Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123156041700.htm

Sport - Chess

Club India loses again, to Tagaytay this time

Chennai: Club India suffered its second defeat in a row when it went down fighting 1.5-2.5 to higher seed Tagaytay Chess Club of the Philippines in the fifth round of the first Asian Club Cup chess championship at Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

The Indian players had lower ratings than their counterparts and scoring 1.5 points from four is above expectancy score.

After Laxman drew with GM Wesley So on the top board, Deep Sengupta shocked GM John Paul Gomez on board two. Boards three and four decided the result as Karthikeyan and Prathamesh Mokal lost to the experienced GMs Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo

Al-Ain Chess Club (UAE), with major European players in its line-up, has moved into sole lead with five wins from five rounds.

Seventh-seeded Club India, has three wins and two defeats from five rounds to be in seventh place. Two rounds remain to be played. — Arvind Aaron