Chess: India upset leaders Spain

Chennai, Aug 16 – India ‘A’ scored a stunning 2.5 – 1.5 win over Spain to move into second spot with 9 match points after the sixth round of the TATA 14th IBCA Chess Olympiad for the Blind here Thursday.

Despite the loss, Spain shared the lead along with Russia at 10 match points. Sharing the third spot were India ‘A’, Russia and Ukraine at 9 match points. Further behind were Germany, United Kingdom and Serbia at 8 match points.

Fortune favoured the hosts as Kishan Gangolli got the first point when Palacios Perez Manuel’s mobile phone went off in the second board. The Laws of Chess specify: “If any mobile phone or other electronic means of communication in the playing venue produces a sound, the player shall lose the game.”

Overcoming their early deficit, Spain equalized scoring in the top board through Desanjose Candalija Eduardo, while Darpan Inani drew on the third board, leaving the match poised at 1.5 -1.5 each.

All hinged on the fourth board where the fortunes fluctuated and finally Makwana Ashvin capitalized on his extra pawn to clinch the issue in favour of India ‘A’.

Top seed Russia came back strongly to notch a 3-1 win over Germany. Russians drew both the blacks, scoring over Germans with white pieces. The match win over Germany took Russia to the top of the table with 10 match points along with Spain.

Fourth seed Ukraine swept United Kingdom 3.5 – 0.5 with International Master Colin Crouch offering the lone resistance in the top board.Serbia improved their chances scoring over Poland in the fourth table. The crucial win took Serbia to 8 match points.

Results (Round 6): Spain (10) lost to India ‘A’ (9), Germany (8) lost to Russia (10), Ukraine (9) bt United Kingdom (8), Poland (6) lost to Serbia (8), Columbia (6) lost to Sweden (7), Iran (5) lost to Venezuela (7), Slovenia (7) bt Italy (4), Bulgaria (4) playing Romania (4), Croatia (6) bt Slovakia (4), Kazakhastan (6) bt Turkey (3), France (3) lost to India ‘B’ (5),Denmark (4) bt The Netherlands (1).