New Delhi (25 March 2022) :- Grand Master and former Commonwealth Champion M R Lalith Babu nosed ahead of the field defeating young International Master Shahil Dey in the fifth round of the 19th Delhi International open chess tournament now underway here at Tivoli Gardens. Visit delhichess.com and chess-results.com.
With his fifth victory in as many games, Lalith who is coming fresh from winning as many as four international events in different countries, maintained a clean slate at the halfway stage of this 25 Lakh prize money tournament.
Arjun Erigaisi’s winning run was halted by fellow P Iniyan (photo above) who played out a draw with pieces. Arjun now shares the second spot with Iniyan and seven others with 4.5 points apiece. With five rounds still to come, as many as 30 players are on the toes of these nine with four points each in their kitty.
Lalith capitalized on a massive oversight by Shahil Dey. Starting out with the Larsen opening, Shahil Dey got an even middle game as Lalith Babu meticulously developed his forces. On the 24th move disaster struck Dey as he thought he was playing the winning move through a Knight sacrifice but overlooked a deft reply that turned the tables immediately. Lalith who has been in exemplary form did not give a second chance and wrapped the issue in 39 moves.
Iniyan employed a topical variation to counter Arjun’s Sicilian Sveshnikov. The middle game was interestingly poised when Iniyan parted with his queen for two rooks but his earlier sacrifice had meant that Arjun also had an extra pawn. However with a handful of extra pawns Iniyan made another sacrifice to create a brilliant fortress where Arjun’s Queen was helpless against a lone rook. The game was drawn after 41 moves.