Though the final GM norm eluded him after the 12th roundloss, the Chennai youngster with 9.5 points has kept his focus intact and a win against Ray Kaufman of the United States has brightened his chances of winning a first crown at world level.

Boris Kreiman and Jim Plaskett, with 10 points each, share the top spot after the penultimate round. Sasikiran is joint second with Swede tiger Hillarp Persson, who beat him in the 12th round to end his dream of the GM norm.

Ironically, the results of the 14th round ended the chances of GM norms for any of the players.

Kreimen, who had a chance to reach the coveted 11.5 pointmark, was held to a draw by GM Neil McDonald in just 17 moves.

Sasikiran, playing with black in a Ruy Lopez attacked from the start. He first sacrificed a pawn to get attack and then gradually wonback the pawn to gain further positional advantage. His knight played havoc among Kaufman's pieces and finally the Indian won on the 36th move.

A title here for the 17-year-old Indian will be good compensation after having missed the GM norm. Moreover his good showing should bring cheers to India as he is the key player in the Olympiad scheduled later this year.

In the final round, Sasikiran plays Miroslav Houska, while Kreiman clashes with Dan Gormally and Hillarp Persson takes on Plaskett.

Barua sneaks to victory
TEHERAN: Indian Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua scored a tricky win against International Master Amir Bagheri of Iran to remain in contention for a top place, with 5.5 points while his compatriot V Saravanan was defeated by Grandmaster R Kasimdzhanov in the eighth round of the Asian chess championship here.

Irankasimdzhanov is on seven points and following him in second position is GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam on six points.

The morning began on an irritating note for all theparticipants as there was an electricity failure in the hotel and none was able to prepare thoroughly for their games, as using lap-top computers was ruled out, and the hotel rooms became too hot.

The games were started on time at 1500 hrs and the electricity was restored only around 1730, much to the relief of the organisers.

Kasimdzhanov adopted the modern defence against Saravanan and obtained a comfortable position in the middlegame.

Defending a difficult ending, Saravanan had his back against the wall and eventually succumbed on the 50th move.

Barua played a beautiful endgame against Bagheri to create mating threats from a Caro Kann Panov Botvinnik attack.

From a drawn looking position, Barua weared an excellent mating net and check-mated his opponent. Thipsay equalised comfortably against Kaka Geldiev's Torre attack but eventually misplayed an ending to draw the game.