Mixed luck for India at Chess Olympiad

The Indian men continued their good run, defeating Georgia 2.5-1.5, while the women faltered yet again, going down to England 1-2 in the 10th round of the 34th chess Olympiad in Istanbul on Thursday.

Top seed and favourites Russia (28) shot into sole lead with a 4-0 humiliation of Romania in the men's section.

Overnight joint leaders Germany (27.5) and Armenia (26.5) slipped to 2nd and 4th position respectively after their encounter ended 2.5-1.5 in the favour of the former.

Ukraine holds the third spot with 27 points while the Indians have garnered 24 points.

In the women's event, China (23) beat Ukraine (19) 2-1 and maintained their slender half point lead over Georgia (22.5). India trail behind on 16.5 points.

It was Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua who delivered the vital win for India on the fourth board, defeating B Jovaba from the white side of a Sicilian Nazdorf defence game.

After the opening, Barua tied up black's queenside but had to surrender the open queen file in the process. However, consistent pressure on the queen bishop pawn yielded excellent play for Barua's minor pieces.

Jovaba missed a tactical retreat of the queen while sacrificing an exchange and had to pay the price for his over-ambitiousness. Soon, an endgame was reached and Barua without conceding chances, pocketed the full point.

The other three matches on Indian boards ended in draws.

On the first board, Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran drew with GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili in pet Kings Indian defence with black pieces.

Much to Sasikiran's amazement, Azmaiparashvili opted for a variation that has been extensively analysed in theory books as a perfect equality. A little trouble to his memory was sufficient and Sasikiran got a comfortable draw against the highly-rated opponent. The game lasted 37 moves.

GM Abhijit Kunte failed to extract any advantage with his white pieces against Z Sturua. By transposition, the players arrived at a position akin to the Petroff and soon the similarities to the open Ruy Lopez came to fore. Abhijit proposed the draw after 15 moves that was readily accepted.

IM P Harikrishna played an enterprising game but finally drew with T Gelashvili. Playing black Harikrishna entered the London System and equalized early in the opening. The Indian enthused life in a closed middle game with the trade of queens but was soon pushed to the wall. A perfect defence in a pawn-less position thereon, enabled Harikrishna to hold his fort. The truce was signed after 53 moves.

WGM Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi drew with Harriet Hunt on the top board while her sister Minakshi signed the peace treaty with Susan Lalic.

On the third board Saheli Barua went down to J Houska in a keenly contested game that arose from the French defence with Saheli taking charge of the black attack.