Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090856751700.htm

Sport - Chess

Humpy posts win

NEW DELHI: Firm favourite K. Humpy shut out China’s Shen Yang in just 31 moves in the first game of their quarterfinal clash in the women’s World chess championship at Nalchik, Russia, on Sunday.

On Monday, Humpy will need only a draw with black pieces to move into the semifinals.

Anand draws

At Bilbao, Spain, the fifth round of the Grand Slam Final witnessed draws on the all three boards.

Viswanthan Anand and second-placed Magnus Carlsen drew their Ruy Lopez game in 36 moves, Teimour Radjabov held third placed Levon Aronian in 45 moves of Scotch Game while leader Veselin Topalov played out a 44-move deadlock with Vassily Ivanchuk.

Assured of IM norm

Meanwhile, Chennai-lad N. Srinath has ensured his third International Master norm in the 10th International chess festival at Trieste, Italy, after beating Hungarian IM Tamas Banusz in the eighth round on Saturday.

Srinath made sure of the norm with a round to spare with a rating performance of a whopping 2587 against his current rating of 2220.

Srinath stands to gain 96 rating points after his superb showings in the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

In the eight rounds so far, Srinath has gained 59 more points.

The results: Grand Slam Final (fifth round): Viswanathan Anand (4) drew with Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 8); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 4) drew with Veselin Topalov (Bul, 9); Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 4) drew with Levon Aronian (Arm, 6).