Viji bags individual silver
at Chess Olympiad

India's only woman Grandmaster S Vijayalakshmi added another first to her long list of achievements by bagging the individual silver medal in the 34th Chess Olympiad which concluded in Istanbul on Sunday night.

The Indian men ousted Cuba 2.5-1.5 to achieve a creditable eighth position in the 7-13 standings, with a tally of 33 points. The Russians played a friendly draw with Georgia to emerge clear winners in the men's section, with 38 points. China won the women's event with 32 points.

The Indian women had a fruitful day as they also managed to slip into the top 15 following a convincing 2.5-0.5 victory over Lithuania. This victory took India to 24 points.

Russia did not have to do much against Georgia and none of the games on any board lasted for more than 20 moves. The silver medal went to Germany, who accounted for England 2.5-1.5 margin. Ukraine pipped Hungary at the post in the race for the bronze medal.

The untiring Vijayalakshmi played her 14th successive game on Sunday and there wasn't even an element of fatigue in her attitude. She drew her game against V Cmilyte. The game took shape in the Samisch variation of the King's Indian defense where the former was white. Vijayalakshmi did not have much difficulty in equalising in the middlegame but in a chancy endgame that lasted 101 moves the truce was finally signed.

S Minakshi showed immense determination to beat R Varniene. Playing against the Slav defense, Minakshi outmanoeuvred her opponent from a seemingly drawn Queen and pawn endgame. This game too exceeded the 100-move barrier and lasted 108 moves.

On the third board, Saheli Barua defeated L Domarkaite to help her team finish on a positive note.

GM K Sasikiran played another fine game and outclassed former world junior champion Walter Arencibia from the black side of a double Fianchetto game. Handling the black pieces Sasikiran entered complications at the first instance and calculated much better in the ensuing complications to register a smooth victory after 53 moves.

On the second board GM Abhijit Kunte went for blood in the King's Indian attack and defeated L Bruzon. After the opening Bruzon got a theoretically balanced position but appeared all at sea soon after.

In the middlegame Kunte struck on the king side with a knight sacrifice and it was all over.

IM Harikrishna remained unconquered in the Olympiad with another draw against higher opposition today. Playing his favourite French with black pieces, Harikrishna got a level position but mistimed his counter attack to get into a near mess. An exchange sacrifice by him kept Harikrishna in the game there after and some excellent resourceful play saved the day.

GM Dibyendu Barua could not find his magic touch and surprisingly lost against the Petroff defense, of which he is considered an exponent, of R Perez. Perez punished a few lacklustre moves by Barua after getting an equal middlegame and won a pawn. The resulting queen and pawns endgame did not have much scope for Barua.

Important Results of last round:

Men: Russia drew Georgia 2-2; Germany bt England 2.5-1.5; Hungary drew Slovenia 2-2; B & H lost to Ukraine 1-3; Israel bt Yugoslavia 3-1; Greece lost to China 1.5-2.5; Armenia lost to Macedonia 1.5-2.5; Cuba lost to India 1.5-2.5; Bulgaria bt Denmark 2.5-1.5 and Switzerland bt Netherlands 3-1.

Women: Hungary drew China 1.5-1.5; Cuba lost to Georgia 0-3; Russia drew Germany 1.5-1.5; Netherlands drew Romania 1.5-1.5; Ukraine bt Spain 3-0; Bulgaria lost to Yugoslavia 1-2; Australia lost to Armenia 0.5-2.5; Kazakhstan lost to USA 1-2 and Lithuania lost to India 0.5-2.5

Final Standings:

Men: 1.Russia-38; 2. Germany 37; 3-4. Ukraine, Hungary 35.5; 5. Israel 34.5; 6. Georgia 34; 7-13. England, India, China, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Slovenia, Macedonia.

Women: 1.China 32; 2. Georgia 31; 3. Russia 28.5; 4. Ukraine 27; 5. Yugoslavia 26; 6. Netherlands 25.5; 7-9. Hungary, Germany, England 25; 10-11. Armenia, Romania 24.5; 12-14. Moldova, India and Poland 24.