CALCUTTA, February 16: Grandmaster Alexander Nenashev from Uzbekistan won the 9th Goodricke International Open Chess Championship when he drew with strong contender Grandmaster Nigel Short of England at the end of the 11th and final round of the meet at Gorky Sadan here tonight.Besides a handsome trophy, Nensahev would be receiving purse of Rs 1 lakh which is the winner's stake.Among the Indians, GM Dibyendu Barua produced the best results and was tied at the second spot with 7.5 points along with Nigel Short and some others.Being the sole leader Nenashev was aware that he required a win today against Short. Nenashev opted for Ruy Lopez defence.Short, an exponent of the variation, eked out a minuscule advantage out of the opening which was, however, not enough to press home for the victory. In an unclear position, both the players decided to sign peace treaty on the 37th move.On the second board, GM John Elvest of Estonia and GM Jonathan Speelman of England agreed to a quick draw after playingjust 11 moves to ensure their position near the top.Barua played a marvelous game to outclass GM Csaba Hovarth of Hungary to total 7.5 points. Barua's return to the top was quite heartening after a dismal start. Today with the white pieces, he played his pet King pawn opening and unleashed a decisive attack against Hovarth's uncastled King by sacrificing two pawns. The effective use of rooks and bishops guaranteed the game in Barua's favour who utilised the King bishop to its optimum to force opponent's resignation.Nenashev's victory today came when his main rival GM Yurtev Leonid of Kyrghistan failed to press home his material advantage against DK Sharma who earlier secured his maiden IM norm in the tournament.In an irregular opening, Yurtev obtained positional advantage by way of his superior pawn structure in the Queenless middle game. In copybook fashion, Yurtev pressurised the pawns to go an exchange up but in the sudden death time control, fumbled to hand over the coveted crown to Nenashev byagreeing to a draw.GM Alexander Berelovich of Ukraine lost with white pieces against GM Dao Thien Mai of Vietnam. In a poisoned pawn variation of the Sicilian Nazdorf, Berelovich secured a clear advantage but could not not keep up his momentum before going down rather tamely. GM Pravin Thipsay's bad form continued as he succumbed to the enormous pressure on his king-side pawns against IM P Mitrakanth in a Sicilian Richter Rauser with black pieces.Thipsay finally had to trade a rook for bishop before tendering his resignation. Thipsay finished the tournament with 5 points.
