Mixed luck for India

Tyomkin was sharing the lead with Azerbaijan’s Rufat Bagirov with three points at the end of the third round. Tyomkin played the `h3′ variation and ripped open the `g’ file by playing `g4′. He conducted the king side attack in the middle game brilliantly to carve out a neat victory.

Kunte made short work of UAE’s Abdul Maje as the Indians had another mixed day in the 11-round tournament.

Playing the black side of king’s Indian attack, Kunte stormed the queen’s flank with his heavy artillery and won material advantage. The rest was a matter of technique.

Saravanan accounted for Dieter Mueller of Germany to jump back into fray.Mueller, playing with black pieces, opted for the exchange variation of French defence and ran into difficulties early in the game. Saravanan concluded a nice mating attack to emerge victor after 41 moves.

IWM Anupama Gokhale caused a mild flutter by upsetting Fide Master Fiertz of Switzerland while youngster S Kidambi stayed in contention for his im norm by holding GM Klovans of Latvia and moved to two points.

Among the other Indians in the fray, GM Pravin Thipsay was held to a draw by untitled Luis Baquero of Colombia while former National champion DV Prasad went down to GM Meyer after a marathon 56-move battle.

Thipsay won a pawn in the white side of Sicilian Scheveningen variation but had to be content with a draw in the resulting queeen ending due to perpetual checks.

Anupama Gokhale made a thematic pawn thrust `d5′ and followed it up with a superb bishop sacrifice to clinch the issue in 35 moves.

Earlier in the day, the members of the Indian team were felicitated by Movado watch company. Eachmember was presented with a Movado wrist watch.

Important Results

GM Vadim Milov (Swi) 2.5 drew with GM Y Grunfeld (Isr) 2.5; GM A Greenfeld (Isr) 2 lost to IM R Bagirov (Azb) 3; MG Cebalo (Ukraine) 2.5 drew with GM Rashkovsky (Rus) 2.5; GM Tukmakov (Ukraine) 2.5 bt IM Peptan (Romania) 1.5; IM Tyomkin (Isr) 3 bt K Sasikiran (Ind) 2; GM P Thipsay (Ind) 2 drew with Baquero (Colombia) 2; IM V Saravanan (Ind) 2 bt Mueller (Ger) 1; Abdul Maji (UAE) lost to A Kunte (Ind) 2; GM Klovans (Latvia) 2 drew with S Kidambi (Ind) 2; Meyer (Swi) 2 bt DV Prasad (Ind) 1