Akash, Shaikh complete GM norms, Naiditsch in lead
NEW DELHI: Top seed GM Arkadij Naiditsch drew in the ninth round with Indian Akash Iyer to take a step closer to the Delhi International Open Chess title here. IM Md Nubairshah Shaikh, rated 2380, managed to beat IM P Karthikeyan (2497) to complete his GM norm as well.
Naiditsch offered a draw after 13 moves with the black pieces in a Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation. This ensured a GM norm for the young Tamil Nadu boy who has already completed the IM norm requirements. Naiditsch thus took a step towards sealing the Delhi GM Open title. With 8.0/9, the Azeri GM just needs a draw in the 10th and final round against Italian GM David Alberto to seal the win.
Shaikh was white against IM Karthikeyan and the game was a Nimzo Indian Defence. On the 19th move, Nubair sacrificed an exchange for great control over the centre and good pressure on black’s pieces overall. Black lost his concentration, blundering on the 26th move, allowing Nubair a deflection tactic and his first GM norm in due course.
ANAND DRAWS
WIJK AAN ZEE: Multiple world champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw with Sergey Karjakin of Russia while B Adhiban lost to top seed Magnus Carlsen in the second round of 80th Tata Steel Masters Chess tournament here.
On what turned out to be an easy day, Anand had to stretch himself as Karjakin did not attempt any complicated warfare. The result was exchange of pieces at regular intervals and the players signed peace.
With 1.5 points, Anand shares the second spot behind Anish Giri of Holland who came up with a sterling show to beat Vladimir Kramnik. Norway’s Carlsen, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and Anand are now sharing the second spot.