Date:30/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/30/stories/2006093010332100.htm

Sport - Chess

Negi meets Lahno in unique clash

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In the first clash of its kind to be held in the country, World's youngest GM Parimarjan Negi will take on the World's youngest WGM Kateryna Lahno in an 18-game challenge here from Dec. 17 to 25.

Parimarjan, 13, and Kateryna, who will turn 17 on Dec. 29, will play six games of classical chess and an equal number of rapid and blitz encounters spread over nine days.

The event, sponsored by Parimarjan's school Amity International, offers Rs. three lakh to the winner and Rs. two lakh to the loser. The sponsor hopes to make it an annual feature by roping in a young rival to test Parimarjan.

Kateryna, a member of Ukraine's women's team that won the Olympiad in Turin this year, holds the record of becoming the youngest-ever WGM at the age of 12 years, four months and two days.

She enjoyed a career-high rating of ELO 2509 in October 2005 after winning the European women's championship.

It may be recalled that in their only previous meeting in Satka, Russia in June this year, Parimarjan outwitted Lahno.

Meanwhile, he has been invited to play in the French city of Cap d'Agde in an elite rapid chess tournament alongside former World champion Anatoly Karpov among others.

The event will be held from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2. GMs P. Hari Krishna and K. Humpy are the other Indians in the fray.

The field has 16 players in groups of eight each. After the league, four players from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.