Kunte’s norm hopes dashed

LINARES, January 17: National champion Abhijit Kunte's hope for a second Grandmaster norm was dashed when he allowed a tactical shot to GM B...

LINARES, January 17: National champion Abhijit Kunte’s hope for a second Grandmaster norm was dashed when he allowed a tactical shot to GM Bogdan Lalic in a Sicilian Paulsen game in the ninth and penultimate round of the Fifth Anibal International Chess tournament, here, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Russian Grandmaster Sergeri Tiviakov beat hitherto leader GM Tony Miles in a Petroff defence game, making the contest a gruelling affair as the two joined five other GMs who now have seven points each with only one round to go.

GM Dibyendu Barua, opting for Tarrasch variation drew his game with Swiss GM Victor Korchonoi in another match. The Indian Grandmaster faced with French defence of Korchonoi played energetically and established a passed pawn on the queen side to counter balance the central superiority of his adversary.After the first time control, a series of exchanges followed, leading to a theoretically drawn rook and pawn end game, the two decided to split the point.

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IM Ponnuswamy Konguvel, who had a creditable win in the last round, continued his splendid form beating Mikhail Kobalija (ELO 2500) in a Sicilian Paulsen game.

GM Pravin Thipsay could do no better than a draw with his advance variation against French defence of 59th seeded IM Alexi Iljushin.

IM S Vijayalakshmi adopted the exchange variation, against Ukrainian IM Eugene Piankov, won a pawn and simplified the game to win in rook pawn ending.

Vijayalakshmi, stands a good chance to post her second WGM norm here, if she wins her last game against GM Mikhail Kobalija.

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IM Sekhar Sahu, FM S G Joshi, IWM Mrunalini Kunte, Rabindra Dongre and R V Gokhale brought cheers in the Indian camp, with fine victories over their respective rivals.

Canada, UK and Australia formally recognise a Palestinian state

World2 hr ago

The UK, Canada, and Australia have recognized Palestine as a state, going against the US and Israel's opposition. British PM Starmer aims to revive peace without Hamas and hostage release. Canada and Australia also recognize Palestine, condemning terrorism. Over 145 UN members recognize Palestine, with France likely to join soon.

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