Thaindian News

Chennai, Aug 14 (IANS) Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan (Armenia) and WGM Olga Girya (Russia) led the strong pack of juniors after the 12th and penultimate round of the SDAT-RAMCO 50th World Junior and 29th Junior Girls Chess Championships here on Sunday.

In the open section, Hovhannisyan defeated American medal prospect GM Ray Robson in the top board and moved to 10 points with just a round to go.

Half a point behind was Polish Grandmaster Swiercz Dariusz at 9.5 points. The fight for the bronze medal and third spot will be among Ter Sahakyan Samvel (Armenia), Vladislav Kovalev (Belarus), Vasif Durarbeyli (Azerbaijan) and Sahaj Grover (India), all on 8.5 points.

The game between Hovhannisyan and Robson was a true Spanish bullfight. It turned out to be an exciting Sicilian game, with both the Grandmasters playing for a win.

Robson made his intentions clear with a rook for knight sacrifice on the 17th move. Not to be outdone, Hovhannisyan returned material in no time, taking the game into a rook and bishops ending.

Further, rooks were off the board by move 26 and the five-pawn island of the Armenian looked trifle suspect. But Hovhannisyan showed more enterprise, as he advanced his “c” pawn to the discomfort of Robson. The game further ventured into a study like ending with two menacing black pawns advancing to the seventh rank. An accurate reply by Hovhannisyan forced Robson to resign on the 46th move.

Meanwhile, Girya (10.5) will start the title favorite in the final round, holding a crucial half a point lead ahead of Peruvian Cori T. Deysi. With gold and silver medals being shared among the duo, the struggle is going to be for the bronze medal.

At 8.5 points, top seed Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) will be eyeing the third spot with a final round victory on the morrow. Challenging Paikidze for the medal would be Romanian Irina Bulmaga, who remains at 8.5 points.

Round 12 Results (Open, Indians unless specified): Hovhannisyan Robert (ARM) 10 bt Robson Ray (USA) 8, Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (ARM) 8.5 lost to Swiercz Dariusz (POL) 9.5, Kovalev Vladislav (BLR) 8.5 drew Durarbeyli Vasif (AZE) 8.5, Adhiban B (8) lost to Grover Sahaj (8.5), Sethuraman S P (8) drew Vidit Santosh Gujrathi(8), Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (AZE) 7.5 lost to Sjugirov Sanan (RUS) 8, Salgado Lopez Ivan (ESP) 8 bt Anwesh Upadhyaya (7), Shyam Sundar M (7) lost to Shimanov Aleksandr (RUS) 8, Roganovic Milos (SRB) 7.5 drew Grandelius Nils (SWE) 7.5, Urkedal Frode (NOR) 7 lost to Piorun Kacper (POL) 8, Rombaldoni Axel(ITA) 7 lost to Krejci Jan (CZE) 8, Goganov Aleksey (RUS) 8 bt Girish A Koushik (7), Matlakov Maxim (RUS) 7.5 bt Krysa Leandro (ARG) 7, Martinovic Sasa (CRO) 7 drew Shyam Nikil P (7)

Girls: Padmini Rout(8) drew Cori T Deysi(PER) 10, Girya Olga (RUS) 10.5 bt Tsatsalashvili Keti (GEO) 7.5, Paikidze Nazi (GEO) 8.5 bt Dogodkina Julia (RUS) 7.5, Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (KAZ) 7 lost to Bulmaga Irina (ROU) 8.5, Agrest Inna (SWE) 7 lost to Ozturk Kubra (TUR) 8, Martinez Ayelen (ARG) 7 lost to Savina Anastasia (RUS) 7.5, Kulkarni Bhakti(7.5) bt Kulon Klaudia (POL) 6.5, Vo Thi Kim Phung (VIE) 6.5 lost to Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (AZE) 7.5, Hoang Thi Nhu Y (VIE) 7.5 bt Tokhirjanova Hulkar (UZB) 6.5, Semenova Elena (RUS) 6.5 lost to Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi (AZE) 7.5, Frayna Janelle Mae (PHI) 6.5 lost to Eric Jovana (SRB) 7, Olsarova Karolina (CZE) 6.5 drew Michelle Catherina P (6.5), Terao Juliana Sayumi(BRA) 7 bt Saranya J (6).