Kamble stuns Bakre, moves into 2nd spot

JALANDHAR, JAN 2: Former under-10 world champion P Harkrishana of Andhra Pradesh caught up with four leaders, all from Tamil Nadu, on the...

JALANDHAR, JAN 2: Former under-10 world champion P Harkrishana of Andhra Pradesh caught up with four leaders, all from Tamil Nadu, on the penultimate day by notching up 6.5 points as he beat Rishipal Singh of Hyderabad in the eighth round of 28th National Junior Chess Championship here this evening.

On a day of draws on top tables, International Master Tejas Bakre of Indian Airlines, however, lost to V R Kamble of Maharashtra. In a major upset, Kamble, playing white, became aggressive from the beginning and foiled all attempts by bakre to equalise.

Kamble captured his rival’s bishop and exposed Bakre’s King, threatening mate by queen.

Bakre did not have sound reply and went down in just 45 moves.

Besides Harikrishana, the four Tamil Nadu players who topped the tables with 6.5 points each were defending champion R Karthick, International Master K Sasikiran, TV Karthekeyan and Kidambi.

Neelotpal Das of Goodricke Chess Academy, Abhay Karnataki and VR Kamble of Maharashtra followed the five leaders withsix points each.

Harikrishana, playing white, attacked Rishipal Singh from the start in English symmetrical opening and put him on the defensive. He offered a knight for sacrifice on move 17. Rishipal, playing under pressure, accepted the sacrifice but lost his queen for two pieces. The rest of the game was superior technique by the Andhra player, who closed on black King in 39 moves.

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Fancied Abhay Karnataki made it complicated for Beenish Bhatia of Hyderabad who played under par and could not match his opponent’s tactics. Beenish gave his queen for two pieces in the middle game and remained uncomfortable to ultimately go down in just 27 moves.

Karthekeyan wrapped the game against Pramod of Maharashtra in just 14 moves who had blundered his rook very early in the game.