Kunte, Roufan sole leaders after 3rd round

JAIPUR, Sept 28: After three rounds in the Asian Junior Chess championships at the Jaimahal Palace Hotel, Abhijit Kunte of India and Li Rou...

JAIPUR, Sept 28: After three rounds in the Asian Junior Chess championships at the Jaimahal Palace Hotel, Abhijit Kunte of India and Li Roufan of China have emerged as sole leaders.

International Master Kunte (2430) defeated overnight joint leader Amir Bagari of Iran (2300) in 33 moves while Roufan, a Woman Fide Master (2245), won in 46 moves over Raisolom Algul of Kazakhastan (2225). The top-rated women’s player, Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman (2275), also won today. She is in second position.

It was a bad day for Indians as Neelotpal Das (2340), RR Laxman (2260) and Manthan Choksi (2225) all lost, while IWM Nisha Mohota (2080) also suffered a defeat.

Mas Hafizulhelmi of Malaysia (2370) and Brett Tindal of Australia (2190) are in second position with 2.5 points each after scalping the Indian boys today.Kunte played a beautiful game against Bagari. He opted for the Panov Botvinick variation of the Caro Kann. The position was equal but he sacrificed a bishop in move 26 but gained it in the next move. After 30 moves, both had equal material on board. Then Kunte exchanged his rook for a knight, got his opponents rook in the next move and then forced Bagari’s knight and king with his bishop.

On the second board, Neelotpal Das played the Alekhine defence but some weak moves resulted in the Indian having to sacrifice his knight.

But Hafizulhelmi did not take the piece and instead gave his rook for knight on the 31st move. In the end, Hafizulhelmi’s better material, a queen and knight for Das’ queen, helped him win the game in 53 moves.

Results (3rd round):Boys: Abjijit Kunte (India, 3) bt Amir Bagari (Iran, 2); Mas Hafizulhelmi (Malayasia, 2.5) bt Neelotpal Das (India, 1.5); Phan Minh Hoang (Vietnam, 2) drew with Elwin Retanal (Philippines, 2); Brett Tindall (Australia, 2.5) bt RR Laxman (India, 1); Saud Mohammed (UAE, 1) lost to Yu Shaotang (China, 2); Dewan Shahidul Amin (Bangladesh, 1.5) bt Tanaka Yuki (Japan, 1); Ten Vikhor (Kazakhastan, 0) lost to Saidov Begali (Uzbekistan, 1); Inarkiev Ernasto (Kyrgistan, 1) bt Manjula Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka 0).

Story continues below this ad

Girls: Baisalova Aigul (Kazakhastan, 2) lost to Li Roufan (China, 3); Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman (India, 2.5) bt Lee Hang Jun (Malayasia, 1.5); Maximenko Oxana (Kazakasthan, 2) bt Bataceceg Tuvshintoge (Mongolia, 1.5); Mona Salman Mahini (Iran, 1) lost to Irina Gorahkuva (Uzbekistan, 2); Sherri Joy (Philippines, 2) bt Nisha Mohata (India, 1); Samaganov Alexandra (Krygistan, 1) bt Chandra Rathanayake (Sri Lanka, 0).