Delhi Int'l Open: Ghosh scores over Roy, closes in on Amonatov

Diptayan Ghosh’s easier-than-expected victory over Saptarshi Roy ensured that an Indian stayed in contention for the title following the ninth and penultimate round of the Delhi International Open chess tournament here on Sunday.

The 34-move triumph brought Ghosh within half a point of Amonatov’s tally of eight points.

Diptayan Ghosh’s easier-than-expected victory over Saptarshi Roy ensured that an Indian stayed in contention for the title following the ninth and penultimate round of the Delhi International Open chess tournament here on Sunday.

After Swayams Mishra held overnight leader and title-favourite Tajikistan’s Farrukh Amonatov in 19 moves, Roy obliged third seed Ghosh by missing a simple tactical stroke that cost him a rook for a bishop. A few moves later, Ghosh gave up when faced with an impending loss of a knight. This 34-move triumph brought Ghosh within half a point of Amonatov’s tally of eight points.

As things stand, Amonatov is trailing Ghosh and Uzbek veteran Marat Dzhumaev at 7.5 points. M. Karthikeyan, Mishra, N. R. Visakh and Ukrainian Adam Tukhaev are on seven points.

Meanwhile, according to Chief Arbiter Vasanth B. H., Niranjan Navalgund (6.5 points), rated 2207, met the requirements for a nine-game Grandmaster norm despite losing to Dzhumaev. Arpita Mukherjee (5.5), rated 2054, attained a Woman International Master norm.

The results (Indians unless stated):

Ninth round: Farrukh Amonatov (Tjk, 8) drew with Swayams Mishra (7); Diptayan Ghosh (7.5) bt Saptarshi Roy (6.5); N. R. Visakh (7) drew with M. Karthikeyan (7); Niranjan Navalgund (6.5) lost to Marat Dzhumaev (Ukr, 7.5); M. R. Lalith Babu (6.5) drew with Andrei Deviatkin (Rus, 6.5); Adam Tukhaev (Ukr, 7) bt S. L. Narayanan (6); Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy (Vie, 6.5) drew with Vitaly Sivuk (Ukr, 6.5); Aradhya Garg (6) lost to Karen Movsziszian (Arm, 6.5); Alberto David (Ita, 6) drew with Akash Thakur (6); S. Ravi Teja (6) drew with Adam Horvath (Hun, 6).

Eighth round: Vitaly Sivuk (Ukr, 6) lost to Farrukh Amonatov (Tjk, 7.5); M. Karthikeyan (6.5) drew with Diptayan Ghosh (6.5); Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb, 6.5) bt Alberto David (Ita, 5.5); S. L. Naryanan (6) drew with Nguyen Hynh Minh Huy (Vie, 6) Adam Horvath (Hun, 5.5) lost to Niranjan Navalgund (6.5); Saptarshi Roy (6.5) bt Attila Czebe (Hun, 5.5); Swayams Mishra (6.5) bt Niaz Murshed (Ban, 5.5); N. R. Visakh (6.5) bt Sahaj Grover (5.5); Rakesh Kumar Jena (5) lost to M. R. Lalith Babu (6); V. A. V. Rajesh (5) lost to Adam Tukhaev (Ukr, 6).