Chess Olympiad: India B team shows its A game

PTI

Mamallapuram, July 30

The India B team blanked Estonia 4-0 in the second round of the open section at the 44th Chess Olympiad here today.

The second-seeded India A defeated Moldova 3.5-0.5 for their second straight win.

World champion Magnus Carlsen, who had missed the first round, beat Georg Meier to star in the third-seeded Norway's 4-0 victory over Uruguay.

The formidable USA struggled for the second straight day in the open section as the top seeds could only manage a 2.5-1.5 win over Paraguay after having dropped half-a-point against the unfancied Angola on Day 1.

In the women's section, top-seeded India A took the winning lead against Argentina.

Koneru Humpy, playing on the top board, was held to a draw by Marisa Zuriel in 44 moves but Tania Sachdev and Bhakti Kulkarni notched up victories over Maria Campos and Maria Belen Sarquis, respectively, to give the team a second consecutive victory. R Vaishali was involved in a battle against Maria Jose Campos on the second board.

The India B team was battling it out against Latvia with Mary Ann Gomes providing a win over Nellija Maklakova. Padmini Rout drew her game with Ilze Berzina to put the team 1.5-0.5 ahead. India C, the third team in the women's section, defeated Singapore 3-1.

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