Chess #611

ALL IS is not sweetness and light in Indian chess. Sometime ago, GN Gopal, Kerala’s first GM, faced an AICF ban for refusal to participate in the National A. That ban was rescinded after “trade union” action from the Indian Association of Chessplayers, which felt the punishment was much too harsh, if at all justified.

Now the AICF has taken to grumbling about Koneru Humpy, India’s top woman player and world no:2. The AICF secretary, DV Sundar has accused Humpy of pulling out of the World Indoor Games in Vietnam, where she would have led the team, after the Federation refused to pay the expenses of her father, K Ashok, who normally accompanies her everywhere as her trainer-cum-manager.

In an exchange of open emails, Humpy responded by saying that the AICF was not honouring an earlier agreement to allow Ashok to accompany her. The war of words is likely to continue. Humpy has a great deal of clout due to her status as one of the best players in the world and the AICF needs her services more than she needs it to further her career. Banning her would be ridiculous.

Meanwhile, the Indian contingent at the World Junior Championships, Argentina, are trailing the leaders but not out of striking distance. Sergei Zhigalko of Bulgaria leads in the Open with 6 points from 7 games, while top seeded Maxime Vachier Lagrave is tied for 2nd-4th in conjunction with Falko Bindrich and Eduardo Iturrizaga with 5.5 points each. Lalith Babu, Adhiban and Jayaram are all on 4.5. In the girls section, Zoja Severiukhina of Russia leads with 5.5 while Padmini Rout and Soumya Swaminathan share second place along with five others who all have 5 points.

In another team championship, the European Teams at Novi Sad, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan share the lead with 11 points. This is obviously heading for a tight finish.

Olympiad champions Armenia have beaten Azerbaijan in a grudge match and Armenia meets Russia, which is the only unbeaten team, in the next round. Levon Aronyan remains the key factor for Armenia — he has been the engine of Armenia’s many successes in the past few years and his form has been uneven here.

Diagram, WHITE TO PLAY (Bacrot Vs Aronyan, Novi Sad Euro Teams 2009) is a pointer to Aronyan’s uncertain form of the moment. White played 22. Be6 when the only reasonable response is Aronyan’s reply, 22.- Rh7 since 22. -Nf6 23 Rxf6 loses outright. So far, so good.

Now on 23. Qc2, black could respond 23. - Rg7 with good chances of beating off the attack. However, Aronyan’s 23. -Kg8?!, the French GM blasted off 24. Rxf7! Rxf7 25. Rf1 Nf8 26. Qf5 Nxe6 27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Rf6 Qxf6 with not much left to play for (1-0, 36 moves).