Caruana takes draw in final round to win AAI Chess title
July 2nd, 2011 - 6:36 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Fabiano Caruana took no chances and played a solid 30-move draw against Wesley So of the Philippines to take the title at the inaugural AAI Grandmasters Chess tournament here Saturday. India’s Krishnan Sasikiran finished second, one point behind the winner.
World Junior No.1 Caruana of Italy emerged winner with seven points in the double round-robin Category 17 tournament. His only loss in the 10-round event came in the ninth round against Viktor Laznicka of the Czech Republic.
Sasikiran finished sole second with six points as he drew his final round against Women’s World champion Hou Yifan of China in Ruy Lopez Breyer where the Indian had black pieces.
In the third game of the day, Indian National champion Parimarjan Negi split the point with Laznicka from a 42-move Caro-Kann, which the Czech player admitted he knew nothing about.
So the tournament that began with three decisive results two weeks ago ended with three draws on the final day.
The winner Caruana received the first prize of $8,000 while Sasikiran pocketed $6,000.
Caruana played d4 on the opening move, making it clear that he was not going to take any risks. He duly got his draw from a Catalan. “I thought I would play for a win if there was a way but, yes, I was not going to take risks. I certainly did not want two losses. Except for that loss in ninth round it was a good tournament for me,” he said with a smile.
Sasikiran was quite content with the latter part of the tournament.
“After the two losses I had at the start of the tournament, I felt it was good recovery with four wins and four draws and no more losses,” he said.
“In the final round I thought if I got a clear advantage I would try and go for a win. But it turned out to be a draw, which is fine.”
The ceremonial opening moves for the final round were made by V.P. Agrawal, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India.
Final standings after the tenth round:
7 - points Fabiano Caruana (Italy)
6 - Krishnan Sasikiran (India)
5.5 - Viktor Laznicka (Czech rep)
5 - Wesley So (Philippines)
3.5 - Parimarjan Negi (India)
3 - Hou Yifan (China)
- AAI Chess: Sasikiran has outside chance for top spot - Jul 01, 2011
- AAI chess: Sasi, Negi win 8th round ties - Jun 30, 2011
- Sasikiran scores first win, Caruana takes sole lead in AAI Chess - Jun 24, 2011
- AAI chess: Caruana stretches lead with win over Negi - Jun 29, 2011
- Negi trounces Yifan; Caruana and Laznicka share lead at AAI Chess - Jun 23, 2011
- AAI chess: Sasi draws with Caruana, Hou Yifan downs Negi (Lead) - Jun 30, 2011
- Sasikiran beats Negi to grab third successive win at AAI Chess - Jun 26, 2011
- Caruana takes sole lead in AAI Chess - Jun 24, 2011
- Sasikaran wins, Negi loses in 4th round of AAI Chess - Jun 25, 2011
- Sasikaran, Negi make losing start at AAI Grandmasters meet - Jun 22, 2011
- Yifan downs Negi on day of revenge in AAI chess - Jun 30, 2011
- Women's world champ Hou Yifan in field of six players at AAI Chess - Jun 19, 2011
- Chess players treated well in India, says Czech champion Laznicka - Jun 16, 2011
- Women's world champ Hou Yifan ready for AAI Grandmasters chess - Jun 06, 2011
- Asian Games chess: Harika gets bronze, Sasikaran disappoints (Lead) - Nov 16, 2010
Tags: agrawal, airports authority of india, breyer, chess tournament, czech republic, decisive results, double round robin, fabiano, four wins, grandmasters, hou yifan, national champion, opening move, opening moves, parimarjan negi, ruy lopez, seven points, six points, third game, world champion