GM Diptyan Ghosh outwits Rautela Saksham
Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh of India put to good advantage his vast experience to score a win over Rautela Saksham also from India in a third round match of theRs 29 lakh prize money 10th Mumbai Mayor's Cup International Open Chess Tournament 2017, sponsored by LIC of India, cosponsored by Ankit Gems and played at the Mount Litera School International, Bandra on Tuesday.
On the top board, Diptyan (ELO 2569) ranked second in the competition and playing with the black pieces started with Spanish opening against Rautela (ELO 1969). Saksham played a past pawn on 22nd move, which Diptayan used to take the upper hand by winning a pawn on the 23rd move. He continued to hold sway and won another pawn on the 47th move before going for the kill as he clinched the win after 50 moves.
Indian’s Women Candidate Master Mrudul Dehankar from Maharashtra put up a strong challenge against GM Abdullah Al Rakib of Bangladesh and forced him to play out a draw on the second board. Abdullah Al Rakib (2484) started with the white and opted for London system against Mrudul (1942). He played very passively and failed to capitalize on an some clear chances to gain the advantage. Mrudul took full advantage of those lapses by the Bangladeshi and after continuous exchange of pieces both shook hands after the 40th move.
Meanwhile in one of the most interesting matches, India’s young Sai Krishna (1946) rose to the challenge against 11th ranked GM Levon Babujian (2438) of Armenia and went on to take a point of his more senior opponent on the third board. Babujian opted for Gruenfeld defence on the 24th move but he made a bad move of rook and lost a knight from there on Sai Krishna dominated for most part of the game and was in a better position until the 59th move. But the experienced Babujian brought his king to an excellent position and an error of judgement from Sai Krishna’s part saw him playing the rook move and on the last move Babujian sacrificed his rook and the match resulted in stalemate on the 65th move.
Results Round 3: Saksham Rautela (ELO 1969, IND) 2 lost to GM Diptayan Ghosh (2569, IND) 2; GM Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib (2484, BAN) 2 drew with WCM Mrudul Dehankar (1942, IND) 2; GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (2480, IND) 2 beat WFM Jishitha D (1933, IND) 2; Sai Krishna S. (1946, IND) 2 drew with GM Levon Babujian (2438, ARM) 2; GM Neelotpal Das (2438, IND) 2 beat Neha Singh (1922, IND) 2; IM Muhammad Khusenkhojaev (2424, TJK) 2 beat Aryan Polakhare (1881, IND) 2; Vijay Anand M. (1943, IND) 2 lost to GM Murshed Niaz (2423, BAN) 2; Tarun Kanyamarala (1895) 2 lost to IM Raghunandan Kaumandur Srihari (2410, IND) 2; Adarsh Tripathi (1866, IND) 2 lost to IM Sayantan Das (2401, IND) 2; IM Iniyan P (2392, IND) 2 beat Aakash Sharadchandra Dalvi (1855, IND)