Humpy goes down to Sorokin

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy went down fighting to Russian GM Maxim Sorokin on the fourth day in the Hotel Ilapuram Grandmaster chess tournament at Krishna Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition Society in Vijaywada on Saturday.

Humpy started with white pieces in queen's pawn opening for which Sorokin played queens Indian defence. Though the game looked like ending in a draw after repetitive moves, Humpy, in trying to force a win after being in a better position, lost the plot.

Under time pressure, the Commonwealth women's champion made a couple mistakes that cost her the game in 37 moves. She and now trails the Russian by a point in this eight-round match.

In the International FIDE ranking chess tournament (round robin) going on simultaneously, D Sai Srinivas drew his match against M L A Reddy (2.5 points) to emerge joint leader along with M R Lalithbabu, who beat G Ramakrishna (1), after the fourth round.

Important fourth round results: S K Khasim (1.5) bt Natalia Sorokina (1), Y Sandeep (2) drew with D Lakshmana Rao (2), J Malleshwara Rao (3) bt K Chandrahawsa (2), M R Lalith Babu (3.5) bt G Muralikrishna (1), K V K Karthik (2) bt S Bhanupriya (0), D Sai Srinivas (3.5) drew with M L A Reddy (2.5).