Esbjerg (Denmark), July 06: Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran outplayed compatriot former world junior girls champion GM Koneru Humpy to jump into joint lead in the 18th North Sea Cup category 15 GM tournament now in progress here.
Overnight leader top seed Alexey Dreev of Russia played out a draw with fellow GM Michal Krasenkow of Poland and was joined at the top by GM Bruzon Lazaro of Cuba who crushed GM Peter Heine Neilsen of Denmark. After the end of the second round the three leaders have 1.5 points each in their kitty and are followed by GM Luke Mcshane of England, Danish duo of Lars Schandorff and Curt Hansen Krasenkow, Lenier Dominguez of Cuba and Krasenkow who all have 1 point each in their kitty having drawn both the games played so far in the tournament. Hastings champion Nielsen was left rubbing his wound on just a half point while Humpy is yet to open her account in this 10-players all-play-all tournament.
Sasikiran knew he would have to work hard and he did precisely that against Humpy who appears to be out of form. Having drawn the first game against Mcshane, Sasikiran went all out for a victory and was just rewarded as Humpy played too rashly.

It was an English opening where Sasikiran surprised his younger opponent right in the opening by going for a rather offbeat set-up.

Bureau Report