In a Kings Indian attack, IM Prasad (5) sacrificed a pawn to gain the initiative and later won two more pawns. The Dutch resigned when he was unable to stop one of Prasad's pawn from queening.

IMs RB Ramesh and K Sasikiran (4), former National `A' champion P Konguvel (3.5), IM-elect V Saravanan (3.5) and National Women's champion S Vijayalakshmi (3) all lost while two GM norm holder Abhijit Kunte (4) and IWM Pallavi Shah escaped with draws as the Indians had another agonising day here last night.

Ramesh's unbeaten run in the tournament was halted by IM Kazheleyev. Ramesh, the second-best placed Indian in the event thus far with five points, opted for Slav defene against Kazhgeleyev's d4 opening.

IM Abhijit Kunte sufferedanother jolt to his chances of gaining the final GM norm when he was held to a draw by lowly-rated IM Candela of Spain.

IWM Mrunalini Kunte was however lucky to win the losing position to take her tally to 3.5 points, the same as IM-elect CS Gokhale. Another IWM Pallavi Shah drew her game to reach 2.5 points.

IMPORTANT RESULTS

GM A Dreev (Rus) 6 drew with Gm Minavian (Arm) 5.5; GM L Konstantin (Rus) 5 drew with GM S Tiviakov (Rus) 5; GM A Kharlov (Rus) 6 bt Yandermirov (Rus) 6; GM Sorokin (Arg) 5.5 drew with GM Burmakin (Rus) 4.5; GM Sokolov (Rus) 5.5 bt IM Piankov (Ukr) 4.5; K Sasikiran (Ind) 4 last to GM V Bologan (Mda) 5.

Anand-Kasparov face-off

WIJK AAN ZEE: Grandmaster V Anand and world No 1 Garry Kasparov (Russia) get to face-off each other in the first major chess event of this year at the Hoogovens Grandmasters Tournament starting here tomorrow.

Kasparov was accepted here as last minute entrant for the 61st edition of the event. He got the place after British GM Nigel Shortwithdrew from the contest citing personal reasons.

Anand has been in scintillating form last season emerging the most successful players of 1998 by winning all but one regular tournament he played in.