Peptan surprises Isoliani

By P.K. Ajith Kumar

NEW DELHI, DEC. 3. Corina Peptan is proving to be quite a handful for the once mighty Georgian women. Two days after shocking the second seed and five-time World champion Maia Chiburdanidze, the 22-year-old Romanian surprised the 10th seed and former World championship challenger Nana Isoliani in the first game of the third round in the women's World chess championship at Hyatt Regency on Sunday.

Corina now requires just a draw on Monday to move into the last eight. Fifth seed Qin Kanying of China, who defeated Ketino Kachiani-Gersinka of Germany, and Peng Zhaoqin of the Netherands, who beat Julia Demina of Russia, are also comfortably placed, relatively speaking.

The World champion and top seed Xie Jun of China was held to a draw by Elena Zayac of Russia.

The Romanian, with white pieces, had it rather easy today, winning in 37 moves of Sicilian Richter-Rauzer. She took a pawn on the 15th move, and following a queen and minor piece exchange, she crucially brought her rook to d6, and the `d file had been opened. She took the `f7 pawn with the rook on the 20th and a move later captured the g7 pawn too.

The Georgian hung on for a while. In the rook and minor piece ending, which followed, she resigned on the 37th move, with little to play for.

Qin, playing on the white side of Caro-Kann Defence exchange variation, managed the time better to emerge the winner. Kachiani-Gersinka, on the other hand, played the rook and minor piece ending incorrectly to spoil whatever chances she had.

Whites rook mopped up the Germans both king-side pawns. She guided her own king-side pawns well advanced, and Black resigned on the 70th move.

Peng, who killed the Indian hopes in the championship by beating Bhagyashree Thipsay in the first round, adopted Slav Defence against the Russian and went an exchange up on the 22nd move. Demina resigned after 44 moves.

The defending champion, who adopted her pet Kings Indian Defence, and Zayac played quietly to reach an equal position.

There took place only a solitary exchange queen-side pawn and they drew by repetition of moves after 22 moves.

Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine and XuYuhua of China, who adopted Nimzo-Indian Defence, also drew by repetition after 35 moves.

Ekaterina Kovevskaya of Russia and Tatjaja Vasilevich of Ukraine drew after 70 moves of Sicilian Defence in a rook and pawn ending.

The results (Round three, Game one): Elena Zayac (Rus) drew with Xie Jun (Chn); Natalia Zhukova (Ukr) drew with Xu Yuhua (Chn); Ekaterina Kovaleskaya (Rus) drew with Tatjana Vasilevich (Ukr); Julia Demina (Rus) lost to Peng Zhaoqin (Ned); Corina Peptan (Rom) bt Nana Isoliani (Geo); Qin Kanying (Chn) bt Ketino Kachiani-Gersinka (Ger) 0.

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