May 1: International master Sharad Tilak is sole leader after seven rounds of the LIC-sponsored, Bombay Chess Association's Invitational International Rating chess tournament being held at Andheri's Shahaji Raje Sports Complex.

Tilak (ELO 2360) on six points, took the lead today after beating Ravindra Dongre. Overnight leader Ravi Bhave went down to Shamsul Hasan to help Tilak take top position.

Playing on the top board, top seed Tilak countered Dongre's Alekhine Defence. Tilak sacrificed a pawn on d4 square and attacked the black king. As white queen and knight began threats, Dongre resigned on the 25th move. Bhave faced Hasan on the second board. In a highly complicated and tactical position, Bhave failed to make 40 moves in two hours as required. He lost on time, making only 31 moves in an equal position.

Vinayak Ghate, playing on the third board, used an irregular King pawn opening while playing black and trapped Mohan Naik's knight in the end game. One piece down, Naik resigned on the 32nd move.

On the fourth board D A Andurkar came out with two extra pawns in the in the Rooks ending against teenager D A Andurkar, winning in 41 moves.

Hasan and Ghate are on second spot with 5.5 points a piece.

National junior player Rashmin Pulekar (ELO 2150) with white pieces played an attacking game against senior rival N Neelakantan (ELO 2255). In an accelerated dragon variation of Sicilian Defence, Neelakantan captured a pawn on e4. Pulekar recovered and brought his pieces up rapidly, sacrificed a rook to attack a black king on the original E8 square. Neelakantan lost his queen and resigned on the 26th move. Pulekar is on 4.5 points.

BIG WIN FOR FIDALGO: Fidalgo trounced MLWB (Goregaon) 4-1 in the second round of the MDFA Guru Nanak football tournament at the St Xavier's Ground, Parel.

Fidalgo piled on the goals through Apparao Cheman (2) and one each by Brian Martin and Sanjay Ghanekar.

Vinod Alex's equaliser enabled MLWB cross over on level terms before Fidalgo' second-half blitz.

Goals by Savio Dias, Jitendra Patel and Roshan Sontakey enabled Minor SC get the better of PSS 3-0 (half-time 1-0) in a first-round match at the same venue.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.