Arun Prasad guides India to victory

Bursa: Grandmaster S Arun Prasad provided the crucial full point as India edged out Greece to emerge joint leader after the opening round of the World Team Chess Championship now in progress.

Arun got the better of Stelios Halkias to script India`s 2.5-1.5 win while his teammates settled for draws. Among others, Krishnan Sasikiran was held by Vasilios Kotronias, Surya Shekhar Ganguly could not breach Ioannis Papaioannou`s defence while G N Gopal survived some anxious moments before signing peace with Hristos Banikas on the top three boards.Playing on the fourth board, Arun Prasad provided the crucial blow with a fine grind against Halkias. The fact that the win came with black pieces was all the more rewarding to the young Indian. Indians thus emerged joint leaders in the championship along with Azerbaijan, USA, Russia and Israel. The remaining teams are all sharing the second spot.It was a spectacular effort from Arun Prasad. Playing the black side of a Semi-Slav defense, the Chennai-based player was in control of the middle game when Halkias was striving for some advantage and once the queens got traded Arun was in full swing. PTI