New Delhi, Jan 19 (Inditop.com) Uzbek Grandmaster Marat Dzhumaev and Russian International Master Nikoly Tolstikh, with seven points each, joined overnight leader Grandmaster Maghami Ehsan Ghaem of Iran at the top of the points table after emphatic victories in the eighth round of the ongoing 8th Parsvnath International Open chess tournament at Modern School here Tuesday.
Playing white side of Sicilian Defence, Dzhumaev outwitted Philippine International Master Oliver Dimakiling in 32 moves. Continuing his fine run in the tournament, Tolstikh defeated another Filipino International Master in the fray Richad Bitoon in 44 moves.
Meanwhile, overnight sole leader Maghami played another safe game and signed another fourteen move peace treaty against second seed Lenic Luka of Slovenia.
A pack of ten players including five Indian International Masters Lalith Babu, Saptarshi Roy, Saptarshi Roy Chowdhruy, Arghyadip Das and Deep Sengupta are now in second spot with six and half points.
Lalith held Russian Grandmaster Maxim Turov to a creditable draw while Saptarshi Roy stunned Uzbek Grandmaster Saidali Iuldachev and Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury outwitted Indian Grandmaster RR Laxman in eighth round encounters.
Arghyadip joined them after shocking Grandmaster Rinat Jumabayev of Kazakhstan while Deep Sengupta got the better of local hope International Master Tania Sachdev.
Three more rounds still remain in this Rs.12.5 lakh prize money tournament.
Results: Richard Bitoon of Philippines(6); GM Pavel Kotsur of Kazakhstan (6.5) beat GM Praveen Thipsay (5.5); GM Manik Mikulas of Slovakia (5.5) lost to GM Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh (6.5); GM Martyn Kravtsiv of Ukraine (6.5) beat IM Ashwin Jayaram (5.5); GM Rinat Jumabayev (5.5) lost to IM Arghyadip Das (6.5); IM Saptarshi Roy (6.5) beat GM Saidali Iuldachev of Uzbekistan (5.5); IM Saptarshi Roy Chowdhury (6.5) beat GM R R Laxma (5.5); IM Tania Sachdev (5.5) lost to IM Deep Sengupta (6.5); IM BT Murali Krishnan (5.5) lost to GM Dmitry Kryakvin of Russia (6); IM Sharad Tilak (5) lost to GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam (6); GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (5.5) drew with Ankit R Rajpara (5.5); IM Sahaj Grover (6) beat IM Boris Arkhangelsky of Russia (5).
rounak