Mumbai Int’l: Balasubramaniam stuns Lugovskoy Maxim

The 15-year-old Indian defeats the 23-year-old Russian Grandmaster in the third round.

Representative Image: Balasubramaniam, the Chennai-based participant, put his opponent under pressure and ensured his victory in the 17th move.

India’s Balasubramaniam consigned Lugovskoy Maxim, a Russian Grandmaster (GM), to a defeat in the third round of the Mumbai International GM Chess Tournament 2018.

Balasubramaniam, a 15-year-old participant based in Chennai, started with white pieces, and played aggressively. He launched a good attack after his 23-year-old opponent opened with a French defence.

Having put Maxim under pressure, Balasubramaniam capitalised on an error from him to grab his Queen on the 17th move. Maxim resigned on the 19th move.

Sandipan, Visakh extend winning streak

Chanda Sandipan, India’s 35-year-old GM, and Visakh N. R., a 20-year-old IM, are the only two players to extend their winning streak. They now have three successive wins, and enjoy the lead at the top with three points each.

Read | D. Gukesh misses the final GM-norm by a whisker

Sandipan comfortably defeated compatriot Sammed Jaykumar Shete, while Visakh, with black pieces, maintained a cool composure to outwit his Egyptian opponent — IM Ameir Moheb — in 72 moves.

GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (2590) of Belarus, the top-ranked competitor, played out a draw with Muthaiah Al (2408), the Indian IM, and now has 2.5 points to be placed third.

Russian GM Rozum Ivan, the second-ranked competitor, returned to winning ways after sharing a point with Uzbekistan WGM Kurbonboeva Sarvinoz in the second round. He overcame India’s Saksham Rautelaand.

• IM Muthaiah Al (IND, 2408) 2.5 drew with GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR, 2590) 2.5.
• GM Chanda Sandipan (IND, 2555) 3 beat Sammed Jaykumar Shete (IND, 2378) 2.
• FM Mohammad Fahad Rahman (BAN, 2381) 2.5 drew with GM Tran Tuan Minh (VIE, 2524) 2.5.
• IM Ameir Moheb (EGY, 2327) 2 lost to IM Visakh N R (IND, 2491) 3.
• IM Khusenkhojaev Muhammad (TJK, 2455) 2.5 drew with IM Tran Minh Thang (VIE, 2342) 2.5.
• IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh (IND, 2437) 2.5 drew with IM Kathmale Sameer (IND, 2312) 2.5.
• GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J (IND, 2550) 2.5 beat FM Wagh Suyog (IND, 2240) 2.
• GM Mosadeghpour Masoud (IRI, 2520) 2 drew with FM Anuj Shrivatri (IND, 2357) 2.
• GM Saptarshi Roy (IND, 2494) 2.5 beat IM Siva Mahadevan (IND, 2333) 1.5.
• IM Kulkarni Vikramaditya (IND, 2345) 1.5 lost to GM Rahman Ziaur (BAN, 2468) 2.5.
• Balasubramaniam H (IND, 2270) 2.5 beat GM Lugovskoy Maxim (RUS, 2445) 1.5.
• GM Rozum Ivan (RUS, 2589) 2 beat Saksham Rautela (IND, 2123) 1.5.
• Banerjee Sushant (IND, 2198) 1 lost to GM Movsziszian Karen (ARM, 2505) 2.