Seeded players struggle in Asian youth chess

Most seeded players are finding it difficult to negotiate the tough resistance offered by lower rated players at the ongoing Asian Youth Chess Championship being held at the Hotel Park Plaza here Sunday.

In the girls Under-14 section, fourth seeded Indian Aakanksha Hagawane is in sole lead with three points from as many rounds. Hagawane defeated Hashemi Seyed Fatemeh of Iran in the third round.

In the U-14 Open Section, fifth seed Abhimanyu Puranik of India and Arash Tahbaz of Iran are in lead with 3 points.

In U-16 Open category, seventh seed Lorparizangeneh Shahin of Iran in sole lead after outwitting second seed Atabayev Saparmyrat of Turkmenistan while Indian hope and top seed International Master Aravindh Chithambaram set-aside his first round debacle to register his second victory over Minabayev Bolatbek of Kazakhstan.

In the girls' section, all top three players Derakhshani Dorsa of Iran, Indian duo of G.K. Monnisha and M. Mahalakshmi are maintaining a clean sheet.

Among U-18 girls, five players including top seeded Indian Srija Seshadri is leading the table while in the Open section third seed Chakravarthi Reddy along with his teammates N. Krishna Teja and Aubhropratim Manna giving company to fourth seed Serikbay Chingiz of Kazakhstan at top of point table.

Top seed and local hope Prince Bajaj did not recover from his unexpected loss in the first round and settled for half a point against Jumanov Elbek of Uzebkistan in the third round.