Sport - Chess

Southern Railway on top

Chennai: Wins in the middle boards by D.P. Singh and Mari Arul helped top seed Southern Railway wrest the sole lead from Indian Bank at the end of the fifth round and penultimate round in the Ramco Tamil Nadu State team chess championship at Nehru Stadium here on Sunday.

Railways won 3-1 to reach 14.5 points and take a half point lead over SRM University, which overcame Bloom Chess Academy 2.5-1.5.

On the top board, IM G.B. Prakash of Indian Bank obtained an advantage with white but he went for a wrong queen exchange and did not get the structural advantage he hoped for. Tamil Nadu champion Muralikrishnan held him to a draw.

On board two, IM D.P. Singh created space and made sure he won after Sudhakar Babu went went for a rook for minor piece sacrifice.

Indian Bank’s chances hit a bottom after Shantharam overlooked a move which later cost him a rook and a game to Mari Arul.

On the bottom board, Sankar of Railways enjoyed an opening advantage but Hariharan equalised and event held a slight advantage. But a draw left Railways on top.

The results (round five): Indian Bank (13) lost to Southern Railway (14.5) 1-3, SRM University (14) bt Bloom Chess Academy (12.5) 2.5-1.5, Dragon Chess Academy (11) lost to Jawahar Academy (13.5) 1-3, Chennai District (12.5) bt Kanchi District (10) 3-1, Tiruvallur-A (8.5) lost to Kanyakumari-A (12) 0.5-3.5.