Padmini in joint lead in World Junior Chess C''ship

Sun, Aug 08 10 08:51 PM

Chotowa Czarna (Poland) Aug 8 (PTI) Woman Grandmaster Padmini Rout continued with her winning ways and downed Khayala Mardan Abdulla of Azerbaijan to jump in joint lead with 4.5 points after the conclusion of the fifth round of the World Junior Chess Championship here. Overnight sole leader Olga Girya of Russia was held to a draw by Nafisa Muminova of Uzbekistan and this paved the way for Padmini to join the leading group. The Orissa-based girl shares the lead with top seed and hot favourite Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia, Nastassia Ziaziulkina of Belarus and Girya who all have won four and drawn one game thus far in this 80-players championship. Bhakti Kulkarni inched herself to 4 points after another creditable show. Bhakti held Melanie Ohme of Germany to a draw and is currently joint fifth with eight rounds still to come. The other Indian in the fray - B Pratyusha played out a draw with Kubra Ozturk of Turkey. Playing the black side of a Sicilian Najdorf, Padmini faced the Velimirovic attack and was never in any troubles. A middle game error by Khayala proved costly as Padmini was able the seize the initiative with timely pawn advances in the center. The Azerbaijani was pushed to the wall soon after and a temporary piece sacrifice sealed the issue in Padmini''s favour. The game lasted 49 moves. In the open championship being organised simultaneously, Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi uncorked another fine attacking idea to outwit Niclas Huschenbeth of Germany in the fifth round game. Playing white, Negi was up against a Sicilian Najdorf and it was sheer preparation and skill at work that saw him gain the upper hand out of the opening. As a matter of fact, many chess analytical engines showed black to be better but Negi was relentless in carrying out his plan to perfection. Huschenbeth resigned on his 40th turn when his position was beyond repairs. Dariusz Swiercz of Poland emerged as the sole leader in this section with a clinical victory over Tamir Nabaty of Israel. It was a Queen''s gambit accepted by Nabaty that ran in to troubles in the opposite coloured Bishops middle game as Swiercz gained the upper hand by going for a thematic king side attack. It took just 38 moves for Swiercz to get another full point. Swiercz was the sole winner amongst the overnight leaders and Negi is now joint second in the standing list with 4 points in his kitty. The battle is only likely to heat up as the event progresses further. (More) PTI Corr SHN

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