CALCUTTA, February 6: WGM S Vijayalakshmi started her campaign on a winning note by notching a victory over Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua in the first round of the ninth Goodricke International Open Chess Tournament here today.Top seed GM Nigel Short of England played a positional game to outclass International Master RB Ramesh.
In an unusual Italian game employed by Barua, Vijayalakshmi appeared to be salvaging a complex middlegame position when Barua miscalculated to blunder a full piece. The ensuing position was a matter of routine technique for Vijayalakshmi.
TS Ravi must be cursing his stars today as he failed to score over second seed GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia. Playing his pet Alapin variation of the Sicilian Defence, Ravi (white) completely caught his seasoned opponent off guard with imaginative play to win a couple of pawns. However, after getting a near winning position, Ravi could not keep up the momentum.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
