The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Negi's fine run continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 12, 2006

Sport

Sport - Chess

Negi's fine run continues

NEW DELHI: Continuing his stupendous run, 13-year-old Parimarjan Negi proved equal to the reigning Dutch Open champion and fourth seed Friso Nijboer in the seventh round of the Hogeschool Zeeland chess tournament in Vlissingen, Holland, on Thursday.

With two rounds to go, Parimarjan (six points) shares the lead with six others, including compatriot Dibyendu Barua, who defeated Cuba's International Master Rodney Perez in 60 moves.

In the penultimate round, Parimarjan plays with black against second seed Michal Krasenkow on the top board while Barua, with black pieces, takes on Nijboer on the second board.

The other leaders are fifth seed Vyacheslav Ikonnikov (Russia), sixth seed Erwin L'Ami (Netherlands) and 26th seed Mikhail Klenburg (Ukraine).

Barua joined the leaders after nailing Perez in an ending involving a knight each and pawns.

On the lower boards, Saptarshi Roy (5) defeated Koos Zoomer in 49 moves, Roktim Bandyopadhyay (5) crushed Dutchman Sjoerd Plukkel in just 22 moves while Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury (4.5) drew with another local Mathieu Freeke in 27 moves.

Kidambi finishes fifth

GM norm-holder S. Kidambi (6.5) finished a creditable fifth in the Badalona International Open chess tournament in Spain on Thursday.

In the final round, the 13th seed drew with the fifth seed Reynaldo Vera of Cuba. GM R.B. Ramesh matched Kidambi's tally following a draw with USA's S. Vinay Bhat and took the ninth spot.

Colombia's Jaime Alexander Cuartas (7.5) won the title on superior tie-break after being tied with Spain's Josep Manual Lopez Martinez.

But the talking point in the Indian camp was the stunning victory of 12-year-old Prasanna Rao (6) over 1995 National champion and IM P. Konguvel. The surprise triumph with black pieces placed the 68th seed Prasanna in the 20th spot. He was in the company of GM Neelotpal Das, whose superior tie-break score gave him the 16th spot. Prasanna, with a modest rating of 2104, finished ahead of Spanish GM Salvador Del Rio Angelis and six IMs. The youngster, however, missed his maiden IM norm.

The results: At Badalona (Round 9): S. Kidambi (6.5) drew with Reynaldo (Cuba, 6.5); S. Vinay Bhat (USA, 6) drew with R.B. Ramesh (6.5); Neelotpal Das (6) drew with Marc Narciso Dublan (Esp, 6); Bianca Muhren (Ned, 5) lost to S. Satyapragyan (6); P. Konguvel (5) lost to Prasanna Rao (6); Enric Martin Sanchez (Esp, 4.5) lost to Aarthie Ramaswamy (5.5); Einar Castellano Egea (Esp, 4.5) lost to Swati Mohota (5); Sai Meera (4) drew with Isaura Sanjuan Morigosa (Esp, 4).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport