Sagar Shah shocks Russian GM Belov
Hindu
Monday, May 4, 2009
Mumbai (PTI): India’s unheralded Sagar Shah and OT Anil Kumar pulled off major upsets in the third round of the Rs 12 lakh prize money Mumbai Mayor Cup International Chess Tournament here on Sunday.
Shah, 350 rating points below third-seeded Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Belov, played splendidly on the third board to outclass his rival in only 36 moves and notch up his third straight victory in the nine-day event, organized by Venus Chess Academy, at the Goregaon Sports Club.
The second year B. Com student from Poddar College in Mumbai, thus, jointly led the large field along with 28 others, including top seeded GM Miroshnichenko Evgenij of Ukraine and India’s best hope, GM Koneru Humpy, with three full points.
On board 11, Anil Kumar, playing with black pieces, got the better of Kazakhstan GM Petr Kostenko after a marathon battle that lasted 102 moves. The Indian adopted the French Defence against his rival, holding a high ELO of 2490, and won the tie to also share the lead.
The clash between Shah (ELO 2271) and GM Belov (ELO 2623) saw the Indian adopt the Queen’s Indian Defense when the Russian played an opening move to confuse his opponent.
Belov and Sagar level-pegged till the Indian threatened the white knight on b-3 square. Instead of saving the knight, GM Belov miscalculated and played a move that led to his downfall as Sagar captured the knight and forced the Russian GM to lay down arms.
On the fourth board, Humpy (ELO 2612), playing with black pieces, got the better of her less fancied Indian rival Sourabh Kherdekar (ELO 2277) in a Queen’s Indian defense game in 53 moves.
Here is the full article.
Who’s leading now?