Ukraine Defeats India 2.5-1.5

Ukraine Defeats India 2.5-1.5
By Arvind Aaron

Yuriy Kryvoruchko defeated Krishnan Sasikiran in the third board to help Ukraine defeat India by a 2.5-1.5 margin in the World Team Chess Championship at Armenia on April 23, 2015.

Ukraine joined China in the lead with eight match points out of maximum ten. Four rounds remain to be played in this 10-nation event.

Ponomariov drew Harikrishna, Ivanchuk drew Sethuraman, Moiseenko drew Vidit in the other three matches. Round five saw all matches turn decisive.

Indian scores thus far: Harikrishna 2.5/4; Sethuraman 1.5/5; Sasikiran 1/4; Vidit Gujrathi 3/4; Deep Sengupta 1/2. Harikrishna and Vidit are undefeated so far.

India take on Russia, Cuba, Armenia and China in that order. India beat Egypt, lost to Israel, drew USA, beat Hungary and lost to Ukraine. A win, two draws and two defeats has pulled down top seeds Russia. This might be the best moment for India to defeat Russia.

The results (round five): Ukraine beat India 2.5-1.5, Cuba lost to Israel 1.5-2.5, China beat Egypt 2.5-1.5; USA lost to Armenia 1.5-2.5; Hungary lost to Russia 0.5-3.5.

Standings (after five rounds): 1-2. Ukraine, China 8 each; 3- 4. Israel, Cuba 7 each; 5 India 5; 6-8. Russia, Armenia, Hungary 4 each; 9 USA 2; 10 Egypt 1.