Ding Liren Helps China Wrest Lead In Hyderabad

Ding Liren Helps China Wrest Lead In Hyderabad
By Arvind Aaron

World No.14 ranked Ding Liren made the difference in the first round of the eighth round Indo-China Summit Scheveningen Match that got underway at Hyderabad on Monday.

In the opening game, Ding Liren beat former world under-16 champion B Adhiban of India to give China a 2.5-1.5 lead in the best of four board match. Seven rounds remain to be played.

The event was inaugurated by D.V. Sundar, Vice President of FIDE in the presence of Dinakar Babu IAS, Managing Director and Chairman, Sports Authority of Telangana State, Narasimha Reddy, Chairman, Bar Council of Telangana State and also the Vice President of All India Chess Federation. Bharat Singh Chauhan, CEO, AICF and V. Hariharan, Honorary Secretary, AICF, KS Prasad, Convener of the Summit and Sharath Datta, CMD of Marriott Hotel were also present.

The summit is organised by Telangana Chess Association, on behalf of All India Chess Federation, to commemorate the stunning performance by India in the Olympiad. The AICF is also the sponsor of this Rs.10 Lakh prize money event.

Ding Liren, as white, took advantage of a side variation chosen by Adhiban in the Grufeld defence. The Chinese player, won two pieces for the rook as black was slow to develop his queen side.

The other games were drawn. Indian champion Sethuraman refrained from playing the main line against Wei Yi’s Najdorf and drew by repetition of moves on move 32. China’s strength is the first two boards where they have 2700+ rated players. India can do well against the third and fourth board players of China and we are higher rated there.

However, Sasikiran had black and only drew against Zhou Jianchou in 33 moves from a bishop’s ending. Wang Chen held M.R. Lalith Babu in a bishop ending after 60 moves. To win this match, Indians might have to pick on the lower rated Chinese. The Chinese manager is Xu Jun and the Indian manager is International Master P.D.S. Girinath. The first team to reach 16.5 points will win this series.