The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Dream finish for Krasenkow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 13, 2006

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Sport - Chess

Dream finish for Krasenkow

NEW DELHI: Second-seeded Michael Krasenkow of Poland scripted a dream finish to win the Hogeschool Zeeland chess tournament in Vlissingen, Holland on Saturday. Veteran Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua finished fifth.

Krasenkow, who ended Parimarjan Negi's unbeaten run in the eighth round on Friday evening, returned on Saturday morning to destroy top seed Michail Gurevich, that too, with black pieces in just 22 moves and took the title with eight points.

Top-board battle

Before Kransenkow won on the second board, the top-board battle between Russia's Vyacheslav Ikonnikov and Dutchman Erwin L'Ami ended in a friendly draw lasting just 12 moves. The duo, at 7.5 points, shared the second spot with Dutch Open winner Friso Nijboer who defeated Steffen Pendersen on the third board.

If an unbeaten Barua drew with local John van der Wiel in 34 moves to reach seven points, Parimarjan ended his otherwise splendid campaign on a disappointing note after being held by Faeroe Island's lowly rated Helgi Dam Ziska for a tally of 6.5 points. The 14th seeded youngster took the 12th spot after a series of fine results with his only loss coming against the eventual champion.

Saptarshi Roy was the other Indian to play above his rating. Seeded 31, Roy was placed a creditable 21st in the field of 250. .

The results (involving Indians): Ninth round: Dibyendu Barua (7) drew with John Van Der Wiel (Ned, 7); Parimarjan Negi (6.5) drew with Helgi Dam Ziska (FI, 6.5); Saptarshi Roy (6.5) bt Bart Michiels (Bel, 5.5); Arlette van Weesel (Ned, 5) lost to Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury (6); Anton Rosmuller (Ned, 5) lost to Roktim Bandyopadhyay (6).

Eighth round: Michal Krasenkow (Pol) bt Negi; Friso Nijboer (Ned) drew with Barua; Bandyopadhyay lost to Daniel Stellwagen (Ned); Petra Schuurman (Ned) drew with Saptarshi Roy; Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury drew with Gonzalo Mombiela (Esp).

Final standings (of Indians): 5. Dibyendu Barua; 12. Parimarjan Negi; 21. Saptarshi Roy; 30. Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury; 33. Roktim Bandyopadhyay.

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