Shirish Kumar wrests lead

MUMBAI, Sept 22: Shirish is now on 5.5 points and leads the field of 154 players in the nine-round Swiss League event. Trailing the leade...

MUMBAI, Sept 22: Shirish is now on 5.5 points and leads the field of 154 players in the nine-round Swiss League event. Trailing the leader by half a point are 11 players including Mehta, top seed and FIDE-rated P B Bhilare and fourth seed and experienced Ramesh Khadye of Bank of Baroda. Bhilare defeated schoolboy Gaurav Hingne, while Khadye was held to a draw by young Cyrus Irani.

On the top board, Shirish Kumar with black pieces against Mehta came out successfully with a pair of bishops against Mehta8217;s pair of knights in the end game.

Though Mehta exchanged one of his knights with one black bishop, he could not stop black passer and resigned on the 61st move.

On the second board in a Ruy-Lopez game, Khadye handled the white pieces against Irani and made some efforts to win the game. Irani played accurately and was able to draw the game in 41 moves when both the players had five pawns each with Khadye having knight against Irani8217;s bishop.

Bhilare had an easy time against Gaurav Hingne8217;s whiteEnglish opening. After doing opposite side castlings, Bhilare broke open C8217; file and attacked the white king on C18242; square by his queen and two rooks. Hingne resigned in a hopeless position on the 30th move.

Others to remain on the second spot with 5 points each are Mehta, Irani, schoolboy Akash Khelwadekar, Nitin Warde, Anand Raman, Vithal Madhav and collegians Gajangi Kirti, Chandrakant Reddy Ruparel and Anant Chavanof Ruia.

Customs rout CYS

Bombay Customs trounced Colaba Young Stars CYS 8-0 in the Gulf Oil WIFA Senior Division league at the Cooperage ground, today.

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Nandu Mavilla 2, Milton Fernando, Richard Michael, Cedric Fernandes, Nagar Anthony, Ajit Kumar and Francis D8217;Souza were the goal-getters.

In the other Senior Division tussle, Mahindra Tractors and Tipu Sultan were concerned in a goalless draw.

In the Second Division tie at the Goan Sports Association ground, Dadar XI A held SCI 2-2. Mohammed Irani, Peremanand Shetty scored for Dadar and Waryas Pujari and BrendonSantos did likewise for SCI.

IDBI and Nabram SC were locked goalless in the Division III clash.

Bandra Packers held

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Centaur Hotel held Bandra Packers to a goalless draw in the MDFA-conducted Harwood League at the St Xavier8217;s ground, Parel, today.

Bad Boys Club beat Larsen amp; Toubro 4-1 in the Division I-A league. Rupesh Karkera, Maxie D8217;Souza, Tony Gonsalves and Jude Nunes were the scorers. Neville D8217;Silva reduced the margin.

A lone goal by Sunil Kanojia turned out to be the match-winner for MTNL against Salvation Parish in Division III-A.

Ojas to lead

Ojas Mehta will lead holders Elf-Vengsarkar Cricket Academy in the Pure Gold Cup Invitational cricket tournamennt at Nagpur from September 24.

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Team: Ojas Mehta capt, Amit Pagnis, Amol Rane wk, Saket Adhikari, Abhishek Jaywant, Sandeep Dahad, Siddharth Paradkar, Chatak Vakharia, Akash Sarawal, Omkar Khanvilkar, Sangram Bagul, Rubesh Kumar wk, Shakti Prasad and Nikhil Kulkarni.

Inter-Bank cricket

The Inter-Bankcricket tournament entries will be accepted by Avinash Padhye and Surendra Shewale from September 23 to 30 between 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Reserve Bank Sports Club Office, Amar Building, 1st floor, Mumbai 400 023.