Tags:
Journalism of Courage
KOSZALIN POLAND, Aug 8: Former national champion Abhijit Kunte held GM A Kharitinov of Russia to keep chances alive for a third and final GM norm after the fifth round of the MK Cafe Cup international chess here yesterday.
Defending champion GM Igor Khenkin maintained the lead with 4.5 points after a draw against fellow-GM F Njboer with black in a Caro Kann Defence game. Njboer and GM T Markowski were close behind with four points each.
Continuing his unbeaten run, Kunte 3.5 points with black employed the Queens Indian Defence, equalised early, and split the point in just 17 moves to be joint third overall.
IM D V Prasad 2 scored a fluent win over M Symancki of Poland and IM P Konguvel 2.5 drew with IM E Prokopchuk 2.5 of Russia. But Rahul Shetty 1 continued to struggle by losing to V Syrtalanov of Russia on time in a drawn position.
Prasad, former National A champion beat local rival Symancki in style. In a Frence Defence game, Prasad with white pieces, had a positional bind and latermade an elegant rook sacrifice leading to a mating attack.
Konguvel played the Velimisovic attack against Prokopchuk and had good attacking chances, but allowed strong counterplay and later had to defend a pawn down ending to draw the game.
Rahul Shetty held winning chances against his Russian opponent, but later lost on time in a drawn position. Results fifth round: GM I Khenkin 4.5 drew GM F Njboer 4; GM M Krmsenkov 3.5 drew GM B Volzinov 3.5; GM T Markowski 4 beat GM A Beliavsky 3; GM E Sutowsky 3.5 drew M Brodski 3.5; GM A Kharitnov 3.5 drew IM Abijit Kunte 3.5; IM P Konguvel 2.5 drew IM E Prokopchuk 2.5.
