Sasikaran, Negi make losing start at AAI Grandmasters meet
June 22nd, 2011 - 10:02 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, June 22 (IANS) The inaugural Airports Authority of India (AAI) Grandmaster Chess tournament got off to a rousing start, as all three games ended in a decisive manner here Wednesday.
The Indian duo of Krishnan Saskiran and Parimarjan Negi lost their opening games. Sasikaran, playing white, lost to Filipino Wesley So in 38 moves before the time control while Negi went down to top seed and World Junior No.1 Fabiano Caruana in 47 moves.
In the third game, Czech republic’s Viktor Laznicka with black pieces got the better of China’s Hou Yifan in a Caro-Kann Classical. After more than six hours, Laznicka won in 65 moves in a tough battle. Laznicka said he could have win much earlier when he was two pawns up but he missed many winning lines.
“I should have won it much earlier, but I missed them,” he said smilingly.
Sasi was disappointed at making a losing start.
“It was disappointing. I missed a queen move around the 34th. Anyway there is a long way to go in the tournament,” he said.
Delhi boy Negi, who five years ago became the youngest Indian Grandmaster, lost his way around the late stages of the middle game in a Ruy Lopez, Anti-Marshall against top-seed Caruana.
In fact, there was a time when Negi seemed better off as he was an exchange (rook for a minor piece) up. But the more experienced Caruana held out well and used his double bishops against Negi’s double knights. Caruana’s twin bishops became active and controlled key squares as Negi’s own knight was seemingly immobile on g2.
“I was actually trying to gain equality and then it is not clear where he made a mistake and went into a losing position. Both of us were in some kind of time trouble. I realized it was a no-risk situation for me. I could win, but if I played right I could not lose, so I kept going. There really is no time to celebrate in such a long tournament and I have been spending time preparing because it is too hot to go out,” said the Caruana.
Results of the first round: Parimarjan Negi lost to Fabiano Caruana; Hou Yifan lost to Viktor Laznicka (still on); Wesley So beat Krishnan Sasikiran
Draw for second round: Fabiano Caruana (Ita) vs. Krishnan Sasikiran (Ind); Viktor Laznicka (Cze) vs. Wesley So (Phi); and Parimarjan Negi (Ind) vs. Hou Yifan (Chn)
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- 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
- AAI chess: Sasi draws with Caruana, Hou Yifan downs Negi (Lead) - Jun 30, 2011
- AAI chess: Sasi, Negi win 8th round ties - Jun 30, 2011
- Sasikaran wins, Negi loses in 4th round of AAI Chess - Jun 25, 2011
- Caruana takes draw in final round to win AAI Chess title - Jul 02, 2011
- Caruana takes sole lead in AAI Chess - Jun 24, 2011
- Yifan downs Negi on day of revenge in AAI chess - Jun 30, 2011
- Chess players treated well in India, says Czech champion Laznicka - Jun 16, 2011
- Women's world champ Hou Yifan in field of six players at AAI Chess - Jun 19, 2011
- Women's world champ Hou Yifan ready for AAI Grandmasters chess - Jun 06, 2011
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Tags: airports authority of india, airports authority of india aai, caru, caruana, chess tournament, fabiano, grandmaster chess, grandmasters, hou yifan, indian duo, middle game, parimarjan negi, pawns, queen move, risk situation, ruy lopez, third game, time control, time trouble, tough battle