Popov - Visakh

The SREI International Grandmasters Chess Tournament, comprising 22 grandmasters and 24 international masters and two WGMs (in a field of 96 players) kicked off at Kolkata, India today, with an upset galore. In the tournament organised by Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy, headed by Dubyendu Barua, the second grandmaster from India (after Anand), fifteen year old NR Vignesh from Chennai upset the third seeded GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia and top seeded Surya Sekhar Ganguly from the host city had to concede half a point to RA Pradeep Kumar, also from Chennai.

In the Benoni opening, Levan sacrificed a pawn on the queen side to create an attack. Vignesh defended well and his resultant passed pawn was helpful to him to pocket a point in 56 moves. Though Ganguly, a former second to Vishy Anand had an extra pawn in the end game, his opponent Pradeep extricated half a point from him, playing with precision. Sixteen year old girl G. Lasya of India caused another upset by defeating veteran grandmaster Praveen Thipsay and former Indian women champion IM Nisha Mohota held GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia. Vignesh’s brother NR Visakh was outplayed in the end game by second seeded Ivan Popov of Russia.

Prandeep - Ganguly

Results of Round 1