Konguvel loosens grip on GM norm

KOSZALIN (POLAND), Aug 13: Former National A champion P Konguvel (5) missed the chance to earn his maiden GM norm when grandmaster E Roze...

KOSZALIN (POLAND), Aug 13: Former National A champion P Konguvel (5) missed the chance to earn his maiden GM norm when grandmaster E Rozentalis of Lithuania defeated him in the ninth round of the M K Cafe Cup chess tournament here last night.

Needing an outright victory for his first GM norm, Konguvel, playing with black for second consecutive time, was at disadvantage right from the start.

Title favourite Igor Khemkin (7.5) of Israel agreed for a quick draw with black pieces against fellow-GM Igor Novikov (6.5) of Ukraine and topped the table with a one point lead. The Israeli needs a draw in the last round tonight to claim the crown. However, even with a loss, he should win the tournament on better tie-break.

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Facing Alapin Variation, a favourite of Rozentalis, Konguvel made a serious mistake in the opening which cost him a pawn and then the Lithuanian gave him no chance to recover.

The Indian, however, has an outside chance of winning the norm if he scores a win in the final round against GMBrodsky.

International Master D V Prasad (5) won against WGM Natalia Zhurkova and improved his position here. Playing white against the centre counter opening of Zhurkova, Prasad played energetically to score a full point.

Important results: GM Novikov (6.5) drew GM I Khemkin (7.5), GM Krasenkov (6.5) bt GM Adianto (5.5), GM S Sarunas (5.5) lost to GM Beliavsky (6.5), GM Ehlvest (5.5) lost to GM Emil Sutovsky (6.5), GM Z Hracek (6.5) bt IM Socko Bartosz (5.5), GM Rozentalis (6) bt IM P Konguvel (5).

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