Chennai, Aug 9 (IANS) Girish A. Koushik defeated second seed Russian Sanan Sjugirov to record a hat-trick of wins against a Grandmaster in the seventh round of the SDAT-RAMCO 50th World Junior and 29th Junior Girls Chess Championships here Tuesday.
The win, along with a rating performance of ELO 2684, took Girish to the second spot, a half a point behind tournament leader Axel Rombaldini of Italy.
International Master Rombaldoni, who shed his first half a point in the tournament against Armenian Grandmaster Ter-Sahakyan Samvel, still maintained his lead with 6.5 points from seven rounds. Koushik and Armenian Grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan share the second spot with 6.0 points.
The Girish-Sanan match took to Open Ruy Lopez that saw the Indian out maneuvering the more experienced Russian. In a complex middle game, Girish moved the rook and bishop with dexterity, keeping the Russian at bay.
As the game ventured into an ending, the Indian boy used his king actively and was able to corner the white king in the last rank.
Even as he applied pressure and weaved a pattern that could result in a mating net, Sanan overlooked the loss of piece in a double attack and resigned on the 53rd turn.
Following Girish, Maharashtra lad Vidit Santosh Gujrathi defeated higher rated Russian Grandmaster Aleksandr Shimanov, delivering the second big upset of the day.
Vidit played a miniature masterpiece as he defeated Shimanov of Russia in 23 moves. The Russian faced the Ragozin defence, ignored fast developing black pieces at his own peril.
A delectable combination that began with white's capture of black bishop with his knight saw Vidit gain the upperhand.
Caught in the familiar pattern of smothered mate, Shimanov allowed Vidit to finish the game with elan. A knight sacrifice, the capture of which was a taboo, saw the game end in double quick time.
In the girls section, the lead remained unchanged with Woman Grandmaster Olga Girya holding Woman International Master Bulmaga Irina to a draw. The marathon game lasted five hours and 69 moves, but Olga hung on gamely, and snatched a crucial half point.
The draw keeps the Russian on the top of the table together with Woman Grandmaster Cori T. Deysi from Peru at 6.0 points.
Indian girls Padmini Rout, Bhakti Kulkarni, J. Saranya, Chandika Divyasree and P.V. Nandhidhaa were all huddled in the 4.5 points and would be needing a big push in performance to move to the top of the table in the second half.
Results (7th round, Open, Indians unless specified): Rombaldoni Axel(ITA) 6.5 drew Ter-Sahakyan Samvel(ARM) 5.5, Huschenbeth Niclas (GER) 5 lost to Hovhannisyan Robert(ARM) 6, Sjugirov Sanan (RUS) 4.5 lost to Girish A Koushik (6), Robson Ray (USA) 5 drew Rasulov Vugar Ural Oglu (AZE) 5, Swiercz Dariusz (POL) 5 drew Piorun Kacper(POL) 5, Grandelius Nils (SWE) 5.5 bt Swayams Mishra (4.5), Lalith Babu M R (4) lost to Matlakov Maxim (RUS) 5, Goganov Aleksey (RUS) 4 lost to Salgado Lopez Ivan (ESP) 5, Shimanov Aleksandr (RUS) 4 lost to Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (5), Stany G A (4) lost to Nabaty Tamir (ISR) 5, Shyam Nikil P (4) lost to Adhiban B (5), Martinovic Sasa (CRO) 4.5 drew Anwesh Upadhyaya (4.5), Durarbeyli Vasif (AZE) 5 bt Getz Nicolai (NOR) 4
Girls: Bulmaga Irina (ROU) 5.5 drew Girya Olga (RUS) 6, Cori T Deysi (PER) 6 bt Saranya J (4.5), Mammadova Gulnar Marfat Qizi (AZE) 5.5 bt Semenova Elena (RUS) 5, Kulon Klaudia (POL) 5.5 bt Kazimova Narmin Nizami Qizi (AZE) 4.5, Paikidze Nazi(GEO) 5 bt Vo Thi Kim Phung (VIE) 4, Agrest Inna (SWE) 5 bt Savina Anastasia (RUS) 4, Tokhirjanova Hulkar (UZB) 4.5 drew Ozturk Kubra (TUR) 4.5, Dogodkina Julia (RUS) 5 bt Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (KAZ) 4, Padmini Rout (4.5) bt Fataliyeva Ulviyya Hasil Qizi (AZE) 3.5, Tsatsalashvili Keti(GEO) 3.5 lost to Nandhidhaa P V (4.5).