Bivol Alina Replaces Dordzhieva In Joint Lead

Bivol Alina Replaces Dordzhieva In Joint Lead
By Arvind Aaron

Xiong Jeffery of the United States maintained his lead in the Kiit sponsored World Junior Chess Championship by inflicting a defeat on Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran in Bhubaneswar on August 17, 2016.

Xiong Jeffery leads with 7.5/9 and is followed by Nasuta Grzegorz of Poland with seven points. Nasuta shocked higher rated Indian champion Karthikeyan Murali in 40 moves with the black pieces by sacrificing three pieces for a queen. Aravindh Chithambaram recovered and joined Karthikeyan Murali in the joint seventh place with six points. Four rounds remain to be played.

In the girls section, Frayna Janelle Mae (Phi) continues to be in joint lead after a draw against the top seed Saduakassova (Kaz). Bivol Alina (Rus) beat her team-mate and joint leader Dinara Dordzhieva with the black pieces to join the Philippine player in the lead on seven points.

India’s Michelle Catherina (6.5/9) crushed team-mate Nandhidhaa in 49 moves to share the third place with three others on 6.5 points. Mahalakshmi also could have joined Michelle had she won. She drew defending champion Nataliya Buksa (Ukr) with the black pieces and is on six points. Vaishali has recovered to reach six points.