Belarus GM Alexei Fedorov with the cup of pleasure.
| Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
Grandmaster Alexei Fedorov of Belarus clinched the title with a spherical to spare in the seventh Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Circuit chess event, organised by the Coimbatore District Chess Association, on the Alankar Grande right here on Friday.
He didn’t fear a lot going into the ninth and closing spherical as he had already sealed the title. However, Fedorov fought as a lot, as he did proper by way of, in a drawn encounter towards Adireddy Arjun of Telangana.
He was clearly happy having gained his second title on the trot. “I am happy with the win, but I must say the tournament standard was very good, and the Indian youngsters were a tough nut to crack.”
C. Sai Viswesh of Chennai and Adireddy had been tied with six factors apiece, however the former having obtained the higher of the latter in the sooner spherical completed second.
Sai regarded supreme earlier in the event, however let slip the benefit halfway by way of. However, he confirmed his class but once more in the ninth spherical with a sound tactical play towards the United States GM Raset Ziatdinov in a closed Sicilian defence to earn a level.
Final rating (after 9 rounds): 1. Alexei Fedorov (Blr) 7.5; 2. C. Sai Vishwesh 6; Adireddy Arjun 6; Evgeniy Podolchenko (Blr) 5.5; Asylbek Abdyzhapar (Kgz) 5; Sakshi Chitlange 4.5; David Gochelashvili (Rus) 4.5; G. Gugan 3; Hemanth Raam 2; Raset Ziatdinov (USA) 1.
