The Hindu : Sport / Archery : Negi in joint lead

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Negi in joint lead

Manuel Aaron

Philadelphia: Parimarjan Negi, the 15-year-old Grandmaster from Delhi, is among the seven players who are sharing the lead in the World Open chess tournament here when the fifth round concluded.

India’s Arun Prasad, K. Rathnakaran, Abhijit Kunte and Surya Ganguly are among the 20 players who are in second place with 3.5 points each.

Negi is playing positive and inventive chess. The Fourth of July, the American National day, belonged to him as he played and won two tough games against USA’s most promising youngsters Daniel Ludwig and International Master Bryan Smith.

Unfortunately Grandmaster G.N. Gopal lost both games on Friday. In the morning he lost to veteran Czech Grandmaster Lubomir Ftacnik and in the evening to IM Robert Hess of the USA.

Consistent chess

S. Arun Prasad, the youngster from Salem who has completed all the requirements for becoming a Grandmaster, is playing consistent chess. Still classified as an International Master the Grandmasters in this tournament would be looking to take an easy point off him.

In the fifth round, Artur Yusupov, a former second of V. Anand and a former World Championship Candidate, playing white against Arun Prasad, toiled in a long queen and knight versus queen and bishop ending where he had a slight advantage. Finally, the burly Russian now playing for Germany, conceded a draw after five hours of play.

Kunte and Ganguly drew with Grandmasters Alexander Moiseenko of Ukraine and Alejandro Ramirez respectively to reach 3.5 points. K. Rathnakaran also reached 3.5 by beating talented New York school boy Parker B. Zhao.

Top seed Israeli Grandmaster Ilya Smirin encircled and trapped the straying bishop of M.R. Venkatesh for a quick strategic victory with the black pieces.

In the under-2400 section, WGM Eesha Karavade of Pune is in joint second spot with four points.

The standings of Indian players:

Open Section: Negi (tied with 6 others) 4 points; Ganguly, Rathnakaran, Kunte, Arun Prasad (tied with 16 others) 3.5; R.R. Laxman, Kiran Manisha Mohanty 3; G.N. Gopal, M.R. Venkatesh 2.5; Nisha Mohota, Swati Ghate 2. Under-2400: Eesha Karavade 4; Saimeera Ravi, Aarthie Ramaswamy 3.

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