Luckless Sasikiran ends up winless again

Nielsen, on 3.5 points, is followed by GM Keith Arkell of England, Barsov and Indian GM Pentyala Hari Krishna, who also drew his board today, with 3 points each while Sasikiran, McShane and GM Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine are close behind with 2.5 points apiece.

For Sasikiran, it turned out to be the fifth successive draw in as many rounds after he decided not to press in a very dynamic position against Barsov.

Earlier the players battled the opening moves of a Capablanca variation in the Nimzo Indian Defence where the Indian had the advantage of the first move. The middle game took shape in a rather off-beat fashion with Sasikiran opting to keep his king in the center and embarking on a king side attack with his heavy pieces.

Results (Round 5):

P Hari Krishna (3) drew Keith Arkell (Eng, 3); Luke McShane (Eng, 2.5) bt Peter Heine Nielsen (Den, 3.5); K Sasikiran drew Alexei Barsov (Uzb, 3); Glenn Flear (Eng, 2) bt V Tseshkovsky (Rus, 1); Alexandra Kosteniuk (Rus, 2) lost to Sergey Karjakin (Ukr, 2.5).

Standings after round 5: 1. Nielsen 3.5; 2-4. Arkell, Barsov, Harikrishna 3 each; 5-7. McShane, Sasikiran, Karjakin 2.5; 8-9. Flear, Kosteniuk 2.0 each; 10. Tseshkovsky 1.