Abu Dhabi chess: Ganguly finishes third

Chennai Online, India
Aug 19 2005

Abu Dhabi (UAE), Aug 19: Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly defeated
GM Konstanin Chernyshov of Russia 2-0 to finish third in the Blitz
event of the 15th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival here.

National champion Ganguly, who was leading 1-0 in the semi-finals
against Igor Kursonov of Russia, went down fighting in the next two
games and spoilt his chances for the top honour.

In the finals, GM Sergey Grigoriants of Russia defeated Kursonov 2-0
to emerge the winner of this 3,000 UAE dirhams prize money tournament.

Earlier, Ganguly had defeated International Master Othman Moussa of
UAE in the first round and outplayed Russian GM Vladimir Dobrov to
set up his quarterfinal clash with another Russian GM Dmitry Bochrov,
who had also lost after some brilliant play by the Indian. Ganguly
came under pressure in the semi-final.

The other Indian participants in the Blitz tourney Woman
Grandmaster-in-waiting Tania Sachdev, IM D V Prasad, Akshat Khamparia
and M B Muralidharan had lost in the first round itself.

In the Master’s section, which had a rest day, it has been a predicted
story for Ganguly, who has won two with white and drawn two as black
to reach 3 points out of a possible 4.

The Indian is placed joint fourth while Russian GMs Mikhail Kobalia,
Bocharov and Armenian GM Ashot Anastesian shared the lead with 3.5
points each in their kitty. (Agencies)