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India Scares Russia
By Arvind Aaron
India played one of their best
team games against defending champions Russia in the sixth round
of the World Team Championship being played at Bursa in Turkey
on Sunday.
India came close to a draw but in the end, lost 1.5-2.5 when
Arun Prasad went down fighting to Nikita Vitugov with the black
pieces. When this game was on, the score was 1.5-1.5. Arun
Prasad had a pawn less but the ending was rook and opposite
colour bishop promising plenty of drawing chances.
Russia's victory over India helped them join United States in
the lead on ten match points. India shares the third place along
with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Israel on seven points. Three
rounds remain to be played. India faces
Egypt, Israel and Brazil in the last three games. India's
medal chances hasn't been dented. Most teams at the top have to
face stiff opponents while India has a comparatively easier
draw. A medal on maiden appearance in this prestigious team
event is still a good possibility
for the Sasikiran led Indian team.
India has fielded Sasikiran, Harikrishna, Gopal and Adhiban for
the seventh round game against Egypt. All the four Indians
are higher rated than their opponents on all the four boards.
Indian chess fans will certainly expect a win here.
In another important seventh round match, Olympiad winners
Armenia have fielded their top four players against formidable
defending champions Russia. United States takes on Greece, an
opponent they can't take lightly.
In the sixth round, Sasikiran drew with Grischuk on the top
board with the white pieces easily from a queen's Indian defence.
When pieces were exchanged they ended up in a rook and minor
piece ending with level pawns.
In the second board, Harikrishna got into a poor position
against Jakovenko and redeemed himself with a brilliant rook
sacrifice using a stalemate theme. On the third board, Ganguly
had no problem in making a draw with the white pieces against
Malakhov from an opposite colour bishop ending.
Arun Prasad defended a difficult middlegame but lost a pawn and
entered a rook and opposite colour ending against Vitugov. He
fought well but missed the way to making a draw which India
wanted badly. Though he lost, it was not after a fight and the
Russians did face the scare before winning 2.5-1.5.
The results (round six): Armenia (7) lost to Greece (6) 1-3, USA
(10) bt Brazil (2) 3-1, Azerbaijan (7) drew with Israel (7) 2-2,
Turkey (1) drew with Egypt (3) 2-2, India (7) lost to Russia
(10) (K. Sasikiran drew with Alexander Grischuk, P. Harikrishna
drew with Dmitry Jakovenko, S.S. Ganguly drew with Vladimir
Malakhov, Arun Prasad lost to Nikita Vitugov) 1.5-2.5.
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Published
on January 11th , 2010
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