Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122361231600.htm

Sport - Chess

Karthikeyan overcomes Rajesh, takes second spot

Arvind Aaron

THE CHAMPION: R.R. Laxman receives the trophy from N. Tamilselvan, IG of Police (Operations) in the presence of Dr. Babu Manoharan, Director, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering.

Chennai: Former Asian junior champion P. Karthikeyan overcame V.A.V. Rajesh and finished runner-up in the St. Joseph’s National under-25 chess championship that concluded here on Monday.

Karthikeyan, a student of host St. Joseph’s College of Engineering took the second place with seven points. R.R. Laxman, who won the championship with a round to spare, drew with Arjun Tiwari to finish on eight points from nine games.

Ram finishes third

Ram S. Krishnan of BSNL (Chennai) held International Master Deep Sengupta of Kolkata to a draw with the black pieces to take the third place on tie-break having scored 6.5 points. Ram’s draw offer was rejected by Deep.

Later, after battling a complicated position, the players arrived in a rook and single pawn ending where Deep offered and got a draw. Ram remained undefeated along with Laxman.

Cash prizes totalling Rs. 60,000 and the trophy were given away by N. Tamilselvan, Inspector General of Police, Operations in the presence of Dr. Babu Manoharan, Director, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering.

Important results: Round nine: Arjun Tiwari drew with R.R. Laxman; Deep Sengupta drew with Ram S. Krishnan; V.A.V. Rajesh lost to P. Karthikeyan; Praveen Kumar drew with Prathamesh Mokal; Nimmy George lost to R. Siddharth; Navin Kanna bt P. Sivasankari.

Final placings (tie-break order): 1. R.R. Laxman 8/9; 2. P. Karthikeyan 7; 3-7. Ram S Krishnan, Deep Sengupta (Jha), Navin Kanna, Arjun Tiwari (Mah), R. Siddharth (6.5 each); 8-15. V.A.V. Rajesh, Pradeep Kumar, Prathamesh Mokal (Mah), J.S. Daklia (Chat), Praveen Kumar, V. Haribalu, S. Nitin, Stanley Samson (6 each).