PANJIM: WIM Ivana Furtado (5.5 points) was locked in an intense battle of the Caro Kann opening encounter with compatriot Madhurima Shekhar (rating 2000) before signing the peace treaty on the 60th move in the World Junior chess championships, in Pune, Wednesday.
Dempo goodwill ambassador IM Anurag Mhamal (five points) lost to GM Duda Jan–Krzysttof (rating 2599) of Poland in a Veresov opening battle while Ritviz Parab (five points) lost to IM Ducarmon Quentin (rating 2487) of Netherlands in a Caro Kann opening battle.
Geno pharmaceuticals brand ambassador, CM Nitish Belurkar (three points) drew his game with compatriot Suyash Wagh (rating 2001) in a Tartakower manoeuvre opening battle.
In the Open section, most of the top board games were in progress at the time of going to press. The encounter between Bai Jinshi and Mikhail Antipov was one of the first ones to end in a draw. Jinshi with this draw has earned a 9 round Swiss League GM norm.
N Srinath was defeated by Kamil Dragun while S L Narayanan who needs a draw to earn a GM norm was very much on course against Vidit Santosh Gujrathi as he was better placed enjoying an extra pawn in a rook and knight each ending.
Padmini Rout won a pawn in a tactical skirmish on the 20th turn which also saw the exchange of queens. Thereafter a flurry of exchanges followed and it appeared that despite an extra pawn, Padmini would really have to toil for a victory. Mae however failed to play accurately and ended on the losing side after 45 moves.
