Kidambi stuns GM Barua

The two other GMs to suffer defeats were Pravin Thipsay, outwitted by International Master GB Prakash, and Krishnan Sasikiran, who lost to Kunte. But while Sasikiran and Thipsay were outplayed by players of standing, Barua’s reverse came as the biggest shock. What made Barua’s loss even more shocking was the fact that he was tamed at his one-time favourite Queen’s gambit ploy that he chose to respond to Kidambi’s Queen-pawn opening. Kidambi, who is still in search of a final International Mastern norm, played cautiously but intelligently which helped him maintain a slight advantage. His game plan was simple and called for devoid of risk.

Kidambi threw the first bait forcing Barua to accept an isolated king-pawn on e6. Realising of the dangers that lay ahead, Barua resorted to counter-attack. However, Kidambi soon won a weak pawn on the 27th move that saw him make deep inroads leaving Barua bereft of plans. The GM called it quits on the 43rd move.

GM Abhijit Kunte had no such problems as he scored a deserving 44-move win over GM Sasikiran with black pieces. In a match of two equals, Sasikiran tried to test Kunte with the Kings Indian attack — a move that Kunte himself is adept when playing with white. Sasikiran’s plan failed to click as Kunte outwitted him.

Kunte obtained a comfortable position that saw Sasikiran change his strategy. He attacked from the queenside which saw a complex situation develop. However, Kunte, who enjoys tactical battles, launched a sacrificial attack that forced Sasikiran give up.

IM GB Prakash (Bank Sports Board) registered his first big win while accounting for GM Pravin Thipsay. The latter paid heavily for mishandling his opening against his rival’s Caro-Kann defence.

Prakash conceded a pawn to obtain lasting initiative. Thipsay soon found himself blocked and had little ways to wriggle out.

Striking at the right time, Prakash made a temporary rook sacrifice on the 25th move with a scheme that made the GM give up three moves later.

Unfazed by the happenings around him, IM Sarvanan continued his winning run prevailing over IM Atanu Lahiri to be placed a close second to the leaders.

Fide Master TS Ravi too moved up the ladder, scoring a creditable win over IM Ravi Hegde. Ravi ruined Hegde’s pawn-structure and later used neat tactical play to emerge winner in 43 moves.

Results (5th round):

P Harikrishna (1.5) drew with Sandipan Chanda (1.5), K Sasikiran (2.5) lost to Abhijit Kunte (3), S Kidambi (3) bt Dibyendu Barua (2.5), Sriram Jha (2.5) drew with DV Prasad (1.5), V Sarvanan (2.5) bt Atanu Lahiri (0.5), Pravin Thipsay (2.5) lost to GB Prakash (1.5), Neelotpal Das (1.5) drew with Vishal Sareen (2), Ravi Hegde (1) lost to TS Ravi (2.5), Lanka Ravi (2) drew with K Murugan (1.5), SS Ganguly (0.5) bye

THE MOVES

D Barua (white) vs S Kidambi

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 d3 11. Rxd3 Qc7 12. e4 O-O 13. e5 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nc5 15. Re3 f5 16. exf6 Qxf4 17. fxe7 Nxe7 18. Ne5 Nf5 19. Rf3 Qb4 20. Nd3 Nxd3 21. Rxd3 Kh8 22. Rad1 Qe7 23. Qe5 b5 24. Ne4 a5 25. Nd6 Nxd6 26. Rxd6 a4 27. Bxe6 Re8 28. Re1 Ra6 29. Rxa6 Bxa6 30. f4 Qa7+ 31. Re3 b4 32. f5 Bc4 33. a3 bxa3 34. bxa3 h6 35. h3 Bb3 36. Kh2 Qe7 37. Rg3 Rd8 38. Rg6 Bxe6 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Rxe6 Qxa3 41. Re7 Qd6 42. Rxg7+ Kf8 43. Qxd6+ -0