Chennai: It was a day of mixed luck for India with its open team winning against Czech Republic while the women’s team were stunned by lower rated Hungary in the eighth round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad at Georgia.
In the open category India’s experienced player, K Sasikiran, playing with white pieces gave the much-needed win on the fourth board in 36 moves against Jiri Stocek. At the end of the round, there are seven teams with 13 points and India is one of them. The top two teams are USA and Poland. A victory in the remaining three rounds is needed for the Indian open team to figure in the medal list.
On the top board with black pieces former World Champion Viswanathan Anand drew against David Navara in 30 moves. Similarly, Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi on the second board drew against Victor Laznicka after 67 moves.
It was really a sad day for the fifth seeded Indian women’s team as their unbeaten record and also that of their two players – Koneru Humpy and Tania Sachdev- in the Olympiad came to an end at the hands of the Hungarian eves. The Hungarian women’s team handed out a sound defeat to the Indian women 3-1.
The shock of the day for Indian women’s team was the 50 move defeat of Humpy at the hands of much lower rated Thanh Trang Hoang. Facing two connected pawns and a rook, Humpy who was left with just rook decided to resign.
The second board saw India’s Harika Dronavalli splitting points with Anita Gara while the later’s sister Ticia Gara defeated Sachdev in 58 moves. On the fourth board India’s Eesha Karvade drew with Julianna Terbe.
