The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Maghami takes the honours in a three-way tie

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Maghami takes the honours in a three-way tie

Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI: In the lead from start to finish, Ehsan Ghaem Maghami topped a three-way tie to emerge champion in the 8th Parsvnath International Open chess tournament here on Friday.

Maghami, along with Russia’s Dmitry Kryakvin and Kazakhstan’s Pavel Kotsur finished on nine points. After the tie-break scores were taken, the players finished in that order and received Rs. 2 lakh each with Ghaem taking the winner’s trophy.

“I did not get a good position today so I agreed to a quick draw. I am obviously very happy, but I must say I owe a lot to young Indian boy S.L. Narayanan who agreed to play the first round with me even after he was awarded a walkover point when I arrived late. I truly appreciate his sportsman spirit and wish him well,” said the gracious champion.

Maghami, who went into the final round in joint lead with Slovenia’s Luka Lenic, took a risk by agreeing to a 14-move draw with Bangladesh GM Ziaur Rahman. This result left Luka working for a possible victory with black against Kryakvin to become the outright winner.

Kryakvin, sensing the pressure Luca was facing, launched a strong attack and forced his rival to trade a bishop for a queenside pawn. Thereafter, Kryakvin took his time to drive the game into a favourable endgame and won in 55 moves.

Kotsur also took his tally to nine points following a 26-move dismissal of Uzbek Marat Dzhumaev.

From India’s point of view, the performances were as anticipated. IM Deep Sengupta was the best finisher at sixth with 8.5 points. He, along with seven others, received Rs. 31,625 each.

The results (Indians unless stated): 11th round: Dmitry Kryakvin (Rus, 9) bt Luka Lenic (Slo, 8.5); Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Iri, 9) drew with Ziaur Rahman (Ban, 8.5); Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb, 8) lost to Pavel Kotsur (Kaz, 9); Deep Sengupta (8.5) drew with Martyn Kravtsiv (Ukr, 8.5); Richard Bitoon (Phi, 7.5) lost to Le Quang Liem (Vie, 8.5).

; Himanshu Sharma (8) drew with S. Arun Prasad (8); Alexander Zubarev (Ukr, 8.5) bt Nikolay Tolstikh (Rus, 7.5); Andrey Gutov (Rus, 7.5) lost to Rinat Jumabayev (8.5); Saidali Iuldachev (Uzb, 8.5) bt Arghyadip Das (7.5). Justin Sarkar (USA, 7.5) drew with Maxim Turov (Rus, 7.5); R. R. Laxman (8) bt Saptarshi Roy (7); Vishnu Prasanna (7) lost to Deepan Chakkravarthy (8); P. D. S. Girinath (7.5) drew with Pravin Thipsay (7.5).

Nafisa Muminova (Uzb, 8) bt Sahaj Grover (7); Ravi Hegde (7.5) drew with Mukulas Manik (Svk, 7.5); Dimakiling Oliver (Phi, 7) lost to B.T. Murali Krishanan (8); M.S. Thejkumar (8) bt Akash Thakur (7); Shreyans K. Shah (7) lost to P. Konguvel (8); Pratik Patil (7) lost to P. Karthikeyan (8).

Final standings: 1-3.Maghami, Kryakvin, Kotsur (Rs. 2lakh each); 4-11. Lenic, Rahman, Sengupta, Kravtsiv, Liem, Zubarav, Iuldachev and Jumabayev (Rs. 31,625 each).

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