IM Mishra upsets GM Timoshenko to move into joint 2nd

Mumbai: India`s International Master Swayams Mishra shocked GM Timoshenko Georgy of Ukraine to take the joint second position at the conclusion of the penultimate round in the 6th Mumbai Mayor International Chess Tournament at the NSCI Stadium here on Wednesday.

Mishra (ELO 2406), from Odisha, played aggressively against higher ranked rival Timoshenko (ELO 2522). He unsettled his opponent by castling on the 9th move and preferred to keep his king in the centre to activate all his pieces. Timoshenko resigned in 30 moves, enabling Mishra to lie joint second in the race for the title that would be decided on Thursday. The top slot was occupied by three players with 8 points. Overnight leader, GM Pantasulaia Levan (ELO 2563) of Georgia, was joined by two others - top seed GM M Mekheil (ELO 2645) of Georgia and 2nd seed GM Amonatav Farrukh (ELO 2616) of Tajikistan. They were followed by GM Akashayraj KoreKore, Mishra and GM Andriasian Zaven (ELO 2608) of Armenia, who were tied on 7.5 points each. Kore (ELO 2508) defeated his Indian rival IM Ravichandran Siddharth (ELO 2361) in just 29 moves with black pieces. There are four Indian players with chances of a Grandmaster Norm if they win the final round on Thursday. The results: GM Andriasian Zaven 7.5 drew with GM Pantsulaia Levan 7.5, GM Amonatov Farrukh 8 bt GM Babujian Levon 7, GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil 8 bt GM Gagunashvili Merab 6.5, IM Swayams Mishra 7.5 bt GM Timoshenko Georgy 6.5, IM Ravichandran Siddharth 6.5 lost to GM Akshayraj Kore 7.5, GM Vaibhav Suri 6.5 drew with IM Rajesh V A V 7, GM Petrosian Davit G 6 lost to GM Zubar Alexander 7, GM Papin Vasily 7 bt IM Udeshi Aditya 6, IM Sangma Rahul 7 bt GM Abhijit Kunte 6, GM Harutjunyan Gevorg 7 bt GM Ziatdinov Raset 6. PTI