MURALI KARTHIKEYAN STUNS LEVON BABUIJAN
The Hindu, India
Dec 10 2013
Young IM Murali Karthikeyan sprung the biggest surprise of the meet
so far by upstaging Armenian GM Levon Babuijan in the sixth round of
the SREI International Grandmasters chess tournament on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old Karthikeyan, who is the National sub-junior champion
and one of the youngest participants in the tournament, brightened
the prospects of picking up his second GM norm after the big win. He
had picked up the first norm at the 11th Delhi International Open
Chess Festival in January this year.
Murali, now on 4.5 points, is in joint second position with eight
others including compatriots GM Deep Sengupta and IM Anurag Mhamal.
Overnight leader, Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan lost to GM Samvel
Ter-Sahakyan of Armenia, who along with IM Jacek Stopa of Poland
jointly share the lead with five points each.
National women’s (Premier) champion, Mary Ann Gomes drew against the
Ukrainian GM Vladislav Borovikov to take her tally to four points.
Meanwhile, GM Tejas Bakre and GM Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh, both
withdrew from the tournament citing health reasons.
Important results (all Indians unless specified): Sixth round:
Marat Dzhumaev (Uzb) 4.5 lost to Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (Arm) 5, Anurag
Mhamal 4.5 drew with Ivan Popov (Rus) 4.5, Mikhail Mozharov (Rus)
4.5 drew with Tornike Sanikidze (geo) 4.5, Merab Gagunashvilli
(Geo) 4 lost to Jacek Stopa (Pol) 5, Surya Sekhar Ganguly 4 drew
with Drazic Sinisa (Srb) 4, Levan Pantsulaia (Geo) 4.5 bt Neelotpal
Das 3.5, Deep Sengupta 4.5 bt Swayams Mishra 3.5, Mary Ann Gomes 4
drew with Vladislav Borovikov (Ukr) 4, Praveen Thipsay 4 drew with
Valeriy Neverov (Ukr) 4, Levon Babujian (Arm) 3.5 lost to Murali
Karthikeyan 4.5, Vahe Baghdasaryan (Arm) 4.5 bt Hovik Hayrapetyan
(Arm) 3.5, Azer Mirzoev (Aze) 3.5 drew with N.R. Visakh 3.5.