India Wins Rapid Chess Team Gold
By Arvind Aaron

Indian team won the Gold Medal in the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Team Rapid Chess on October 27 by winning all their six matches at the Macau International Shooting centre.

Second seed India, defeated top seed China, third seed and fourth seed Vietnam and Kazakhstan by identical 2.5-1.5 margins. In the other three games, India beat Pakistan 4-0, Philippines 3-1 and defeat Indonesia 3.5-0.5 in the final round to clinch the title with full six wins.

In the most exciting match against China, after Sasikiran lost to higher rated Bu, Ganguly and Harika scored with white pieces as Humpy drew to help India win. No other team even won five matches. Vietnam took silver and Iran the bronze.

Indian scorers were K.Sasikiran 5/6, S.S.Ganguly 3.5/6, K.Humpy 4.5/6, D.Harika 5/6. The team chess comprised of four boards, one and two for men and three and four for women.

A total of nine gold medals are available for chess in this Asian Indoor Games. Rapid, Classical and Blitz in men, women and mixed.