Kunte blunder costs India dear

Kunte blunder costs India dear
Press Trust of India

Istanbul, November 5 : An unexpected blunder from in-form Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte led to India's 1.5-2.5 defeat against Bulgaria in the seventh round of the 34th Chess Olympiad being played here.

The women, however, put up a spirited show to down Azerbaijan 2-1 with WGM Vijayalakshmi continuing to excel on the top board.

Germany, with 20.5 points, maintained their one point supremacy over nearest rivals Russia with a 2-2 draw against Slovakia in the men's event. Indians have tallied 17 points to be on the joint 21st spot.

Chinese women outclassed Moldova 3-0 to lead with 16.5 points. Georgia is a close second with 15.5 while India have 13 points.

Indian men started as underdogs for the fifth day in succession. With big guns like GM Veselin Topalov and Kiril Georgiev, the Bulgarians pitted their best team.

On the top board, Topalov opened with the Queen pawn and opted for the fashionable Bayonet attack against GM Krishnan Sasikiran's King's Indian defence.

After established theoretical manoeuvres, Sasikiran emerged with a dynamic equality in the middlegame with his sights focussed on the opponent's King.Topalov opened the Queenside and Sasikiran blocked the central passed pawn in copybook fashion. To complicate further Topalov went for a highly tactical variation but found Sasi well armed.

After the tactical skirmishes, an endgame where Sasikiran three minor pieces against two rooks was reached.

However, the nature of the position became level as very few pawns remained on board. At the first opportunity Topalov sacrificed all material and left Sasikiran with two knights to draw the game via a stalemate after 94 moves.Abhjit was apparently surprised with the Sicilian Nazdorf of Kiril Goergiev and burned the bridge early in the middle game. After some fine shows against strong opposition in the earlier rounds, Abhijit could not keep the momentum and blundered a piece soon after the opening.

A relieved Kiril gobbled the piece in no time and forced Abhijit's resignation.

On the third board, 14-year-old IM P Harikrishna faced the English Opening of Delchev and the game took shape in a reverse Sicilian Dragon. Harikrishna equalised comfortably in the middlegame and Delchev decided not to press for a victory. The draw was agreed to after 34 moves.

Indian captain DV Prasad could not make much use of his white pieces and had to settle for a draw against A Kolev in just 19 moves of a French Winawer variation.

In the women's section Vijayalakshmi continued her top form with victory over F Babaeva to take her personal score to 6/7. Playing black Vijayalakshmi outsmarted her opponent in an Italian game.

Vijayalakshmi was a pawn up in the middlegame and she capitalised on the advantage to romp home easily.

On the second board, Subbaraman Minakshi made shortwork of Shukurova in a King's Indian Defence game with white pieces.

Minakshi went for a direct attack against the king and opened the King rook file with decisive threats. The game lasted 30 moves.

Men ( Round VII): Germany drew Slovakia 2-2; Russia drew Israel 2-2; Ukraine drew Hungary 2-2; Denmark lost to Armenia 1-3; Croatia drew England 2-2; Philippines beat China 2.5-1.5; The United States drew Yugoslavia 2-2; Bulgaria beat India 2.5-1.5; The Netherlands beat Georgia 3.5-0.5 and Kazakhstan drew Uzbekistan 2-2.

Women: China beat Moldova 3-0; The Netherlands lost to Georgia 1-2; Ukraine drew Greece 1.5-1.5; Vietnam beat Engand 2-1; Hungary lost to Russia 1-2; Armenia beat Yugoslavia 2-1; Czech Republic beat Israel 2.5-0.5; Germany drew Poland 1.5-1.5; Estonia lost to Spain 1-2 and Azerbaijan lost to India 1-2.

Standings after Round VII (Men): Germany 20.5; Russia 19.5; Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, Armenia 19; Hungary, Israel, Ukraine 18.5; Bulgaria, Philippines 18; England, Spain, Croatia, USA, Brazil, Poland, Yugoslavia, Romania, Lithuania 17.5; India, China, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Estonia and Czech Republic 17.

Women: China 16.5; Georgia 15.5; Vietnam 14.5; Russia, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Greece 14; England, Armenia 13.5; India, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Lithuania, Austria 13.