Ramesh keeps lead, Kunte scores

International Master R B Ramesh maintained his joint lead in the Biel Chess Masters after a quick 20-move draw against GM Mihail Kobalija of Russia in the seventh round on Tuesday.

GM Abhijit Kunte scored a resounding victory over Russian IM Alexander Cherniaev to remain in the fight for top honours with five points behind Ramesh, who alongwith five others including Kobalija, IM Arizmendi of Spain, GM Solak Dragon of Yugoslavia, GM Boris Avrukh and GM Victor Mikhalevski of Israel, has 5.5 points.

Equally impressive was GM aspirant D V Prasad, who defeated GM Mark Tseitlin and moved to 5 points.

Playing black against Kobalija, Ramesh went for the Semi Slav defence and Kobalija opted for an early attack against the King that was popularised by Spanish GM Alexei Shirov in the last decade.

Ramesh, however, was well armed and did not face any problem even as Kobalija continued with his plan and castled on the queenside. It was a dynamic balance from thereon and following Ramesh's offensive against the king, Kobalija thought it better to play in the centre.

The draw was agreed to in just 20 moves with both the players avoiding too many risks.

For Ramesh, it was another welcome result with the black pieces against a GM as he inched closer to his maiden GM norm.

The hero of the day from the Indian perspective was undoubtedly Abhijit Kunte, who scored a scintillating victory with a brilliant attack in the advance variation of the French defence.

Very early in the game Alexander sacrificed a piece in the centre and got four pawns in return. His King's position however remained vulnerable for the major part of the game and Kunte capitalised on this to launch the attack.

The wave came from all sides. First the advance of the pawns in the centre was dealt with, then a containment of opposition forces on both flanks and finally the decisive blow on the Queenside.

Alexander was totally taken aback by Kunte and eventually lost his queen before resigning in 28 moves.

Hunting for his final GM norm, Prasad earned it the hard way against Tseitlin.

Playing black, Prasad was pushed to the wall in the early part of the game that arose from a Sicilian Paulsen defence.

Tseitlin went for an all out attack and appeared to have made a foray in the centre with his well-placed pieces and an excellent piece sacrifice that could not be accepted.

Prasad, however, did not lose any control and patiently waited for his chance in the complexities of the middlegame. It was in the first time control itself that Tseitlin faltered and Prasad was up, and away from the reach of the pieces of his famous opponent.

The early attack had left a few weak squares and Prasad's Queen combined with the Rook made decisive headway to force a victory on the 50th move.

IM P Konguvel lived up to expectations and drew against GM Tomasz Markowski of Poland in a Berlin defence game with white pieces. The fashionable variation yielded the Pole a slightly inferior position that he defended nonchalantly to steer the game to a draw in 40 moves. Konguvel is on 4.5 points.

Double Woman GM norm holder Aarthie Ramaswamy defeated Anton Thaler in a Sicilian Sveshnikov defence game with white pieces. Playing for her final WGM norm Aarthie had to fight for 61 moves before getting the full point.