Chennai, Aug 2 (IANS) Chennai lad V.A.V. Rajesh, a student of Loyola College, stole the limelight by holding top seed Russian Grandmaster Maxim Matlakov to a draw in the first round of the SDAT- RAMCO 50th World Junior and 29th Junior Girls Chess Championships here on Tuesday.
Also snatching half a point from Grandmasters were R Ashwath, Sayantan Das, R.A. Pradeep Kumar and S.L. Narayanan as they drew with Robert Hovhannisyan (Armenia), Swiercz Dariusz (Poland), Adhiban Baskaran and S.P. Sethuraman (both India), respectively.
For the Chennai-based GMs Adhiban and Sethuraman, the draw in the opener came as a mild shock and will surely spur them into greater action next round onwards.
The girls section saw higher-rated Indian star Bhakti Kulkarni held to a draw by Woman International Master Guo Emma of Australia.
Fifth seed and medal favourite Padmini Rout nursed an extra pawn, defeating Brunello Roberta of Italy while top seed Woman Grandmaster Paikidze Nazi of Georgia scored over Armenian Gevorgyan Maria.
Results (Open, Round 1, Indians unless specified):
V A V Rajesh (India) 0.5 drew Maxim Matlakov (Russia) 0.5, Sjugirov Sanan (Russia) 1 bt Rojas Alarcon Julian Antonio (Mexico) 0, Aaron Deepak (USA) 0 lost to Salgado Lopez Ivan (Spain) 1, Shimanov Aleksandr (Russia) 1 bt Tomazini Zan (Slovenia), Kozganbayev Erken (Kazakhastan) 0 lost to Tamir Nabaty (Israel) 1, Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (Armenia) 1 bt Botta Gabriele (Armenia) 0, R Ashwath 0.5 drew Hovhannisyan Robert (Armenia) 0.5, Ray Robson (USA) 1 bt Hemant Sharma 0, Das Sayantan 0.5 drew Swiercz Dariusz (Poland) 0.5, Baskaran Adhiban 0.5 drew RA Pradeep Kumar 0.5, SP Sethuraman 0.5 drew SL Narayanan 0.5.
Girls (Round 1): Paikidze Nazi (Georgia) 1 bt Gevorgyan Maria (Armenia) 0, Edes Zsofia (Slovakia) 0 lost to Savina Anastasia (Russia) 1, Cori T Deysi (Peru) 1 bt Pratyusha Bodda 0, Michelle Catherina P 0 lost to Girya Olga (Russia) 1, Padmini Rout 1 bt Brunello Roberta (Italy) 0, Guo Emma (Australia) 0.5 drew Kulkarni Bhakti 0.5, Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (Azerbaijan) 0.5 drew Ivana Maria Furtado 0.5, Martinez Ayelen (Argentina) 0 lost to Bulmaga Irina (Romania) 1, Kazimova Narmin Niazami Qizi (Azerbaijan) 1 bt C H Savetha 0, A Akshaya 0 lost to Eric Jovana (Serbia).
