The fifth-seeded Indian women hit a roadblock in their campaign after suffering a 1.5-2.5 defeat to Serbia in the fourth round of the Chess Olympiad at Tromso, Norway, on Tuesday.
There was disappointment for India even in the men’s section after it ran into Cuba. India, seeded 19th, surrendered 1.5-2.5 to the 12th seeds. D. Harika’s victory went in vain due to the defeats of Tania Sachdev and Mary Ann Gomes. Padmini Rout salvaged a draw on the fourth board.
Among the Indian men, M.R. Lalith Babu’s 48-move loss on the fourth board provided the decisive difference. The other three boards, featuring S.P. Sethuraman, K. Sasikiran and B. Adhiban, ended with honours even.
Leading fourth round results: Open: Cuba (7) bt India (5) 2.5-1.5 [Leinier Dominguez Perez drew with S.P. Sethuraman, Lazaro Bruzon Batista drew with K. Sasikiran, Yuniesky Quesada Perez drew with B. Adhiban, Isan Reynoldo Oritz Suarez bt M.R. Lalith Babu]; France (6) lost to Azerbaijan (8) 1.5-2.5; Serbia (8) bt Czech Republic (6) 2.5-1.5; Russia (7) drew with China (7) 2-2; The Netherlands (7) drew with Israel (7) 2-2; Bulgaria (6) lost to Romania (8) 1.5-2.5; Uzbekistan (7) drew with Germany (7) 2-2; Turkey (7) bt Italy (5) 3.5-0.5; Georgia (7) bt Mexico (5) 2.5-1.5; Belgium (5) lost to Switzerland (7) 1.5-2.5; Kazakhstan (7) bt Moldova (5) 2.5-1.5.
Women: India (5) lost to Serbia (7) 1.5-2.5 [D. Harika bt Jovana Vojinovic, Tania Sachdev lost to Andjelija Stojanovic, Mary Ann Gomes lost to Marija Rakic, Padmini Rout drew with Adela Velikic]; Iran (8) bt Slovakia (6) 3.5-0.5; China (8) bt Azerbaijan (6) 3.5-0.5; Indonesia (8) bt Armenia (6) 3.5-0.5; Germany (6) lost to Russia (8) 1.5-2.5; The Netherlands (7) drew with Georgia (7) 2-2; Hungary (8) bt Cuba (6) 2.5-1.5; Philippines (5) lost to Spain (7) 1-3; Colombia (5) lost to Kazakhstan (7) 1-3.
