Prasad, Ravi suffer shocking defeats

TEHRAN, AUG 5: Indian men's campaign in the Asian Zonals Chess Championships suffered a major reverse on the opening round as International...

TEHRAN, AUG 5: Indian men8217;s campaign in the Asian Zonals Chess Championships suffered a major reverse on the opening round as International Masters DV Prasad and Lanka Ravi crashed to shocking defeats against the Iranian duo M Ghorbani and M Ghaem respectively here today. However, all was not gloom as National champion Abhijit Kunte, Ponnuswamy Konguvel and the women brought some cheer by winning their games smoothly to score full points after the first round.

Playing the white side of Sicilian Schevenengin, Prasad went all out for Ghorbani8217;s King right from the start. The Iranian Fide Master countered perfectly in the centre to maintain the balance. Overstretching the position, Prasad blundered a full rook and resigned immediately to the delight of spectators.

Teenager M Ghaem of Iran played with patience and maturity to score a hard-fought win over experienced International Master Lanka Ravi. In a French Defence game, players reached an equal ending when Ravi overlooked a brilliant pawn thrust from the Iranian which left the Indian8217;s pawns weak. Ghaem displayed good technique in end game to pocket full points.

Kunte and International Master Konguvel 1 kept the Indian hopes alive with easy victories over H Momeni of Iran and a Omerat of Syria respectively.In a French Defence game, Kunte attacked Momeni8217;s King with all his minor pieces and forced the Iranian Fide player to resign after a rook sortie on the King.

Experienced Internatonal Master K Murugan was held to a draw by lowly-rated Nijjar Ahmed of Lebenan. On the top board Eid Fadi of Lebenan surprised everybody including his opponent Niaz Murshed Bangladesh by resigning the game prematurely when he was just a pawn down.

In womens section, International Women Masters S Vijayalaxmi, Anupama Gokhale and M Saritha won their games easily against Navabi Shirin Iran, Alia Hussain UAE and Taraif Ahmed Baharain respectively, while debutants Swati Ghate and Safira Shanaz opened their accounts with fluent victories over Wasila Khuder Syria and Mona Mahini Iran respectively.

Navabi Shirin of Iran blundered an excellent position against second-seed S Vijayalaxmi in Slav defence.

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It was just a matter of technique for Vijayalaxmi which she executed correctly to pocket a full point.

National champion Anupama Gokhale sacrificed an exchange and a piece to score an attacking victory over Alia Hussain of UAE in French Defence in just 29 moves.

Playing white side of Queen8217;s Gambit, M Saritha exploited Taraif Ahmed8217;s queen side weakness to register a well-earned victory after 58 moves.

In an irregular opening Swati Ghate won two pawns to score an easy win over Syrian Wasila Khuder. Iranian Mona Mohini put stubborn resistance before conceding the game against Indian teenager Safira Shanaz.

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Veteran International Women Master Rani Hamid Bangladesh missed an interesting knight move in Sicilian Defence to find herself in a cramped position against top seed Eva Repkova.

The Woman Grandmaster from Lebanan then showed her class to wrap the issue in just a few moves begin her quest for the title.

RESULTS

Men: M Lodhi Pak, 1 bt M Altaher UAE, 0, Al-Modiahki Qatar, 1 bt Amjad Ali Ban, 0, I Hakki Syria, 1 bt C Kayle Ple, 0, P Karmacharya Nepal, 0 lost to Jalal Iraq, 1, A Bagheri Iran, 0 lost to Obaide Nasser Kuw, 0.

Women: Al-Rufei Eman Iraq, 1 bt S Paridar Iran, M Karimi Iran, 0 lost to Shabana Parveen.