Sasikaran held, Laznica join leaders

Kolkata, Mar 26 (UNI) Top Seed Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran picked up another draw today, even as Grandmaster Viktor Laznica of the Czech Republic joined the leaders in the 3rd Kolkata Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament being played at Alekhine Chess Club here.

Laznica won easily against IM M R Venkatesh of India to be amongst the leaders.

Laznicka employed the Catalan opening against his opponent and won a pawn on the queenside. Venkatesh resigned on the 35th move after he lost another pawn.

Koneru Humpy managed to win her game against International Master Akshyayraj Kore, but the top seed Sasikiran was surprisingly held by local lad Arghyadip Das in a marathon game.

Also in the lead are International Masters Arun Prasad and P Konguvel of India.

Both of them played exciting games to defeat Grandmasters Safin Sukhrat of Uzbekistan and Dibyendu Barua of India respectively.

IM Arun Prasad played a fine attacking game against the Benoni defence of GM Safin. Prasad won an exchange and forced the resignation of his opponent on the 39th move when he was about to win a piece.

Konguvel was at his attacking best against the French defence employed by the local Grandmaster. Both the players attacked on opposite wings but Konguvel's attack was faster and he forced the resignation on the 30th move.

Later Grandmaster Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam also joined the leaders with a victory over IM K.Rathnakaran the runner-up of the recently concluded National Championship.

Indian Grandmaster Tejas Bakre also held second seed Smbat Lputian of Armenia in a quick game.

Sandipan Chanda won his game against IM Watu Kobese of South Africa by sacrificing a piece to keep his opponents king in the center. The game lasted for only 24 moves.

Top Board Results:- GM Sambat Lputian (2.5) drew with GM Tejas Bakre (2.5) GM Viktor Laznicka (3) beat IM M.R.Venkatesh (2) IM K.Rathnakaran (2) lost to GM Nguyen Anh Dung (3) GM Vladimir Dobrov (2.5) drew with IM R.R.Laxman (2.5) IM Arun Prasad (3) beat GM Safin Shukhrat (2) IM P.Konguvel (3) beat GM Dibyendu Barua (2) GM Neelotpal Das (2.5) drew with Rolando Nolte (2.5) M S Thejkumar (3) beat IM Ashwin Jayaram (2) Arghyadip Das (2) drew with GM Krishnan Sasikiran (2) IM Akshyayraj Kore (1.5) lost to GM Koneru Humpy (2.5) UNI BA SJC PK KN2140