Ramesh eyes elusive GM norm

India's International Master R B Ramesh is on the verge of capturing the coveted Grandmaster's norm, with four points from five rounds already in his pocket in the eighth edition of the Lost Boys' International Open Chess tournament in Amsterdam.

On the first rest day on Thursday, Ramesh leads the pack of five Indians and his showing has placed him within reach of the GM norm which he narrowly missed at the Andorra Open tournament in Spain recently.

The tournament is interestingly poised with GMs G M Milov and and Paul Van der Sterren leading the event with 4.5 points followed by eight players on four points each.

Ramesh needs 2.5 points from the remining rounds, or two points if the current trend of opponents follow. Ramesh meets GM Tregubov (2611) in the sixth round.

He is followed by IM V Saravanan, Sunderarajan Kidambi and T.S. Ravi on three points each. IM P Konguvel has 2.5 points.

Kidambi will be taking on GM Epishin, T.S. Ravi plays against GM Hillarp Persson, who is meeting the third Indian in the competition.

Those who get a GM norm here will be given an additional 500 Euros (about Rs 20,000) as a special prize apart from the other prizes.