Indian Men Held, Women Lose

By Arvind Aaron

India was held to a 2-2 draw by much lower ranked Slovenia in the eighth round of the Dresden Chess Olympiad on Nov 21. Sandipan Chanda's turning down a repetition in board four on move 20 cost us what could have been a narrow victory. Instead, Chanda sacrificed a bishop and went down to Bonsek.

On the top board, Sasikiran drew veteran Beliavsky with the black pieces after they reached a queen and rook ending with equal pawns. On board two, Harikrishna gave India the lead by converting an extra pawn in a rook and bishop ending against Pavasovic.

Gopal and Lenic drew in 26 moves with the Indian unable to make much progress after 26 moves. It was India's first drawn result after winning five matches and losing to higher rated Russia and France.
 

India are on eleven points and Armenia are in full swing in the lead with 15 points. They beat all the teams including top seed Russia and drew 2-2 with Ukraine.

India lost 1.5-2.5 against Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia) after our two black players, Tania Sachdev and Mary Ann Gomes were defeated. India are seed eleven and Serbia ten. Harika's win on top board against the experienced Alisa Maric went in vain.

Tania played the Ruy Lopez with black and Bojkovic went for the exchange variation with white and won the ending using the extra pawn on the king side.

Mary Ann Gomes suffered her first defeat in 42 moves when Chelushkina sacrificed two pieces for a rook and pawn to win the resultant ending.

Harika made easy work of Maric with the white pieces in 29 moves. Her bishop sacrifice was based on the threatened pin of her rook on the queen and king of her opponent.

India won five matches, drew Russia and lost to higher rated Hungary and now another higher rated Serbia. We are on eleven points

Photos by Mr.Vijayakumar

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Home                                                 Published on 22^nd November,  2008