Cemeli wasted a few moves with his bishop and allowed Vedant to build a strong centre. After losing a pawn and blundering on an exchange, he resigned on the 35th move to give Vedant a well-deserved victory.
Top seed Lev Psakhis of Israel looked out of form and was held to a draw by Serrano Salvador.