Asian Youth Chess heading for an exciting finish

By Gopakumar

07 Apr 17 (Tashkent) :- With one round remaining, five Indians are on lead to finish at top of the podium in the ongoing Asian Youth Chess Championship here at Hotel Le Gande Plaza.

In Under-10 Girls India assured the gold as overnight sole leader Sahithi Varshini registered her seventh victory in the event to head the table with seven and half points and leading with full point over her team mate Savitha Shri. Savitha Shri is the only player who can deny Sahiti’s yellow metal finish but for Indian camp the Gold medal is already in the kitty.

In Under-14 Girls section, the dream run of leader Jishitha D was halted by team mate Jyothsna L but still Jishitha maintaining her one point lead over nearest rivals. Jyothsna and Yuliya Khegay are at joint second position with six points and Jishitha takes on Yuliya on final round game on Saturday and peace treaty will be enough for Jishitha for pole position finish.

Continuing his impressive performance in the championship Asian Youth Rapid Gold medalist Erigaisi Arjun eyeing for his second gold in the championship and leading the table in Under-14 Open section along with top seed Abdussattorov Nodirbek of Uzbekistan with seven and half points.

In Under-18 Girls category, Aakanksha Hagawane is in lead along with Iranian girl Mobina Alinasab with six and half points. Aakanksha have a favourable pairing according to rating in the final round and hoping that her team mate Ivana Maria Furtado will deny full point to Mobina on top board.

Asian Under-8 Rapid champion A R Ilamparathi is on course for his second gold in the championship and leading Under-8 Open section with seven points. He have half point lead over nearest rival Phan Tran Gia Phuc of Vietnam and just need to draw his final round game against unrated Uzbekistan player Kamron Karimov to ensure the gold as he already beaten his nearest rival on third round.

In Under-12 Girls section, overnight leader Divya Deshmukh suffered a shock defeat against Nguyen Thien Ngan of Vietnam and slipped to third position. Kamalidenova Meruert of Kazakhstan is now leading in this category with seven points and she is closely followed by India’s Rakshitta Ravi with a drift of half point.

Sai Vishwesh and Kaustuv Kundu in Under-18 Open, Tanmay Jain in Under-10 Open, Rohith Krisha S in Under-12 Open, Toshali V in Under-16 Girls are on joint second spot in their respective categories and favourable results in the final round will make podium finish for them.

Round-8 Results of Indian Players :-

Under-18 Open :- Kaustuv Kundu (5.5) drew with Omidi Arya of IRI (5); Sai Vishwesh C (5.5) beat Pranavananda V (4).

Under-18 Girls :- Orazmukhammedova Makhim of UZB (4.5) lost to WIM Aakanksha Hagawane (6.5); Ananay Suresh (5) lost to WIM Abdusattorova Bakhora of UZB (6); Shermuhammedova Shahzoda of UZB (4) lost to Ivan Maria Furtado (5.5); Omurbekova Diana of KGZ (3.5) lost to Chandreyee Hajra (5).

Under-16 Open :- Abdurakhmanov Mukhmmadali of UZB (5) beat Mitrabha Guha (4).

Under-16 Girls :- Salimova Asal of UZB (4) lost to Toshali V (5.5); WFM Anwesha Mishra (5) drew with Azali Tannaz of IRI (5.5).

Under-14 Open :- Yuldoshev Mekhriddin (4.5) lost to Erigaisi Arjun (7.5).

Under-14 Girls :- Jyothsna L (6) beat Jishitha D (7); Bommini Mounika Akshya (4.5) lost to Nurgali Nazerke of KAZ (5.5).

Under-12 Open :- Namdarigharghani Parsa of IRI (5) lost to Rohith Krishna S (6); Manish Anto Cristiano (5) drew with Amartuvshin Ganzoirng of MGL (6); Pranesh M (5.5) beat Nguyen Quoc Hy of VIE (4.5).

Under-12 Girls :- WFM Divya Deshmukh (6) lost to Nguyen Thien Ngan of VIE (6); Rakshitta Ravi (6.5) beat Chinnam Vyshnavi (5); Dhyana Patel (5) beat Balabayeva Kseniya of KAZ (4); Vuong Quynh Anh of VIE (5) beat Bhagyashree Patil (4); Anika Rachna Roy of HKG (3) lost to Kriti Mayur Patel (4); Olimjonova Samirabonu of UZB (4) drew with Vishwa Vasnawala (4) .

Under-10 Open :- Tanmay Jain (6 drew with Fakhriddinxujaev Umarxon of UZB (5.5); Saydaliev Akobirkhon of UZB (5) lost to Dev Shah (5.5).

Under-10 Girls :- Sanudula K M Dahamdi of SRI (4.5) lost to Sahithi Varshini (7.5); Savitha Shri B (6.5) beat Shohradova Leyla of TKM (5.5); Riddhi R Patel (3.5) lost to Zakirova Aisha of KAZ (4.5).

Under-8 Open :- Ilamparathi A R (7) beat Sriansh Das (4.5); Priansh Das (5) beat Ashurov Ibrokhim of TJK (4).

Under-8 Girls :- Rouda Essa Alserkal of UAE (5.5) drew with Shefali A N (5); Mai Hieu Linh of VIE (5) beat Suhaani Lohia (3.5); Botirbekova Asila of UZB (4) beat Saineha R M (3.5).