Adhiban Shocks GM Mirzoev
By Arvind Aaron

Indian norm seekers, Asian Under-16 champion Baskaran Adhiban of Chennai and national junior champion IM Abhijeet Gupta are in the joint third place with six points after the eighth round in the 12th Balaguer International Open at Spain on July 23.

International Master Vinay Bhat of United States is leading the 125-player 10-round Swiss with 7/8. Second seed Alexander Delchev is on 6.5 points in clear second position. Two rounds remains to be played.

Adhiban shocked GM Azer Mirzoev with the black pieces after his opponent overlooked a knight fork and lost a piece in the middlegame. Abhijeet Gupta was lucky to make a draw against lower rated Bernd Kohlweyer. Adhiban faces Abhijeet Gupta in the next round with the white pieces.

After the ninth and tenth rounds, Indians making their norms would become clear. The Central Government had cleared the Junior team and they appear to be making best use of the opportunity. None of the Indians are in the bottom half which is a good sign. Ashwin Jayaram held GM Oleg Korneev to a fighting draw despite having a pawn less in an opposite colour bishop ending.

Indians are tied for these places: 3-12 B Adhiban, Abhijeet Gupta 6/8 each, 13-18 IM D.K.Sharma, Ashwin Jayaram 5.5 each, 19-38 Arun Karthik, WIM Kiran Mohanty, T.Purushothaman, Sahaj Grover, Abhishek Das 5 each, 39-54 Soumya Swaminathan, Devangi Patankar, WIM Kruttika Nadig, Padmini Rout 4.5 each, 55-71 L.Ishwarya Shobana 4.

 
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Published : 24  July , 2007