Date:01/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/01/stories/2008080162401900.htm

Sport - Chess

Humpy draws with Yuhua

NEW DELHI: Top seed K. Humpy took a quick 20-move draw from the reigning World champion Xu Yuhua as all four boards proved indecisive in the fourth round of the North Urals Cup women’s chess tournament at Krasnoturinsk, Russia, on Thursday.

All draws meant the positions remained unchanged in the eight-player field with Humpy at 1.5 points with two others.

Former World champion Antoaneta Stefanova stayed ahead with three points. Three more rounds remain.

Chanda stuns Ikonnikov

In the Dutch Open at Dieren, Holland, second seed Sandipan Chanda surprised the top-seeded Russian Grandmaster Vyacheslav Ikonnikov in the eighth round to share the second spot.

In the Biel Masters, at Biel, Switzerland, youngster N. Srinath drew with Serbian International Master Petar Benkovic to reach six points from nine rounds. Grandmaster R. B. Ramesh, however, lost to remain at 5.5 points.

The results: North Urals Cup (fourth round): Xu Yuhua (Chn, 2.5) drew with K. Humpy (1.5); Anna Muzychuk (Slo, 1.5) drew with Antoaneta Stefanova (Bul, 3); Marie Sebag (Fra, 2.5) drew with Anna Ushenina (Ukr, 2.5); Pia Cramling (Swe, 1) drew with Natalia Pogonina (Rus, 1.5).

Dutch Open (eighth round): Sandipan Chanda (6) bt Vyacheslav Ikonnikov (Rus, 6); Sriram Jha (4) lost to Marijn Otte (Ned, 5).

Biel Masters (ninth round): Boris Grachev (Rus, 6.5) bt R. B. Ramesh (5.5); Petar Benkovic (Srb, 6) drew with N. Srinath (6).