Harikrishna stuns GM Joseph

Harikrishna stuns GM Joseph
LEELADHAR SINGH

SANGLI, FEB 26: Former World under-10 champion and Fide Master P Harikrishna shocked sixth seeded Grand Master Gallagher Joseph (Switzerland) while MK Sasikiran, India's next GM prospect, climbing a step further on the leadership board ladder, sharing the top spot with four others in the Commonwealth Chess Championship at the Krishna Valley Complex, near here on Saturday.

Sasikiran (5), the lone Indian figuring among the overseas GM leaders, defeated compatriot Ebenzer Joseph in 31 moves of Caro-Kann advance opening at the end of the 6th round.

Sasikiran played tactfully, sacrificing his Bishop as early as in the 10th move and later pushed the game to an unknown territory. Sasikiran's gameplan worked as Joseph, in a confused state of mind, blundered a piece and later lost a pawn too, finding himself in a no man's land.

Others joining Sasikiran on top are: GMs Fominih Alexander (Russia), Evengeny Vladimirov (Kazakastan), Meaxim Sorokin (Argentina), Safin Shurat (Uzbekistan). Two out of three overnight leaders, Fominih Alexander and Evengeny Vladimirov settled for a 29 moves draw in the Queen's Gambit accepted game on the top board. While, the other overnight leader, Leonid Yuratev of Kyrazgystan lost to GM Maxim Sorokin of Argentina on the following board.

GM Safin Shurat scored full point over GM Goloshchapov Alexander.

Two IM norm holder Harikrishna, with white pieces, enjoyed the opening advantage which commenced with an English opening set-up but was later transposed into an irregular format. The Bank of Baroda-sponsored Harikrishna did not do anything out of theory to get an attack, but it was his opponent Gallagher Joseph who committed mistake over mistake, giving the Indian a double Bishop advantage in the middle game. With black pieces being passive, Harikrishan just held on to his nerves, slowing winning two pawns and successfully cornered opponents King, winning it in 53 moves. There was more good news for the Indians, as WIM Swati Ghate scored a full point over Turkeministan's IM Orazli Annageldiyev and IM DV Prasad held top seed GM Andrei Charllie of Russia. In the Sicilian defence, Taimanov varation, Swati gained a piece in the 15th mve after Orazli Annageldiyev played a dubious move (Khl). Keeping the pressure on her opponent, the Indian WIM won a Rook in the ensuing game and earned a theoretical victory in 42moves.

Prasad played an interesting chess against top seed Rusian Andrei Charlie with black pieces in the English opening. Andrei, tried for an early attack, by keeping his King on the centre and opening the `H' file. However, Prasad smelling danger, brought his two Knights on the `d4' and `g4' square, forcing white to castle, thus foiling the opponents' plan. With no pieces exchanged and an equal position, Andrei offered the draw on the 15th move, which Prasad accepted. The 25-year-old Ravikumar (MP) continued his good work, holding Indian GM Pravin Thipsay to a draw in 20 moves of Sicilian defence. Ravikumar had earlier defeated Pravin's wife, Bhagyashree.

Despite the draw, GM Pravin Thipsay (4.5) shares the second position with two others -- Indian GM elect Abhijit Kunte, who defeated Safina Shahnaz in the Queen's Gambit game, and GM Leonid Yuratev. They are followed by nine others, including Prasad, Swati, Harikrishna, Ravikumar and Indian GM Dibyendu Barua at four points. IM V Sarvanan lost to IM Anup Deshmukh in the Close Sicilian opening, after he came into time pressure and went down a pawn.

RESULTS (6TH ROUND)GM Gominih Alexander (Russia 5) drew with Evengeny Vladimirov (Kaz 5), GM Leonid Yuratev (Kys 4.5) lost to GM Maxim Sorokin (Arg. 5), GM Goloshchapov (Russia 4) lost to GM Safiuna Shurat (Uzb 5), Ebenezer Joseph (Ind 4) lost to IM K Sasikiran (Ind 5), Ravikumar (Ind 4) drew with GM Pravin Thipsay (Ind 4.5), GM Dibyendu Barua (Ind 4) drew with IM RB Ramesh (Ind 3.5), Safiran Shahnaz (Ind 3.5) lost to IM Abhijit Kunte (Ind 4.5), GM Andrei Charllie (Rus 3.5) drew with IM DV Prasad (Ind 4), O. Harikrishna (Ind 4) bt GM Gallagher Joseph (Swi 3), R Aarathie (Ind 3.5) drew with IM Ziaur Rahman (Bang 3.5), IM Orazil Annageldiyev (Tkm 3) lost to WIM Swati Ghate (Ind 4), IM GB Prakash (Ind 4) bt Tejas Bakre (Ind 3), CS Gokhale (Ind 3.5) drew with Koneru Humpy (Ind 3.5), IM P Konguvel (Ind 3) drew with Dilip Pagey (Ind 3.5), GM Ibragimov Ildar (Rus 3.5) bt Nirosh de Silva (SL 3), IM V Sarvanan (Ind 2.5) lost to IM Anup Deshmukh (Ind 2.5), Atanu Lahiri (Ind 3) bt LP Khadilkar (Ind 2), Deep Sengupta (Ind 2) lost WIM SVijaylakshmi (Ind 3), WIM Nisha Mohota (Ind 2) drew with Omkar Patwardhan (Ind 2.5), Sunil Rangarajan (Ind 2.5) drew with WIM Bhagyashree Thipsay (Ind 2.5), Eesha Karawade (Ind 2.5) bt Krutika Nadig (Ind 1.5), GM Toni Najdoski (Mec 1) bye