Armenian Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan and Peruvian Cori Deysi grabbed solo lead in the juniors and girls divisions, respectively, in the SDAT-RAMCO 50th World Junior & 29th Girls Chess Championships 2011 at Hotel Vijay Park, Chennai, India.

Hovhannisyan brought down Girish Koushik in the ninth round, moving into sole lead. The win takes Hovhannisyan to 8.0 points followed by fellow Armenian Grandmaster Ter-Sahakyan Samvel at 7.5 points. FIDE Master Girish A Koushik (India) and GM Swiercz Dariusz (Poland) share the third spot with 7.0 points.

The girls section saw the Woman Grandmaster from Peru, Cori T Deysi (photo above) take the sole lead with 8.0 points. Russian Girya Olga is in the second spot with 7.5 points. Earlier, Cori Deysi defeated top seeded Woman Grandmaster Paikidze Nazi of Georgia, even as  the top board game between two Russian girls, Elena Semenova and Girya Olga ended in a draw.

The top board battle in the Open section turned out to be a Slav game between overnight joint leaders Girish and Hovhannisyan.In a fierce middle game battle. Girish (photo above) went for an early kingside attack and sacrified a knight on the 24th move. Not the one to be unnerved, Hovhannisyan restored parity, giving back his rook a few moves later, nullifying the attack. The Armenian slowly gained the upper hand in the queen side and his double passed pawns proved a big bother for the Indian, who gave up on the 46th move, facing checkmate or loss of material.

GM Shimanov Aleksandr (Russia) facing IM Vaibhav Suri (India)

In another big upset, Roganovic Milos of Serbia defeated top seed Grandmaster Maxim Matlakov of Russia. The Caro Kann game saw Roganovic sacrificing a piece for a huge attack on the enemy king. Matlakov's calculation went awry, as he failed to see forced mate and resigned after 26 moves. Matlakov's second successive defeat put his title chances in a jeopardy.

Chandika Divyasree (India) playing WGM Savina Anastasia (Russia)

The day belonged to the quartet of performers who made their respective Norms. A nine game Woman International Master Norms were achieved by Elena Semenova of Russia and P Michelle Catherina of India, while the International Master Norms were achieved by S L Narayanan and V A V Rajesh (both India). FIDE Master V A V Rajesh, supported by Velammal Group of institutions, defeated Peruvian Grandmaster Jorge Cori, completing his third and final International Master Norm. He now needs to cross ELO 2400 to become India's latest International Master. Promising Kerala lad S L Narayanan scored over Polish IM Piorun Kacper achieving his maiden International Master Norm.

With four more rounds to go more Norm performances are in the cards.

Round 9 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)

Girish A Koushik (7) lost to Hovhannisyan Robert (ARM) 8,Ter-Sahakyan Samvel(ARM) 7.5 beat Salgado Lopez Ivan (ESP) 6, Rombaldoni Axel(ITA) 6.5 lost to Swiercz Dariusz (POL) 7, Durarbeyli Vasif(AZE)6.5 drew with Adhiban B (6.5),Robson Ray(USA) 6.5 beat Shyam Sundar M (5.5), Grandelius Nils (SWE)6 drew with Vidit Santosh Gujrathi(6), Martinovic Sasa (CRO)6.5 beat Urkedal Frode (NOR) 5.5,Roganovic Milos (SRB) 6 beat Matlakov Maxim (RUS) 5,Anwesh Upadhyaya (5.5) drew with Sjugirov Sanan (RUS) 5.5,Shimanov Aleksandr (RUS) 6 beat Vaibhav Suri (5), Kovalev Vladislav (BLR) 6 beat Nabaty Tamir (ISR) 5,Sethuraman S P (6) beat Getz Nicolai (NOR) 5, Ramnath Bhuvanesh R(5) lost to Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (AZE) 6

Round 8 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)

Elena Semenova (Russia) 6.5  drew with Girya Olga (Russia ) 7.5, Cori T Deysi (PER) 8 beat Paikidze Nazi(GEO) 5.5,Bulmaga Irina (ROU) 6 lost to Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (AZE) 6.5, Kulon Klaudia (POL) 6 drew with Padmini Rout (6), Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (AZE) 5.5 loat to Ozturk Kubra (TUR) 6.5,Lkhamsuren Uuganbayar (MGL)5.5  lost to  Agrest Inna (SWE) 6, Chandika Divyasree(5.5) drew with Savina Anastasia(RUS) 5.5, Michelle Catherina P(6) beat Kulkarni Bhakti (5), Ivana Maria Furtado (5)  lost to Dogodkina Julia (RUS) 6

R R Vasudevan
Press Officer
World Junior Chess Championships 2011