Maiden IM Norm For Srinath at Hastings
By Arvind Aaron


Former world under-12 champion N.Srinath of Chennai obtained his maiden International Master norm when he completed the Hastings Tournament, Masters Section with a 5/9 score on January 5, 2007.

In the final round on Friday, Srinath played a draw against IM Gawain Jones to complete his first IM norm. Giving the news, his father said he is likely to increase his rating by about 50 points. Srinath had won the world Under-12 title at Belfort in France in July 2005 and is one of India's young achievers in chess. Srinath suffered two defeats, and finished in the top of the 92-player 9 round Swiss format event.

Srinath won three games, drew four and lost the first and fifth rounds to complete his mission of making the IM norm in the chilly English winter tournament.