Gujarathi becomes GM; Prasanna, Dhopade make GM norms
PTI | Dec 11, 2012, 08.55 PM IST
KOLKATA: International Master Vidit Santosh Gujarathi became the 30th Grandmaster from India after drawing his ninth round game with GM Viorel Iordachescu of Moldova in the Rose Valley Open International Chess tournament at Gorky Sadan.
IM V Vishnu Prasanna and Swapnil Dhopade made their second GM norms, defeating Egyptian GM Ahmed Adly and GM Daniil Lintchevsky of Russia respectively.
Gujarathi made another GM norm and attested himself as India’s 30th GM after this round. The norm was probably not needed and Vidit’s application would have come under consideration but after this performance, the Nasik- based youngster is set to enter the elite Grandmasters club.
With the spate of draws continuing at the top boards, Grandmaster Ni Hua of China, and Anton Korobov of Ukraine benefitted and emerged as joint leaders on 6.5 points.
With just two rounds to go in one of the strongest Asian event, it’s a seven-way lead with Indians Gujarathi, Deep Sengupta, S P Sethuraman, Prasanna, Iordachecu, Korobov and Ni Hua all having the same score.
Apart from the three Grandmaster norms, as many as five International Masters norms were scored in the day. Alekhine Chess Club’s Diptayan Ghosh topped the list of IM-norm makers after he drew with highest rated Indian in the fray — Abhijeet Gupta.
Also making IM norms were Shradul Gagare who has completed the formalities of his International Master title from here, Anurag Mahamal, former world junior girls’ champion Soumya Swaminathan and Utkal Ranjan Sahoo.
At the top of the tables, Vidit did not have to struggle hard for his draw and the point was shared by him and Iordachescu quite easily. Prasanna was lucky in beating Adly after the latter blundered from what seemed like a favourable middle game.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Nice!