Press Trust of India
Gibraltar, Feb 5: Indian Grandmasters P Harikrishna and B Adhiban got desired results in the final round to tie for the third spot in the Gibraltar Chess festival that concluded here Friday.
Orissa’s Padmini Rout, who earned her first GM norm here and Debashis Das also ended on a happy note drawing their last round matches. Padmini held higher-ranked David Anton Gujjaro to a draw while Debashis forced a stalemate against countryman S Sethuraman. The Orissa girl also went home richer by Rs 5,00,000 for her splendid show in the event. She finished with 6.5 points (the best among Indian women, 28th) while Debashis finished with six points (53rd).
Up against Hikaru Nakamura in the final round, Harikrsihna had to undergo a long grind lasting almost six hours before the Indian could secure a draw. Nakamura won the tournament with ease taking his tally to 8.5 points out of a possible 10.
Adhiban had the harder task on hand but the Indian continued with his fine run to beat last year’s winner Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria in his final round tie.
World women’s champion Yifan Hou of China missed out on a winning opportunity to let David Howell of England off the hook. Howell finished sole second on eight points.
It was a nine-way tie in the end for the third spot featuring the Indian duo of Harikrishna and Adhiban besides, Yifan Hou, Russian duo of Nikita Vituigov and Maxim Matlakov, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Dennis Wagner of Germany, Wei Yi of China and Axel Bachmann of Paraguay.
Harikrishna was involved in a long theoretical duel against Nakamura out of a Queen’s Indian defense. In spite of having an extra pawn, Nakamura failed to take advantage as Harikrishna defended stoutly. Peace was signed after 68 moves.
