Neelotpal secures IM title

Top seed Alexei Federov of Russia, having an elo rating of 2650, emerged as the leader with just one round to go when he drew with GM Jonathan Speelman of England after 20 moves.

In the second board, Russian GM Sergei Dolmatov relied on the Reti opening and forced a quick draw against GM Maxim Sorokin of Argentina.

Moldovian GM Dorian Rogozenko drew with compatriot GM Mihail Ulibin while GM Yuri Suleman of Belarus also played out a draw against roman GM S Slobaodjan.Indian GM Dibyendu Barua drew with GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia. Ehlvest played the Sicilian Dragon and equalised comfortably with black pieces, subsequent dry-play witnessedthe exchange of all minor pieces and both players were left with a queen and rook each. Further trading of rooks ensured barua a draw which he claimed as the same position arose three times in the queen ending.

Local hero Shankar Roy drew against IM Zia-ur-Rehman of Bangladesh. Roy has fulfilled has fulfilled all the requisites of an IM title and it was a matter of time for awarding him the coveted title.

The highly rated Indian player Krishnan Sasikiran, with two GM norms to his credit, lost to compatriot DK Sharma. It was Sasikiran’s second successive loss in the last two days.

Grandmaster Victor Bologan (Moldova) was back to his winning ways when he netted a full point against GM Alexander Wajtkeiwing of Poland. Bologan chose the sharp English attack against the Sicilian Najdorf of Wajtkiewicz and launched a Kingside attack with pawn roller. Wajtkiwicz obtained desirable counterplay on the queenside but fumbled under time pressure to lose the game rather tamely.

RR Laxman’s hopes of maiden IM normwere dashed by IM Tejas Bakre who won a tactical battle arising out of a Nimzo Indian defence. Tejas sacrificed an exchange for one pawn and emerged clear better thanks to his centrally placed minor pieces. Seeing inevitable loss of materials Laxman resigned on the 38th move.

IWM S Vijayalaxmi’s lean patch continued as she went down to compatriot IWM Nisha Mohota who now leads the women field with 4 points.