Indian women hold China; men romp to a win

For the second time inside three days, B. Savitha Shri proved India’s savior. The 19-year-old girl from Chennai ensured India at least got a match point in the penultimate round of the Chess Olympiad at Samarkand on Saturday.

India was trailing 1-2 against the sole leader China, but Savitha’s win on the fourth board over Zhai Mo helped her team draw 2-2, keeping alive the hopes of a medal going into Sunday’s final round. Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh had drawn their games, and Vantika Agrawal lost, and that meant Savitha was in a must-win situation.

This was her eighth win from nine games; she has drawn one and lost none. Thanks in no small measure to the debutant’s superb show, India is in joint second in the women’s event with position with 16 points. China has 18 points and Kazakhstan 17.

In the open section, India is in the sole second position with 17 points, one behind the leader Uzbekistan. Germany, Ukraine and Hungary have 16 points each, setting up an exciting finish.

The Indian men posted a thumping 3.5-0.5 win against the host’s second team, Uzbekistan (2). R. Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin and D. Gukesh scored wins, while Arjun Erigaisi drew.

Important results (10th round): Open: India bt Uzbekistan (2) 3.5-0.5 (R. Praggnanandhaa bt Jakhongir Vakhidov; Arjun Erigaisi drew with Abdimalik Abdisalimov; Nihal Sarin bt Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov; D. Gukesh bt Ortik Nigmatov).

Uzbekistan bt Armenia 3.5-0.5; Ukraine bt China 3-1; Germany bt France 3-1; USA bt Greece 3-1; Netherlands bt Romania 2.5-1.5; Azerbaijan bt Bulgaria 2.5-1.5; Turkiye bt Argentina 3.5-0.5; Serbia bt Lithuania 2.5-1.5; Croatia bt Brazil 3.5-0.5; England bt Belarus 2.5-1.5; Poland bt Montenegro 3.5-0.5; Iran bt Latvia 2.5-1.5.

Women: India drew with China 2-2 (Koneru Humpy drew with Zhu Jiner; Divya Deshmukh drew with Song Yuxin; Vantika Agrawal lost to Lu Miaoyi; B. Savitha Shri bt Zhai Mo).

Uzbekistan bt Peru 3.5-0.5; Poland bt Mongolia 3-1; Armenia drew with Greece 2-2; Vietnam bt Indonesia 2.5-1.5; Georgia bt England 2.5-1.5; USA bt Israel 4-0; Slovenia bt Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5; Romania bt Netherlands 3-1; Ukraine drew with Iran 2-2; Latvia bt Germany 2.5-1.5.