JOIN USState Under-17 Cha-mpion Ojas Kulkarni sprang a surprise at Dr TMA Pai Memorial FIDE-Rated Open Chess Tournament organised by Manipal University here at Dr TMA Pai Hall on Monday when he held International Master Thejkumar M S of South Western Railway to a draw in the fifth round. Both are with four and half points each.
Ojas played English opening with Thejkumar on the top board. Black got hold of the centre in the middle game, for some king side initiative. Thejkumar sacrificed piece for three pawns. In the middle game, Ojas had the upper hand. But due to lack of pawns, the game was drawn in 80 moves.
Stany G A of Karnataka, Muthaiah of Indian Oil, Girinath P D S of South Central Railways, Vijay Keerthi of Karnataka, Ravi Gopal Hegde and Balkishan of Karnataka are leading at the end of fifth round with five points each.
Stany G A played English opening with Vinayak Kulkarni of Karnataka in 2nd board. Stany maintained the small advantage throughout middle game. Vinayak, who defended well, had a chance to equalize in the end. Stany maintained his supremacy and won in 40 moves.
In third board, Girinath played the Alapin Variation against the Sicilian defence of Sameer Gotane. In the complex middle game, Girinath got his Rook to seventh rank, which got him winning attack. Sameer resigned on 21st Move.
In fourth board, Al Muthaiah played Slav Defense with Chandar Raju of Kerala. Muthaiah took advantage of wrong sack on 12th move by Chandar and Chandar continued and made inferior moves under the pressure of time. Al Muthaiah checkmated Chandar on 32nd move. Balkishan beat Gahan MG of Karnataka and Vijay Keerthi K beat Sushrutha Reddy of Karnataka.
In the National B Chess Championship for the Blind, four players were with four-and-a-half points after five rounds and eight players were with four points apiece. Kishan Gangoli of Karnataka drew with Darpan Inani of Gujarat and both are with four-and-a-half points.
The others with similar points are Gaurav Gadodia of Maharashtra and Yudhajeet
D E of West Bengal.
DH News Service