Asiad chess: Indian men strengthen position at top

Grandmaster GN Gopal scored an upset victory over a higher rated opponent as India outsmarted Kazakhstan in the men's chess team event and strengthened their position as sole leaders after the third round in the Asian Games.

Gopal got the better of Yevgeni Vladimirov after all of his compatriots P Harikrishna, Krishnan Sasikiran and Surya Sekhar Ganguly played out a draw to win the round three tie against Kazakhstan 2.5-1.5.

Harikrishna drew with Murtas Kazhgaleyev while Sasikiran and Ganguly split points with Darmen Sadvakasov and Rinat Jumabayev respectively.

On 10 points after three rounds, India have now widened the gap from the second-placed China, who are on eight points, to two points in the 17-team nine-round competition that ends on November 26.

In the women's section also, India pulled off a creditable draw with China by denying their higher rated opponents any victory in the four games.

International Master Harika Dronavalli began the good show for the Indian women by denying Grandmaster Hou Yifan a victory.

Tania Sachdev then drew with higher-rated Ju Wenjun in the second game before Esha Karavade, an International Master, splitting points with Grandmaster Zhao Xue.

Nisha Mohota then completed the fine show by the Indians by drawing with higher-rated Huang Qian in the last game.

Indian women are on third spot with eight points after the third round.