India Defeat Top Seed Russia 3.5-0.5

By Arvind Aaron

Defending champions India humbled top seed Russia 3.5-0.5 in the second round of the World Youth Chess Olympiad played at Turkey on August 18.

In the opening round, India had defeated Turkey-B 3-1 with wins coming in the middle boards of IM Shyam Sundar and FM Prasanna Rao. S.P. Sethuraman and Priyadarshan drew in the top and bottom boards.

In the ongoing second round, India pulled off a sensational upset win with International Master B Adhiban defeating higher rated Russian counterpart Aleksandr Shimanov on the prestigious top board.

Russia got the only draw in the second board when Anastasia Bodnaruk got a draw by perpetual check from our national sub-junior champion S.P. Sethuraman.

The other Indians who won on the two bottom boards were Shyam Sundar of Chennai and Prasanna Rao of Mumbai.

Like last year, this event is ten rounds and played on four boards. A total of 26 teams are competing in this edition.

India is hoping to win the gold medal yet again and they are accompanied by opening theoretician GM R.B. Ramesh as coach.

India are the defending champions having won this event at Singapore in August 2007.
 

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