India Israel Chess Match Day One

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:54:10 +0000

Grandmaster G N Gopal came up with his best defeating counterpart Tal Baron 4-0 to guide hosts to an emphatic 9.5-6.5 triumph over Israel in the first round of the India-Israel Chess match now underway at AAI Officers Club. Indian mainstay Krishnan Sasikiran had an off day on the top board and so did National Champion Abhijeet Gupta but Gopal made up for it easily with his all round display in blindfold, rapid and blitz games. The Indian team started with a 3-1 triumph in the blindfold with Sasikiran having it easy against Yadael Stapek and Gopal showcasing his form against Tal Baron. Abhijeet was held to a draw by Vitaly Golod while Adhiban was forced to split the point against Gil Popliski on the fourth board. In the rapid, top Israeli here, Ilya Smirin was back on the top board and drew with Sasikiran while Gupta was in for a shock as he lost to Golod. Again, Gopal and Adhiban saved the blushes for the Indians on the last two boards and the rapid match was won by 2.5-1.5 margin. The Israeli team showed their true mettle in the first blitz match wherein Sasikiran and Abhijeet Gupta suffered defeats and the result was an Israeli victory with a minimal margin. In the last blitz of first round however, the Indians bounced back to register a minimal victory thanks to the efforts of Gopal who was the lone winner besides three draws. The match being organized as a curtain raiser to the next world championship match between V Anand and Boris Gelfand of Israel still has as many as 32 games remaining including eight blindfold, eight rapid and sixteen blitz games.

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India Israel Chess Match Day One