Indians complete a near sweep

TEHERAN, APRIL 2. India's rising stars completed a near sweep as they showcased their domination to garner five of the six titles besides finishing second and third in two age groups in the Asian Youth chess championships.

The Indians capped a superb display in the continental championship which they dominated from the outset, by clinching their richest ever haul of five gold, one silver and a bronze after entering the final day assured of three titles.

After Pendyala Harikrishna had retained the boys' under-14 title and child prodigies Abhinav Mekala (boys' under- 10) and V.K. Sindhu (girls' under-10) had sealed their wins yesterday, India bagged two of the three golds on offer on the final day.

Former world under-12 bronze medallist Tania Sachdev claimed the girls' under-14 gold along with Abhijeet Gupta in the boys' under-12 section, which saw a 1-2 sweep with G. Rohit taking silver.

Tania Sachdev beat a Samaganova (4) of Kyrgystan with white pieces in a King's Indian defence game in the ninth and final round to tie with D. Tuitedaeva of Kazakhstan with seven points. Tania was declared winner on better tie-break score.

Abhijeet Gupta defeated B. Abdi (4.5) of Iran in the Queen's Gambit declined variation with white pieces to claim the top spot with 7.5 points. G. Rohit completed the 1-2 for India by beating China's G. Guangyao (6) To finish with 6.5 points.

Soumya Swaminathan (6.5) took bronze in the girls' under-12 section where Iran's A. Pourkashin prevented an Indian sweep by winning gold with seven points.

Soumya (6.5) defeated M. Teimoori (2) of Iran in a Ruy Lopez opening with white pieces to win the bronze in the only section not captured by the Indians.

Local star Pourkashian claimed the gold in the section with a comfortable victory against India's K. Nadiq (5).

Having already established their ascendancy, Harikrishna, who retained his title after gaining an unassailable lead in the penultimate round yesterday, Abhinav Mekala and Sindhu settled for draws in the final round today to confirm their titles.

Harikrishna, India's youngest International Master at 13 years, drew with S.Y. Sajed (5.5) of Iran in the English opening game. The Andhra Pradesh lad finished with a creditable 7.5 points from nine rounds.

In the boys' under-10, Mekala drew with a Tatishev of Kazakshtan with black pieces while Sindhu signed the peace treaty with D. Saeedpur (4.5) of Iran with black pieces in French defence to end her campaign.

The results (ninth and final round, Indians unless mentioned otherwise):

Boys:

Under-14: P. Harikrishna (7.5) drew with S. Sajedi (5.5, Iran); A. Akbarinia (6.5, Iran) bt H. Tahmasebi (5.5, Iran); A. Hamadi (6, Iran) bt S. Dutta (5.5).

Under-12: Abhijeet Gupta (7.5) bt B. Aboi (4.5, Iran); G. Rohit (6.5) bt G. Guangyao (6, China); A. Esnov (6, Tkm) bt R. Dzhumabaev (6, Kaz).

Under-10: Abhinav Mekala (8) drew with A. Tatishev (4, Kaz); U. Azamatkozubai (6.5, Iran) drew with C.H. Shijie (5.5, Chn); D. Duskajanav (5.5, Kaz) bt Firakhimov (4.5, Iran).

Girls:

Under-14: Tania Sachdev (7) bt A. Samaganova (4, Kgz); D. Tuitebaeva (7) bt E. Kazemzadeh (4, Iran).

Under-12: A. Pourkashian (7, Iran) bt K. Nadig (5); Q. Nguyen (6.5, Vietnam) drew with A. Zulaikha (4.5, Iran); Soumya Swaminathan (6.5) bt M. Teimoori (2, Iran).

Under-10: V.K. Sindhu (8) bt M. Saeedpur (4.5, Iran); B. Jing (7, China) drew with D. Danilyuk (4.5, Kaz); F. Seidi (5.5, Iran) lost to A. Badeleh (3, Iran).

lFinal standings:

Boys:

Under-14: 1. P. Harikrishna (7.5, India), 2. A. Akbarinia (6.5, Iran), 3. Al Hemadi (6, UAE).

Under-12: A. Gupta (7.5, India), 2. G. Rohit (6.5, India), 3. A. Esenov (6, Turkmenistan).

Under-10: 1. M. Abhinav (8, India), 2. U. Azamatkozubai (6.5, Kgz), 3. D. Dushujanav (6.5, Kaz).

Girls:

Under-14: 1. Tania Sachdev (7, India), 2. D. Tuitebaeva (7, Kaz), 3. M.H. Luung (6.5, Vietnam).

Under-12: 1. A. Pourkashian (7, Iran), 2. Q.A. Nguyen (6.5, Vietnam), 3. S. Swaminathan (6.5, India).

Under-10: 1. V.K. Sindhu (8, India), 2. B. Jing (7, China), 3. F. Seidi (5.5, Iran).

- PTI

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