Vietnamese GM Nguyen Anh Dung and Czech GM Viktor Laznica Thursday shared the lead after the fourth round of the Third Kolkata Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament.
Dung won his game against IM P. Konguvel of India. The Vietnamese won a pawn against the Grunfeld defence and then pushed it to win a piece. The game lasted for 44 moves.
Laznicka outwitted IM Arun Prasad in 51 moves of a Slav defence. Even though it was a long game the Czech Grandmaster slowly applied the pressure with the black pieces and won a pawn, which was enough to take home the point.
GM Sambat Lputian of Armenia stopped the run of M.S. Thejkumar of India. The experienced Armenian had an outside passed pawn and this was enough for him to get the point on the 30th move. The game was a Catalan opening with the Armenian Grandmaster having the advantage of the white pieces.
Local GM Sandipan Chanda played the game of the day to account for Oliver Barbosa of the Philippines. Chanda played the Rossolimo attack against the Sicilian defence of his opponent and got a central breakthrough to win in 31 moves.
Indian GM Koneru Humpy faced difficulties against fellow GM R.B. Ramesh. She lost a pawn and Ramesh thereafter managed to apply some pressure. But Humpy was up to the task and eventually drew the game.
Top seed GM Krishnan Sasikiran managed a victory against IM S. Satyapragyan in another long struggle.
Indian GMs Tejas Bakre and Neelotpal Das took quick draws against GM Adly Ahmed and IM Sudhakar Babu respectively.
GM Dibyendu Barua won a short game against IM D.P. Singh. He employed his favourite Guioco Piano opening to win a piece. Thereafter, the game lasted for only 24 moves.
Arghyadip Das also won his game to remain in contention for another IM norm.
Top Board Results:
IM Arun Prasad (3) lost to GM Viktor Laznicka (4)
GM Nguyen Anh Dung (4) beat IM P.Konguvel (3)
GM Smbat Lputian (3.5) beat M.S. Thejkumar (2.5)
GM Koneru Humpy (3) drew with GM R.B. Ramesh (3)
GM Sandipan Chanda (3.5) beat Oliver Barbosa (2.5)
GM Tejas Bakre (3) drew with GM Adly Ahmed (3)
Rolando Nolte (3) drew with GM Vladimir Dobrov (3)
IM R.R. Laxman (2.5) lost to GM Ziaur Rahman (3.5)
IM Sudhakar Babu (3) drew with GM Neelotpal Das (3)
GM Krishnan Sasikiran (3) beat IM S. Satyapragyan (2)