Udupi: Asian Chess set for close finish with 2 rounds to go

Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 30 Mar 2017: With two more rounds to go in the IBCA Asian Chess Championship for the visually challenged 2017 at the Dr TMA Pai Hall, the sixth round saw some of interesting outcomes on Wednesday, March 29, and it also set the stage for exciting games over the next 2 days.  

 

Kishan Gangolli of India (Karnataka) who had smooth sailing so far, conceded half a point to Swapnil Shah of India (Maharashtra), and, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan also India (Odisha) sprang a surprise on the top seed from Bangladesh, Hussein Ejaz.

 

 

With just 2 more rounds to go, Ejaz, the player with the highest rating of 2010 in the championship, is with four points. Three others are ahead of him. Kishan with a draw is leading the table with five and half points and Soundarya is on five. Also with five points is Makwana Ashwin K of India who got the better of Somendra BL, also India.

 

Kishan Gangolli playing on the top board with white pieces against Swapnil  started with the Queens Pawn opening. Swapnil opted for the Bogo Indian defence.  Although the leader was in a slightly better position from the beginning, he could not convert that advantage into a win. That’s mainly because Swapnil knew he was at the receiving end and defended coolly without committing a mistake. On 60th move both signed for peace.

 

On second board Soundarya Kumar Pradhan of (Odisha) India played with white pieces against Husain Ejaz of Bangladesh. Both were evenly placed up to the middle game. But a mistake by Ejaz on the 23rd move proved costly and Soundarya played carefully and forced Husain to surrender on the 50th move.

 

Results

Kishan Gangolli (Ind) 5½ drew Swapnil Shah (Ind) 4. Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (Ind) 5 beat Husain Ejaz (Ban) 4. Somender B L (Ind) 3 lost to Makwana Ashvin K (Ind) 5. Marimuthu K (Ind) 3½ drew Krishna Udupa (Ind) 3½. Yudhajeet De (Ind) 4 beat Prachurya Kumar Pradhan (Ind) 3. Aryan B Joshi (Ind) 3½ beat Mrunali Pande (Ind) 2½. Patil Shirish (Ind) 3 beat Samant Milind (Ind) 2½. Waghmare Sachin Lahu (Ind) 3 beat Vaishali Nrendra Salavkar (Ind) 2. Rodolfo D Sarmiento (Phi) 3 beat Jose Antonio M. Maraguinot (Phi) 1½. Sarkar Bappi (Ban) 2½ beat Liyana Arachchilage Upul Indrajith (Sri) 1. Tuan Rushdi (Sri) 2 beat Hiriyamulla Vithange Sanjeewa Karunarathna (Sri) 0.