Utut Adianto extends lead in Madras chess tourney
Utut Adianto extends lead in Madras chess tourney
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Utut Adianto displayed some
innovative variants to outwit home favorite RB Ramesh in the
Cakti Chess Invitational tournament in Madras, India on
Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Indonesian grandmaster defended strongly with
the black pieces in his favorite Caro-Kann game through which he
solidly set up a position which forced the Indian number six to
resign after 26 moves.
The victory kept Utut on top of the standings in the 12-person
round-robin tournament with 3 1/2 points, half a point ahead of
English veteran Anthony Miles, who beat Sulaeman Lovlu of
Bangladesh on the same night.
Trailing in the third is Bangladesh's grandmaster Niaz
Mursheed with 2 1/2 points after a fourth-round draw with
Varugeese Koshy of India.
An over-confident Ramesh opted for an open battle, offering a
number of tricky sacrifices that received no answer from his
composed opponent.
The Indian kept up his pressure, but blundered on his 19th
move when he removed his black-square bishop, instead of taking a
knight, only to let Utut take the initiative.
Utut showed his brilliance in the 23rd move when he declined
Ramesh's bishop sacrifice, taking a pawn instead.
Following several exchanges, Ramesh resigned when Utut placed
a rook to thwart the white queen that would have led to a
decisive exchange of two minor white pieces for a black rook.
With Utut taking a two-pawn advantage, Ramesh felt his hopes of
getting even a draw had gone.
The Indonesian is expected to score his fourth win as he plays
white against another Indian, Sharad Tilak, in the fifth game.
Utut needs five more wins in the remaining seven matches to
improve his current elo rating of 2,610.
Tilak wasted his advantageous white pieces, only to crash to
compatriot grandmaster Dibyendu Barua on Wednesday. It was
Barua's first win after four matches. (her/amd)
Results:
Ramesh (Ind) 0 Utut (Ina) 1
Tilak (Ind) 0 Barua (Ind) 1
Miles (Gbr) 1 Lovlu (Bld) 0
Sudhakar (Ind) 1/2 Thipsay (Ind) 1/2
Koshy (Ind) 1/2 Mursheed (Bld) 1/2
Konguvel (Ind) 1/2 Prasad (Ind) 1/2
Leading standings:
1. Utut 3 1/2
2. Miles 3
3. Mursheed 2 1/2