GM Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia and WGM Olga Girya of Russia led their respective divisions after the 12th and penultimate round of the SDAT-RAMCO 50th World Junior & 29th World Girls Chess Championships 2011, at Chennai, India Saturday.

In the Open section, Grandmaster Hovhannisyan defeated American medal prospect GM Ray Robson in the top board, moving to 10 points, with just a round to go. Half a point behind stayed Polish Grandmaster Swiercz Dariusz (photo above) at 9.5 points. The fight for the bronze medal and third spot will be among Samvel Ter Sahakyan (Armenia), Vladislav Kovalev (Belarus), Vasif Durarbeyli (Azerbaijan) and Sahaj Grover (India) at 8.5 points each.

The top board game between Hovhannisyan and Robson was a true Spanish bull fight. It turned out to be an exciting Sicilian game, with both Grandmasters playing for a win. Robson made his intentions clear with a rook for knight sacrifice on the 17th move. Not to be outdone Hovhannisyan returned material in no time, taking the game into a rook and bishops ending. Further on, rooks were off the board by move 26 and the five pawn island of the Armenian looked a trifle suspicious. But Hovhannisyan showed more enterprise as he advanced his "c" pawn to the discomfort of Robson. The game further ventured into a study-like ending with two menacing black pawns advancing to the seventh rank. Accurate play by Hovhannisyan forced Robson to resign on the 46th move. Hovhannisyan's fighting victory makes him a clear title favorite, thanks to a full point lead over second placed Swiercz Dariusz of Poland.

WFM Hannes Diana (Germany) facing Arunima Kalra (India)

In the Girls section, Russian Girya Olga (10.5) is the title favorite in the final round, holding a crucial half point lead ahead of Peruvian Cori T Deysi. With Gold and Silver medals being contested between the duo, the struggle is going to be for the bronze medal. At 8.5 points top seed Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) will be eyeing the third spot with a final round victory on Monday. Challenging Paikidze for the medal would be Romanian Irina Bulmaga, who remains at 8.5 points. The girls at the 8.0 point group, would need to win their games first, and wait for favorable results in other boards for a shot at the bronze medal.

Top board game between WGM Padmini Rout versus WGM Cori T Deysi inaugurated by Mr Charudatta Jadhav, Vice President, World Chess Federation for the Blind, (L to R) B Murugavel, Vice President, TNSCA, FIDE Arbiter M Senthilvel, K Muralimohan, Championship Director, WJCC 2011, R Anantharam, Chief Arbiter.

Earlier, Indian medal hope Padmini Rout drew her top board game against tournament leader Cori T Deysi.

In the Open section, Indian challenge suffered a setback as Grandmaster Adhiban Baskaran, playing at 8.5 points, went down to fellow Indian Sahaj Grover.

IM Krejci Jan (Czech Republic)

Round 12 Results (Open) (Indians unless specified)
                                            
Hovhannisyan Robert (ARM) 10 beat Robson Ray (USA) 8, Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (ARM) 8.5 lost to Swiercz Dariusz (POL) 9.5, Kovalev Vladislav (BLR) 8.5 drew with Durarbeyli Vasif (AZE) 8.5, Adhiban B (8) lost to Grover Sahaj (8.5), Sethuraman S P (8) drew with Vidit Santosh Gujrathi(8), Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (AZE) 7.5 lost to Sjugirov Sanan (RUS) 8, Salgado Lopez Ivan (ESP) 8 beat Anwesh Upadhyaya (7), Shyam Sundar M (7) lost to Shimanov Aleksandr (RUS) 8, Roganovic Milos (SRB) 7.5 drew with Grandelius Nils (SWE) 7.5, Urkedal Frode (NOR) 7 lost to Piorun Kacper (POL) 8, Rombaldoni Axel(ITA) 7 lost to Krejci Jan (CZE) 8, Goganov Aleksey (RUS) 8 beat Girish A  Koushik (7), Matlakov Maxim (RUS) 7.5 beat Krysa Leandro (ARG) 7, Martinovic Sasa (CRO) 7 drew with Shyam Nikil P (7)

GM Salgado Lopez Ivan (Spain) facing IM Anwesh Upadhyaya (India)


Round 12 Results (Girls) (Indians unless specified)

Padmini Rout(8) drew with Cori T Deysi(PER) 10, Girya Olga (RUS) 10.5 beat Tsatsalashvili Keti (GEO) 7.5, Paikidze Nazi (GEO) 8.5 beat Dogodkina Julia (RUS) 7.5, Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (KAZ) 7 lost to Bulmaga Irina (ROU) 8.5, Agrest Inna (SWE) 7 lost to Ozturk Kubra (TUR) 8, Martinez Ayelen (ARG) 7 lost to Savina Anastasia (RUS) 7.5, Kulkarni Bhakti(7.5) beat Kulon Klaudia (POL) 6.5, Vo Thi Kim Phung (VIE) 6.5 lost to Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (AZE) 7.5, Hoang Thi Nhu Y (VIE) 7.5 beat Tokhirjanova Hulkar (UZB) 6.5, Semenova Elena (RUS) 6.5 lost to Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi (AZE) 7.5, Frayna Janelle Mae (PHI) 6.5 lost to Eric Jovana (SRB) 7, Olsarova Karolina (CZE) 6.5 drew with Michelle Catherina P (6.5), Terao Juliana Sayumi(BRA) 7 beat Saranya J(6)

R R Vasudevan
Press Officer
World Junior Chess Championships 2011