Date:01/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120163072500.htm

Sport - Chess

Sasikiran draws with Macieja

NEW DELHI: Grandmaster K. Sasikiran, India’s lone survivor in the World Cup chess championship, drew with Poland’s Bartlomeij Macieja in the first game of their third-round encounter at Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, on Friday.

When the players meet again on Saturday, Sasikiran will play with white pieces.

In a major surprise, second-seeded Shakhriyar Mamedyarov lost to Bulgaria’s Ivan Cheparinov, better known for being the training partner of former world champion Veselin Topalov.

In two other decisive games, Gata Kamsky of the U.S. overpowered Bulgaria’s Kiril Georgiev and China’s Wang Yue stunned fancied compatriot Bu Xiangzhi.