Indians lead in World jr chess

Indian national junior champion Magesh Chandran and Asian junior girls' champions -- Koneru Humpy, Meenakshi Subraman -- shared the lead with 13 boys and 11 girls respectively in the World junior chess championship in Athens.

In the boys' section Magesh Chandran started with his e4 against Korobov Anton of The Ukraine. Korobov replied in Sicilian Najdorf and transposed into Schevengian varian. Korobov decided to sacrifice a rook for one bishop and pawn to come out of the grip of Magesh but it was not much compensation.

Magesh exchanged the pieces slowly and got a rook vs bishop and two pawn to win the ending after 60 moves.

With the victory Magesh joins 11 other young Grandmasters at the top with 2 points each.

The other Indian boys who are in the fray are M R Venktesh and K Ratnakaran with one point and Indian International Master Tejas Bakre at 1/2 point.

In the girls' section, WGM-elect Koneru Humpy and Meenakshi Subraman shared the lead with two points each.

Meenakshi Subraman played against WGM Zhao Xue (2372) of China. Meenakshi adopted Petrrof defense and equalised in the opening and offered exchange of pieces in middle game and took the ending with double bishop rook and five pawns but the Indian got the very active piece position. Zhao blundered and lost a pawn and very bad position of king which allowed Meenakshi to win the game.

Fifth seed Indian WGM-elect Koneru Humpy was very confident in the queen Indian defense game against Crustuba Cakitescu of Romania.

Cristina failed to understand the clever moves of Humpy in middle game and won the game later on to join the top table with two points to her credit.

Other Indian girls in the battle are Asian junior girls' champion M Kasturi and World junior u-18 champion Aarthie Ramaswami, with one point each.

There are 90 players in the boys and 60 in the girls' section taking part in te 13-round championship.

UNI