The two Indian GM's in the fray, Dibyendu Barua and Pravin Thipsay were breathing down Baburin's (6 points) neck with 5.5 points each to their credit.

Leader till five rounds, R B Ramesh of India and Lahiri were holding the third position.

Baburin played the Fianchetto variation of the King's Indian defence with white pieces. Lahiri played the opening tentatively and landed in an inferior position and the Irishman got firm control on the centre.

White slowly built its position and was threatening to invade black's position decisively when Lahiri gave an exchange to create a counterplay. However, an accurate manoeuvre earned Baburin the full point.

Thipsay had to sweat hard once he missed a simple mating combination against Ramesh who employed the Sicilian dragon. In the rook ending Rameshensured enough drawing chances but squandered away all to give Thipsay the full point.

IM D V Prasad's Sicilian Paulsen with black pieces provided little resistance to GM Barua as he gobbled a pawn in the early middle game. All efforts of counterplay thereon by Prasad were matched in a street-fighting manner and Barua romped home easily.

On other board, top seed GM Anthony Miles was held to a draw by budding youngster Sandipan Chanda in a semi-slav game in which Miles played with white.