IM Abhijit, the only higher rated player among the three Indians in the championship, now has 4.5 points and requires 2.5 points from the remaining three rounds to complete the GM title formalities, according to the information reaching here.

Meanwhile, the other Indian, IM V Sarvanan (4) today held IM Rowson J of Scotland (Elo 2490). While the Bank of Baroda sponsored Koneru Humpy (3) suffered a setback when she lost to Ansell (Elo 2373) in Pric Defence.

The Indian Oil Corporation employee Abhijit (Elo 2465) opted for an `e3-Ne2' line in the English Opening, to which Habden (Elo 2510) played an irregular `g6' followed by `e6'. Soon the former National `A' champion got control over the centre and used his minor pieces and both the rooks to attack black on the Queenside.

In the ensuing game, the UK Grandmaster lost an exchange and a pawn in the middle-game and resigned after 43 moves.

IM Sarvanan of BPCL was lucky to get away with the draw against the Scotland IM after playing a wrong move order in the opening which allowed black to exchange the Queens and equalise the position in the Sicilian Nadjrof variation. Both players agreed for a draw after 35 moves having rook opposite colour bishop and 5 pawn each in the end game.

Meanwhile, on the top board GM Gallgher (5) from Switzerland defeated top seeded and GM Smirin (Elo 2671) in a Kings Indian defence. The Swiss GM launched a massive attack against whites King and forced Smirin (4) to resign as mate was unavoidable after 38 moves.

On the third board, GM A Baburin (Elo 2593) defeated GM Ibragimov (Elo 2554) to share the lead with Gallagher.

Important Results (Round VI): GM Smirin I 4 lost to GM Gallagher (5); GM Ibragimov (4) lost to GM Baburin (5); Golod (4.5) drew with Phsakis (4.5); Lalich (4) drew with Ward Chris (4); Mihaleveski (4.5) bt Crounc Colin (3.5); IM A Kunte (Ind) 4.5 bt GM M Hebden (UK) 4; IM V Sarvanan (Ind) 4 drew with IM Rowson J (Scot) 4; K Humpy (3) lost to IM Ansell.