Grandmaster R R Laxman and IM K Priyadarshan scored impressive wins over their respective rivals, GM Ziaur Rahman and GM Nguyen, to join overnight sole leader Kravstiv Martyn in the pole position in the 8th LIC-Mumbai Mayor's International Chess Tournament here today.
All three players had six points to their credit at the end of the seventh round in the ten-round championship being held at the Goregaon Sports Club.
India's Laxman came out all guns blazing against GM Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh. In a game arising out of Reti Opening, Laxman equalised early from the black side and soon started making inroads on the opponent's side.
Rahman tried to defend his King but the assault proved too much and he resigned on move 40 when faced with a mating attack to provide Laxman with his third win on the trot.
On the 3rd board, another Indian player Priyadarshan was in his element against Nguyen of Vietnam in the Sicilian Defense.
With a neat tactical stroke, the Indian IM was able to win a pawn on move 39 and the ensuing Bishop ending was just a matter of technique as he wrapped up the game in 69 moves.
Overnight sole leader GM Martyn settled for an early draw with GM Dmitry Kokarev in just 12 moves.
The second spot is jointly occupied by GM Zubov Alexander, GM Pavel Smirnov, GM Luka Paichadze, IM Shota Azaladze and an untitled player, Harsha Bharathakoti. All these players are on 5.5 points.
Important results: GM Kravtsiv Martyn (6) drew with GM Kokarev Dmitry (5.5), GM Rahman Ziaur (5) lost to GM Laxman RR (6), IM Priyadharshan K (6) beat GM Nguyen DucHoa (5), GM Zubov Alexander (5.5) beat GM Deepan C J (4.5), IM Karthikeyan P. (5) drew with GM Aleksandrov Aleksej (5), Vignesh Nr (5) drew with GM Mchedlishvili M (4.5), IM Prasanna Rao (4.5) lost to GM Smirnov Pavel (5.5), GM Paichadze Luka (5.5) beat Nubairshah Shaikh (4.5), Harsha Bharathakoti (5.5) beat GM Debashis Das (4.5), Siva Mahadevan (4.5) drew with IM Azaladze Shota (5.5), IM Swapnil S. Dhopade (5) beat GM Puranik Abhimanyu (4.5).
