Kunte begins in style

SANGLI, FEB. 22. Newly crowned Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte launched himself in the elite category with a short work of Sri Lankan V. Roshi de Silva even as other Indians succumbed to the better- rated East European rivals in the inaugural round of the Sangli international open chess tournament on Monday.

International Master Reefat Bin Sattar of Bangladesh outclassed GM Toni Nazdoski after taking advantage of the weak opening of Nazdoski.

The Indian contingent spearheaded by Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua had a tough day with many squandering level positions against illustrious opponents.

Abhijit Kunte, however, had given a fantastic start by beating de Silva in a Sicilian Paulsen game with white pieces. Kunte launched an attack right from the word go and won his opponent's queen for two pieces. The rest was easy for Kunte.

IM V. Saravanan drew his game against GM Joseph Gallagher (Switzerland) from a Sicilian Najdorf defence game with white pieces. Saravanan equalised easily out of the opening and proposed a draw on the 16Th move that was promptly accepted.

IM norm holder Sriram Jha could not put his extra pawn to the desired use and had to settle for a draw against GM Saidali Yuldachev of Uzbekistan after 45 moves of an old Indian defence game with white pieces.

- PTI

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