The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Sasikiran and Harikrishna finish joint second

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Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

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Sasikiran and Harikrishna finish joint second

DUBAI, APRIL 28. Grandmasters Krishnan Sasikiran and P. Harikrishna drew their ninth and final round games to finish joint second with 10 others in the Dubai International chess championship here.

World junior champion 19-year-old Grandmaster Shakhriyaz Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan clinched the Dubai Cup with seven points defeating overnight leader Grandmaster Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine in the last round on Tuesday.

Twelve players — GMs Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu of Romania, Viorel Iordachesvu of Moldova, Evgeny Vladimirov of Kazakhatan, Artashes Minasian of Armenia, Mohamad Al-Modiahki of Qatar, Ukrainian trio of Evgenij Miroshnichenko, Pavel Eljanov and Alexander Goloshchapov of Ukraine, International Masters Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan, Sasikiran and Harikrishna — shared the second spot with 6.5 points each.

Sasikiran appeared to have caught GM Alexander Goloshchapov of Ukraine off guard in a deeply analysed variation of the Semi Slav as white but a gritty display helped the Ukrainian snatch half a point from the jaws of defeat.

Like Sasikiran, Harikrishna also enjoyed an advantageous position against Alexei Fedorov of Belarus but the defensive endgame skills of the latter came to his rescue once the queens were exchanged.

Deciding there was not much left to play for, Harikrishna accepted the draw after 35 moves.

``I definitely had the advantage but time pressure was the key factor. Also he came back with a strong counter attack,'' said Harikrishna.

The Indian IM norm aspirants Manthan Chokshi and Parimarjan Negi failed to make their second norm after losing the last round games. While Chokshi found it hard to tackle Imad Hakki of Syria, Parimarjan found a tough customer in Megaranto Susanto of Indonesia.

In other games involving Indians, GM R.B. Ramesh was outplayed by Gashimov, while Armenian GM Ashot Anastasian defeated IM Rahul Shetty.

GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly put an end to his run of losses after settling for a draw with compatriot Abhijeet Gupta, IM S. Satyapragyan ended his tournament after drawing with WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy and IM D.V. Prasad drew with A.R. Saleh Jasiom of the U.A.E.

Important results (final round, Indians unless specified): Shakhriyaz Mamedyarov (7, Aze) bt Pavel Eljanov (6.5, Ukr); Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (6.5, Rom) drew with Evgenij Miroshnichenko (6.5, Ukr); Krishnan Sasikiran (6.5) drew with Alexander Goloshchapov (6.5, Ukr); Magnus Carlsen (6.5, Nor) drew with Biorel Iordachescu (6.5, Mda); Evgeny Vladimirov (6.5, Kaz) drew with Artashes Minasian (6.5, Arm); P. Harikrishna (6.5) drew with Alexei Fedorov (6, Blr); Merab Gagunashvili (6, Geo) drew with Jobava Baadur (6, Geo); Mohamad Al-Modiahki (6.5, Qat) bt Zurab Sturua (5.5, Geo); Mikhail Ulibin (5.5, Rus) lost to Rauf Mamedov (6.5, Aze); Goran Dizdar (6, Cro) drew with Izoria Zviad (6, Geo); Yuri Kruppa (6, Ukr) drew with Zahar Efimenko (6, Ukr); Alexey Kuzmin (5.5, Rus) drew with Al Sayed Mohamad (6, Qat); Vugar Gashimov (6, Aze) bt R.B. Ramesh (5). — PTI

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