Maxim Turov maintains lead – Chennai Open – 2010

Maxim Turov maintains lead – Chennai Open – 2010
By R.Anantharam, International Arbiter and Media In charge

Maxim Turov of Russia increased his chances to clinch the title in the Chennai Open 2010 international chess tournament, sponsored by LIC & ONGC and organized by Sports Promotion Foundation, Chennai. In the tenth and penultimate round today, he had a safe 41 move draw against Vikramaditya Kamble of Railways. Maxim is on 9 points and closely on his heels are former national champion M.R. Lalith Babu of A.P. and Bangladesh GM Ziaur Rahman on 8.5 points. Lalith Babu had a well deserved victory over GM Dmitry Ktyakvin of Russia. Maxim has been pitted against Ziaur and Lalith Babu crosses swords with the Filippino IM Richard Bitoon. A pyrotechnic display is expected on the top board, as Ziaur also has chances to win the title, if he beats Maxim.

Barring the first board, the other top boards went into full distance, as players fought for supremacy. Dmitry sacrificed his knight by playing Nh4 on the 17th move, to open the castled king side against Lalith Babu. Thogh there were less pices on the board, the game became complicated and Lalith managed to maintain the upper hand. After exchanging the queens, Lalith grabbed another knight on the 67th move forcing a win. With this win, Lalith also earned his second GM norm.

Ziaur Rahman sacrificed his knight for two pawns against Rinat Jhumabyev to get an attacking position. Though Rinat was a piece up, Ziaur’s queen and rook combined beautifully to grab Rinat’s rook. Immediately Rinat surrendered. This is the first loss to Rinat in this tournament.

Asian Junior champion Ashwin Jayaram also had a convincing victory over GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan in a Pirc defence game, with an onslaught right from the start. He faces Siddharth tomorrow and interestingly there are three Indian IMs and untitled Siddharth among the eight players on the top four boards of the final round. Former Commonwealth champion RB. Ramesh of Tamil Nadu made an exchange sacrifice to create a passer pawn on the 27th move against former under 25 national champion B.T. Muralikrishnan of Railways. When he realized that there was no compensation later, he gave up the fight.

http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2010/chennaiopen/MaximTurovmaintainslead-ChennaiOpen-2010.asp