Mixed luck for India

BIEL, SWITZERLAND, JULY 22: India's double GM norm holder Abhijit Kunte and International Master V Saravanan bounced back into the fray w...

BIEL, SWITZERLAND, JULY 22: India8217;s double GM norm holder Abhijit Kunte and International Master V Saravanan bounced back into the fray with splendid victories in the third round of the International Open Chess tournament here.

But overnight joint leader and National champion Krishnan Sasikiran was beaten by Russian International Master IM Dmitry Tyomkin here last evening.

Tyomkin was sharing the lead with Azerbaijan8217;s Rufat Bagirov with three points at the end of the third round. Tyomkin played the h38242; variation and ripped open the g8217; file by playing g48242;. He conducted the king side attack in the middle game brilliantly to carve out a neat victory.

Kunte made short work of UAE8217;s Abdul Maje as the Indians had another mixed day in the 11-round tournament.

Playing the black side of king8217;s Indian attack, Kunte stormed the queen8217;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.

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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 d58242; 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

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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