Workmanlike wins for Thipsay, Kunte

By Raghunandan Gokhale

MUMBAI, MAY 18. On a rainy Thursday the quartet of Indian GMs scored facile victories in the second round of 37th National `A' chess championship, sponsored by Reliance Industries Ltd. and organised by Maharashtra Chess Association. Top seed, GM Dibyendu Barua led the charge with another attacking triumph while K. Sasikiran, Praveen Thipsay and Abhijit Kunte chipped in with workmanlike wins.

Barua, Sasikiran and Thipsay lead the field with two points each. They are closely followed by GM Kunte, IM Lanka Ravi, teenager S. Kidambi and Sriram Jha - all just half a point behind. Sasikiran's practice partner Kidambi tasted victory against another newcomer Atanu Lahiri in the longest game of the second round. Sriram Jha (LIC) had a surprisingly quick win when his opponent G.B. Prakash (BSB) blundered a piece on the 18th move and decided to throw in the towel immediately.

On a unusually wet day for Mumbai, Barua (TISCO) was in no mood to play. ``All roads leading to the Andheri Sports Complex were flooded,'' explained the top seed. After walking through ankle high water, Barua offered a draw after just nine moves to wonder boy P. Harikrishna - the youngest IM in history. However, the 14- year-old bravely turned down the peace proposal in a London system.

Once he was forced to play, Barua concentrated on the game. ``Harikrishna's 12)b4 and 14)e4 were dubious moves,'' remarked the top seed after the game. He went on to demonstrate the weaknesses by penetrating the weakened squares. Barua's handling of his knights was a treat to watch. He concentrated his forces on the black squares and came out with a beautiful tactical stroke which netted the white queen. Thereafter Harikrishna lost one more rook and laid down his arms. ``I liked my 31)Nf2,'' was Barua's crisp comment about the final combination.

Sasikiran's deadly bishop pair

The battle royal between Sasikiran and PSCB team mate D.V. Prasad was very absorbing as Prasad is gunning for his final GM norm. Sasikiran employed a Capablanka variation against Prasad's Nimzo Indian defence. Though the reigning champion came out with an advantage of pair of bishops, Prasad held the balance by keeping them in check.

''My 17). Qb7 was a mistake,`` Prasad admitted after the game. It allowed Sasikiran to maintain his centre pawn. Moreover Prasad offered an exchange of queens on the 30th move which allowed instant freedom to white's bishops. The bishop pair soon ran amuck and tilted the balance in Sasikiran's favour. ''Prasad should have played 30)Ne5,`` suggested the 19-year-old wizard from Chennai.

GM Pravin Thipsay (2) was in full cry against T.S. Ravi (1) in a Spanish opening. Thipsay opted for a simple line 5)d4 which was mishandled by Ravi who never recovered from the setback. Ravi was forced to give up a pawn on the 40th move. Thipsay finished off the game with a mating attack.

National `B' champion Surya Sekhar Ganguly ran into another GM with the same disastrous result as in round one. With white pieces he faced Kunte - the latest GM from Pune. Sixteen- year- old Ganguly was visibly uncomfortable when Kunte picked up his pet Sicilian Kan defence from the black side. Abhijit, however, handled the opening in an unorthrodox manner by keeping his own King in the centre and launching a pawn roller on the white king.

Young Ganguly could not counter Kunte's risky strategy effectively and was saddled with a bad bishop. Ganguly was in danger of losing the game without putting up any battle. However, he produced a formidable counterplay at the last moment and managed to thwart the immediate danger. Abhijit, who was in his elements, sacrificed a pawn and exploited Ganguly's weakness with vigourous play. When Ganguly was about to lose two pawns he surrendered the game on the 36th move.

The results (second round): S.S. Ganguly (GNCA) 0 lost to Abhijit Kunte (PSCB) 1.5; P. Harikrishna (AP) 0.5 lost to D. Barua (TISCO) 2; K. Sasikiran (PSCB) 2 bt D.V. Prasad (PSCB) 0.5; S. Kidambi (TN) 1.5 bt Atanu Lahiri (LIC) 0; Sriram Jha (LIC) 1.5 bt G.B. Prakash (BSB) 0.5; V. Sarvanan (PSCB) 0.5 drew with Vishal Sareen (LIC) 1; Pravin Thipsay (BSB) 2 bt T.S. Ravi (PSCB) 1; 8. Neelotpal Das (GNCA) 0.5 drew with K. Murugan (NLC) 0.5; Ravi Hegde (BSB) 0.5 drew with Lanka Ravi (PSCB) 1.5; Sandipan Chanda (GNCA) 0.5 bye.

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