Krasenkow has it easy

Sat, May 17 01:00 AM

TOP SEED Michal Krasenkow of Poland has had an easy time thus far in the Mumbai Mayor's Cup International Open chess tournament. Though the Grandmaster with a rating of 2624 has six wins and a solitary draw in seven games before Friday, his game has lacked the quality matching his high rating.

It seems the opposition has not been strong enough for him to put too much effort into it and to show the skills he is famous for. However on Friday, Krasenkow faced his first true test and passed it in flying colours to take sole lead with 7.5 points from eight rounds.

In a clash between two heavyweights, the Polish GM outwitted Indian GM Koneru Humpy, the second seed at 2603, with white pieces. With three rounds to go, Krasenkow leads by half-point a pack of four players - GM Abhijit Kunte of PSPB, MS Thej Kumar of Southern Railway and Bangladeshi duo, GMs Abdulla Al-Rikab and Ziaur Rahman, all of whom registered comprehensive victories.

Kunte defeated Indian youngster B Adhiban, Al-Rakib overcame GM RB Ramesh with black pieces and Rahman beat GM Tejas Bakre. Thej Kumar accounted for his second GM scalp of the event, beating Uzbek GM Safin Shukhrat with black pieces.

The IM from Mysore had earlier beaten Bangladeshi GM Rahman in the fourth round. However, the spotlight was on the top board clash between Krasenkow and Humpy and the Polish GM lived up to his higher rating with a facile win.

In the Nimzo Indian game, the players equalised in the opening. Humpy claimed some advantage in the middle game by sacrificing two minor pieces for Krasenkow's rook.

She still had better chances in the end game after exchange of other pieces and queens as she had a rook and three pawns against two bishops and two pawns for the Polish GM. But Humpy failed to make the advantage pay as she made a mistake that allowed Krasenkow to activate his bishop and create a dangerous passer on 'h' file. Humpy resigned on the 47th move.

Humpy now has 6.5 points from eight games and is sharing the third spot with eight others. With just three rounds to go, she now needs to make the most of her chances and hope Krasenkow and others slip up.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY