LINARES, January 18: International Women's Master Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman became the first Indian woman to score second Woman Grandmaster norm beating Russian Grandmaster Mikhail Kobalija in just 22 moves in the 10th and final round of the fifth Anibal Open chess tournament here today.Vijayalakshmi (6.5), who started her first two matches with losses, earned her first Woman Grandmaster norm in 1996.
Russian Grandmaster Sergeri Tiviakov garnered eight points out of a possible 10 to emerge clear leader on the last day of the tournament. Tiviakov adopted his favorite Sicilian Accelerated Dragon defence to beat compatriot Oleg Korneev.
As many as seven Grandmasters were tied on 7.5 points but Grandmaster Anthony J Miles finished second on superior tie-break.
GM Dibyendu Barua (7) of India was in some trouble, being a pawn down, against Russian GM V Epishin, in a rook and pawn end game, but defended very accurately to draw after a long struggle. In a tie-break for ninth to 18th places, Barua finished a
creditable 15th.
IM P Konguvel (six points) lost to GM T Luther, after six hours of fight and was placed 41st while Praveen Thipsay (six points) agreed for a quick tame draw with 73rd seed Dumitrescu Dragos and took the 50th spot.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
