NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Hodgson, Ward share lead in British Chess

Grandmasters Julian Hodgson and Chris Ward moved into the lead with 4.5 points at the end of the fifth round of the British Chess Championship in Scarborough here.

Top seed Hodgson showed his class with a smooth victory over International Master D. Gormally (4) of England, while Ward, who is seeded No 15, prevailed over GM Pravin Thipsay (3.5).

Thipsay opened with his favourite king's Indian defence, but Ward played an attacking game to obtain a winning attack on Thipsay's king. In mutual time pressure, the British Grandmaster missed a quick win but recovered quickly to score in the end-game.

Second seed GM Alexander Baburin (4) scored a beautiful victory over IM V Saravanan (3). Baburin adopted Alekhine's defence with a tricky move order which left the Indian Master with a bad bishop, hampered by his own pawns. The rest was just a matter of technique for the Russian-turned Irish Grandmaster who executed it beautifully.

National junior champion S Kidambi (3) and GM-norm holder K Shashikiran (3) scored easy victories over Jack Rudd (2) and John Naylor (2) (both from England) respectively.

IWM Anupama Gokhale (2.5) caused a mild flutter by scoring an upset win over Nigerian International Master Odion Aikhoje (1.5) from black side of Ruy Lopez.

It was a bleak day for the other Indian women as IWM Bhagyashree Thipsay (2.5) and IWM Koneru Humpy (2) lost to their British counterparts IWM Houska (3) and WGM Harriet Hunt (3) opted for a quick draw with FM Christopher Duncan (3) of England.

Important fifth round results:
GM J Hodgson (4.5) Eng beat IM D Gormally (4) Eng
GM P Wells (4) Eng drew GM B Lalic (4) Eng
GM C Wards (4.5) Eng beat GM P Thipsay (3.5) Ind
IM V Saravanan (3) Ind lost to GM A Baburin (3) Irl
FM C Duncan (3) Eng drew IM A Kunte (3) Ind
IWM J Houska (3) Eng beat IWM B Thispay (2.5) Ind
IM Shashikiran (3) Ind beat J Naylor (2)
IWM K Humpy (2) Ind lost to WGM H Hunt (3) Eng
S Kidambi (3) Ind beat J Rudd (2)
IM O Aikhoje (1.5) Nig lost to IWM A Gokhale (2.5) Ind

UNI