Uzbek Grandmaster emerges sole leader with 4.5 points

Kolkata: Uzbek Grandmaster Marat Dzhumaev emerged sole leader with 4.5 points after fifth round of the SREI International Grandmasters Open Chess Tournament here today.

But it was IM Swayams Mishra who hogged the limelight by upsetting American GM Roset Ziatdinov in just 28 moves in a King's Indian defence.

GM Valeriy Neverov of Ukraine sacrificed a bishop against GM Dzhumaev to break open the latter's kingside as the Uzbek defended with precision to win in the game in 43 moves.

On the top board, second seed, GM Ivan Popov of Russia was locked in an interesting duel against compatriot IM Mikhail Mozharov but neither side could make headway in rook and bishop versus queen ending.

Top seed Surya Sekhar Ganguly tried keep the sparks flying in a same-coloured bishop ending against Neelotpal Das but only to settle for a draw in a duel between the two city-based GMs.

In another upset of the day, IM Prasanna Raghuram Rao held GM Azer Mirzoev of Azerbaijan.

Top Board Results

GM Ivan Popov (4) drew IM Mikhail Mozharov (4); IM Jacek Stopa (4) drew GM Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (4); GM Valeriy Neverov (3.5) lost to GM Marat Dzhumaev (4.5); GM Neelotpal Das (3.5) drew GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (3.5); GM Vladislav Borovikov (3.5) drew IM Murali Kartikeyan (3.5); GM Tornike Sanikidze (4) bt GM R R Laxman (3); IM Siddharth Ravichandran (3) lost to GM Merab Gagunashvilli(4); GM Hovik Hayrapetyan (3.5) drew GM Levon Babujian (3.5); GM Niaz Murshed (3) lost to IM Anurag Mhamal (4); IM Bhuvanesh R Ramnath (2.5) lost to GM Levan Pantsulaia (3.5); GM Deep Sengupta (3.5) bt FM Tigran S Petrosyan(2.5); IM Prasanna Raghuram Rao (3) drew GM Azer Mirzoev (3); IM Prathamesh Sunil Mokal (3) drew IM Bahruz Rzayev (3); GM Drazic Sinisa (3.5) bt IM Rahul Sangma (2.5); IM Swayams Mishra (3.5) bt GM Raset Ziatdinov (2.5).