Ramesh gives Persson shock treatment

Amsterdam, August 14: International Master RB Ramesh employed a new idea from the white side of the Modern Defence to shock GM Hillarp Per...

Amsterdam, August 14: International Master RB Ramesh employed a new idea from the white side of the Modern Defence to shock GM Hillarp Persson of Sweden and stayed in joint lead with three points, after the third round of the Lost Boys International Open Chess tournament here.

Ramesh kept his slate clean and also inspired P Konguvel and TS Ravi to clinch full points, but IM V Saravanan was down to his second straight loss after when he spoiled his better position against Leer Salvesen. Konguvel and Ravi are both on two points each.

In the other upset of the day, lowly-rated Nep defeated Grandmaster Nijboer of the Netherlands with the black pieces.

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With his new idea Ramesh obtained a slightly better position from the start. He then used his e’ pawn to create weaknesses on the black’s Kingside. Hillarp entered a pawn down rook and pawn endgame hoping to neutralise the onslaught.

Ramesh played the difficult endgame with great precision to win the game in 58 moves to move in joint lead along with five others.

In an interesting battle, Konguvel defeated Konings from the white side of the Sicilian Pelican Variation.

Konguvel played a novelty quite early and won a pawn on the Queenside. Though there were opposite coloured bishops on the board, Konguvel managed to create a mating net around the black king and won a second pawn.

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Unable to find a defence Konings resigned on the 39th move to let Konguvel move to two points.

Saravanan again spoiled a better position to suffer his second defeat against Leer Salvesen.

Facing the English Opening Saravanan played energetically to get a commanding position. He then sacrificed an exchange for a pair of menacing bishops and a pawn. But he blundered in accute time shortage to lose the game in 37 moves.

IM-elect TS Ravi scored his second succesive win beating Soderberg. Ravi played the Alapin Variation against Soderberg Sicilian Defence and saddled his opponent with a weak pawn on d6′ square.

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He then proceeded systematically to mount pressure on the weak pawn and finally won it. His opponent lost a piece but got two pawns in the bargain in the endgame. Ravi played with precision to win the game without much trouble.

Former junior National champion Sunderarajan Kidambi was involved in a nerve racking battle against lowly-rated Blokhuis of the Netherlands.

Though Kidambi got a better position from the black side of the Closed Sicilian Defence, he left his King in the center far too long to allow his opponent a sacrificial attack.

Kidambi was a whole rook up at one point but his King was too exposed. Kidambi bailed out with perpetual checks to draw the game in 53 moves and moved to 1.5 points.

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Important results: GM Milov (3) bt GM Schehachev(2); R Schmartz (2) lost to GM Paul van der Sterren (3); GM Epishin (2) lost to Meiyers (3); IM RB Ramesh (3) bt GM Hillarp Persson (2) 5. GM Nijboer (2) lost to Nep (3); Leer-Salvesen (2) bt IM V Saravanan (1); 7. TS Ravi (2) bt Soderberg (1); Blokhuis (1.5) drew Kidambi (1.5); IM Konguvel (2) bt Konings (1).