Sasikiran bounces back to share lead

Indian Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran downed Woman Grandmaster S Vijayalakshmi to bounce back and share the lead along with Marat Dzhaumaev of Uzbekistan at the end of the seventh round in the AICF's Golden Jubilee International Open chess tournament in Kozhikode on Friday.

Overnight leader Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte was forced to resign on the 29th move against Marat Dzhaumaev. Kunte was facing four knight's variation. Dzhaumaev opted to attack by doubling his rook in the 'f' file, thus forcing Kunte to resign.

Sasikiran and Marat lead the table with 5.5 points, followed by Kunte, Tahir Vakshidov, Ghem Maghami Ehsan and P Harikrishnan with five points each in second spot.

On the second board, WGM S Vijayalakshmi adopted Nimzo Indian defence against GM Sasikiran and lost a pawn due to inferior planning. It was a mere technique for GM Sasikiran to force the issue in his favour.

WGM Koneru Humpy started with nf3 against International Master Sriram Jha of Indian Airlines. The pawn structure came to queen pawn opening set up. Before the development of kingside black castled on the queen side which enabled Humpy to attack on the opponent's king.

Due to loss of the vital pawn at a7 and subsequent poor defensive technique black lost the game. Humpy is in the third slot with 10 other players.

Earlier reports:
Kunte takes match and lead
Sasikiran wins, keeps lead
Sasikiran emerges sole leader