Short upset

Rahul Sangma shocks top seed Nigel Short
1 Oct 2008, 0123 hrs IST , Amit Sampat , TNN

NAGPUR: Delhi’s Rahul Sangma caused the first major upset of the Nagpur Mayor’s Cup Commonwealth Chess Championship when he defeated top seed Nigel Short in 35 moves in their third round clash on Tuesday.

In a Closed Ruy Lopez game which had some early deviations Rahul Sangma (Elo 2339) playing whites started with a King pawn opening move which though was replied by Short (Elo 2665) in the similar fashion.

After many ups and down Sangma got a pawn up in the end game forcing Short to resign in the 35th move in an absorbing three-hour match.

On the next board, Indian Grandmaster and second seed Surya Sekhar Ganguly playing with black pieces drubbed Fide Master Minhazuddin Ahmad of Bangladesh (Elo 2339) in a 19 move play.

On the third board Andhra Pradesh youngster MR Lalith Babu held the third see Ziaur Rahaman of Bangladesh to a draw. Lalith playing with blacks split the points after an 81-move marathon.

Lalith playing blacks displayed an aggressive game with Trompowsky Attack only to share the points after an 81-move marathon.

On the fourth board, Indian Fide Master J Ramakrishna of Andhra Pradesh held India’s youngest Grand Master Parimarjan Negi to draw.

Ramakrishna playing whites started with English Opening and ended sharing points with Negi after 30 moves.

Here is the full story.