Strong start for Indian team

BRUNN CZECH REPUBLIC: The Indian blind team started with a bang in the first round of Ninth World Individual Chess Championship for Blind at Hotel Santon here today. Sanjay Karandikar and Madan Bagayatkar scored facile victories while Swapnil Shah and Charudatta Jadhav drew the game between themselves to open their account.

The championship has attracted 86 players from 26 countries. An unusually strong field contains six International Masters and one Fide Master among total 24 ELO rated players. Karandikar 1 of India was however the first player to record a win while upsetting 32nd seed J Boer Netherlands in just 20 moves of Modern defence.

Madan Bagayatkar 1 scored a fighting win over F Mlacnik of Slovenia in 48 moves of Sicilian Pelican defence. Swapnil Shah 0.5 and Charudatta Jadhav 0.5 agreed to sign peace after 38 moves of Sicilian Najdorf defence.