World Junior Chess Championships 2011

World Junior Chess Championships 2011 - R7

Wednesday, 10 August 2011 10:32

Rombaldoni lead 6.5/7, Girish Koushik defeats third GM-in-a-row, Vidit stuns Shimanov

Girish A Koushik (6.0) made the big news as he defeated second seed Russian Sanan Sjugirov, to record a hat-trick of wins against a Grandmaster, in the seventh round of the SDAT-RAMCO 50th World Junior & 29th Junior Girls Chess Championships 2011, at Hotel Vijay Park, Chennai, here today. The win, along with a rating performance of ELO 2684 took Girish to the second spot, at half a point behind tournament leader Axel Rombaldini of Italy.

Italian International Master Rombaldoni who shed his first half a point in the tournament against Armenian Grandmaster Ter-Sahakyan Samvel, still maintained his lead with 6.5 points from seven rounds. India's Girish Koushik along with Armenian Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan share the second spot with 6.0 points.

Girish-Sanan took to Open Ruy Lopez that saw the Indian out maneuvering the more experienced Russian. In a complex middle game, Girish moved the rook and bishop with dexterity, keeping the Russia at bay. As the game ventured into an ending, the Indian boy used his king actively and was able to corner the white king in the last rank. Even as he applied pressure and weaved a pattern that could result in a mating net, Sanan, overlooked the loss of piece in a double attack and resigned on the 53rd turn.

Following Girish, Maharashtra lad Vidit Santosh Gujrathi defeated higher rated Russian Grandmaster Aleksandr Shimanov delivering the second big upset of the day. Vidit played a miniature masterpiece, as he defeated Shimanov of Russia in 23 moves. The Russian faced the Ragozin defence ignored fast developing black pieces at his own peril. A delectable combination that began with white's capture of black bishop with his knight, saw Vidit gain the upperhand. Caught in the familiar pattern of smothered mate, Shimanov allowed Vidit to finish the game with elan. A knight sacrifice, the capture of which was a taboo, saw the game end in double quick time.

In the girls section, the lead remained unchanged with Woman Grandmaster Olga Girya holding Woman International Master Bulmaga Irina to a draw. The marathon game lasted five hours and 69 moves, but Olga hung on gamely, and snatched a crucial half point. The draw keeps the Russian on the top of the table together with Woman Grandmaster Cori T Deysi from Peru at 6.0 points. Indian girls were all huddled in the 4.5 points viz., Padmini Rout, Bhakti Kulkarni, J Saranya, Chandika Divyasree, P V Nandhidhaa and would be needing a big push in performance to move to the top of the table in the second half.

Round 7 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)

Rombaldoni Axel(ITA) 6.5 drew with Ter-Sahakyan Samvel(ARM) 5.5, Huschenbeth Niclas (GER) 5 lost to Hovhannisyan Robert(ARM) 6, Sjugirov Sanan (RUS) 4.5 lost to Girish A Koushik (6), Robson Ray (USA) 5 drew with Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (AZE) 5, Swiercz Dariusz (POL) 5 drew with Piorun Kacper(POL) 5, Grandelius Nils (SWE) 5.5 beat Swayams Mishra (4.5), Lalith Babu M R (4) lost to Matlakov Maxim (RUS) 5, Goganov Aleksey (RUS) 4 lost to Salgado Lopez Ivan (ESP) 5, Shimanov Aleksandr (RUS) 4 lost to Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (5), Stany G A (4) lost to Nabaty Tamir (ISR) 5, Shyam Nikil P (4) lost to Adhiban B (5), Martinovic Sasa (CRO) 4.5 drew with Anwesh Upadhyaya (4.5), Durarbeyli Vasif (AZE) 5 beat Getz Nicolai (NOR) 4

Round 7 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)

Bulmaga Irina (ROU) 5.5 drew with Girya Olga (RUS) 6, Cori T Deysi (PER) 6 beat Saranya J (4.5), Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (AZE) 5.5 beat Semenova Elena (RUS) 5, Kulon Klaudia (POL) 5.5 beat Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (AZE) 4.5, Paikidze Nazi(GEO) 5 beat Vo Thi Kim Phung (VIE) 4, Agrest Inna (SWE) 5 beat Savina Anastasia (RUS) 4, Tokhirjanova Hulkar (UZB) 4.5 drew with Ozturk Kubra (TUR) 4.5, Dogodkina Julia (RUS) 5 beat Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (KAZ) 4, Padmini Rout (4.5) beat Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi (AZE) 3.5, Tsatsalashvili Keti(GEO) 3.5 lost to Nandhidhaa P V (4.5)