Kidambi still in the hunt for final IM norm

Kidambi still in the hunt for final IM norm
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Biel (Switzerland), August 4: India's Sunderarajan Kadambi held highly-rated Russian International Master Chemiev to a draw to keep alive his chances for the final IM norm in the 10th and penultimate round of the Biel Open chess here.

Former junior National champion Kidambi (six points) needs a full point against B Ponnamariov in the final round on Saturday to bag the IM title.

Kidambi played the Slav defence with black and earned a comfortable position. Later, all the minor pieces were exchanged along with the queens and in a double rook endgame the players agreed to a draw after 30 moves.

In an all-Indian affair, IM RB Ramesh defeated P Konguvel to take his points tally to seven and be in contention for top ten finish.

As in the last year, the format of this Swiss event changes in the last two rounds wherein the top four players at the end of the ninth round play among themselves to decide the first four positions.

In the virtual semifinals, GM Huzmann crushed GM Galkin Alexander 2-0 after their normal game ended in a draw. GM Boris Avrukh defeated GM Shariyazdanov 1.5-0.5 in the tie- break after their normal game ended in a draw. Huzmann and Avrukh will meet in the final on Saturday to decide the winner.

Ramesh played a fine novelty against Konguvel's Sicilian Dragon variation. Konguvel had initially given a pawn for attack, but Ramesh returned the pawn and sacrificed a knight on `f5' square to launch a decisive mating attack on the black king. Konguvel was forced to give a piece and was about to lose the rook when he resigned.