Ukraine Grandmaster Solodovnichenko Yuri, 4.5 points, shared the lead with four more players after the fifth round of the 8th Chennai Open International Grandmaster Chess tournament 2016 for Sakthi Group Dr N Mahalingam trophy, held at Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, Nehru Stadium, Chennai here today. Keeping Yuri company on top at 4.5 points were GMs Bernadskiy Vitaliy (Ukr), Belous Vladimir, Mozharov Mikhail (both Russia) & young star Kumar Gaurav of India.
Earlier, Yuri found his match fellow Ukraine GM Bernadskiy Vitaliy, as they drew an exciting Caro Kann game that lasted 40 moves. But the neews makers of the day were 15-year-old Bihar boy Kumar Gaurav and Maharashtra FM, Akash Thakur, respectively.
Veteran Ukraine GM Neverov got himself punished for some over ambitious play against Indian youngster Kumar Gaurav. The closed Sicilian game saw Kumar in an attacking mood and Neverov loosened the grip swapping his rook and three pawns for two pieces. It was found wanting as equation was loaded too much against the Ukraine Grandmaster who gave up on 34th turn. The win propels the Bihar boy to joint lead position along with four GMs.
GM Yuri Solodovnichenko
Multiple IM Norm holder Akash Thakur put it across GM Gabrielian Artur of Russia in a Ruy Lopez exchange variation game, where the Indian snatched the advantage with some deft middle game moves. Moving into a rook and minor piece ending to restore parity, the Russian undermined the center passer and lost the game in 32 moves.
GM Neverov Valeriy (2506) – Kumar Gaurav (2030)
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 Rb8 6. f4 d6 7. h3 e6 8. Nf3 b5 9. O-O b4 10. Ne2 Nge7 11. a3 Qa5 12. Qe1 O-O 13. g4 Ba6 14. Bd2 Qb6 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qh4 Nxc2 17. Qxe7 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 Bxd3 19. Nc3 Qxb2 20. Ra2 Qb3 21. e5 d5 22. Qxc5 Rfc8 23. Qa5 Bf8 24. Nd4 Qc4 25. Ra4 Bb4 26. Qxa7 Ra8 27. Qxa8 Rxa8 28. Rxa8+ Kg7 29. Nxe6+ fxe6 30. Ra6 Kf8 31. Ra8+ Kf7 32. Ra7+ Ke8 33. Ra8+ Kd7 34. Na4 Qd4+ 0-1
Report by R R Vasudevan
FM Akash Thakur playing GM Gabrielian Artur
IM Ramnath Bhuvanesh playing GM Mozharov Mikhail
