The Hindu : Vijayalakshmi pilots IA to big win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Chess

Vijayalakshmi pilots IA to big win

By Our Sports Reporter

GM Sasikiran of PSCB, makes a move against GM Praveen Thipsay of BSB in the third round of the 27th National team chess championship in Vijayawada on Wednesday.

VIJAYAWADA JUNE 25. Despite being driven to a minus position, seasoned campaigner GM Pravin Thipsay of Bank Sports Board `A' salvaged a creditable draw against GM Krishnan Sasikiran of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) to prevent a clean sweep for the favourites in the third round of the 27th National team chess championship held at the Chennupati Ramakotaiah Kreeda Pranganam (Patamata) here on Wednesday.

However, PSPB scored a 3-1 win in the third round and continued to top the table with 11 points, closely followed by South Central Railway with 10.5 points and Indian Airlines (9.5).

In Karpov Variation of Ruy Lopez, Thipsay started off badly and was virtually pushed to a minus position by a clever manoeuvre of pieces by the highly rated Sasikiran. The position slipped down further when Thipsay made a dubious 14th move — Nbd2, after which the rival got the advantage, which he maintained for the rest of the game. And, after Thipsay's Rxe4, Sasikiran was a pawn up in the end-game.

But, the bespectacled Thipsay held on firmly ensuring that there were no more slip-ups and in the Queen's ending, both agreed for a draw in time pressure. This was Thipsay's first draw after two losses in the last three games against Sasikiran.

Earlier, PSPB's GM Abhijit Kunte also settled for a draw against Sudhakar Babu while double-GM norm holder Sandeepan Chanda outwitted V. Kamble and S. Kidambi put it across Sharad Tilak.

Twenty-year-old Sandeepan Chanda fought back remarkably from a complicated position, thanks to the risky game he opted for against V. Kamble in the Queen's Gambit variation.

After the first three rounds, the pleasant surprise was the performance of South Central Railway with 31-year-old P.D.S. Girinath leading the challenge.

In third round too today, SCR defeated Maharashtra 3-1. Girinath outwitted Akash Thakur in Ruy Lopez variation. As the game progressed, the Andhra star gained a clear plus. However, in time trouble, Girinath faltered with his 41st move, f5. But to his delight, Thakur opted for a bad exchange of rook for knight and also missed Girinath's Rg4, which turned out to be a winning move.

Though J. Ramakrishna lost to D. Ravishankar, M.Y. Raju defeated Pawan Dodeja and C.G.S. Bharati put it across Vikrant Chole to ensure that SCR won the third round quite comfortably.

In contrast to the tough encounter yesterday against the relatively unknown T. Gautam, WGM Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi was in her elements with a near flawless display when she outplayed N. Konakanchi to help Indian Airlines record a 4-0 win over Rising Stars Chess Academy.

This win was more important for Airlines as it was held to a draw by Alekhine Chess Club (Kolkata) in the second round last night.

The results: third round: Bank Sports Board `A' (8.5) lost to Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (11); South Central Railway (10.5) bt Maharashtra (8.5); Tamil Nadu Chess Association `A' (9) drew with Andhra Pradesh (9); Indian Airlines (9.5) bt Rising Stars Chess Academy (Ban) (5); Space Chess Academy (Vij) (7.5) drew with Alekhine Chess Club (7); West Bengal Chess Association (5) lost to Bank Sports Board `B' 8; AP Sub-juniors (6.5) drew with Buddhibal Kreeda Trust (Pune) (6.5); Gudiwada (5.5) lost to Chess Academy (Jhar) (7.5); SSCB (8) bt Jayaprada Chess Academy (4); Challenging Knights (Mumbai) (5.5) lost to Champion Chess Academy (6.5): J&K Chess Association (5) lost to Gujarat Chess Association (6.5); BSNL (5.5) drew with Anitha Chess Academy (5.5); Punjab Chess Association (4.5) lost to Anupama Chess Academy (5.5); Rama Chess Academy (4) lost to Tirumala Chess Mate (5); APCA Vijayawada (0.5) lost to Guntur (5); Anitha Chess Academy `B' (4) bt T. Nagar Chess Academy (0); Servo APCA (1) lost to APCA (3).

Important results (second round): PSPB bt Services bt SSCB; BSB `A' bt West Bengal; Rising Stars lost to TNCA `A'; Chess Academy, SERSA lost to SCR; Maharashtra bt Gudivada; Alekhine Chess Club (Kolkata), drew with Indian Airlines; Anita Chess Academy `A' (Vij) lost to Andhra Pradesh; BSB `B' drew with Space Chess Academy; TNCA `B' drew with AP Sub-juniors; Tirumala Chess Mate lost to Budhibal Kreedia Trust.

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