Goa's both players - Ivana Furtado and WFM Bhakti Kulkarni - won their
second round games in the World Youth Chess Championships being played at
Antalya, Turkey.
Bhakti (ELO 2112) defeated Turkish girl Berfu Dincok (ELO 1945) in 70 moves
of a Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) game. She won a piece in the opening itself
and gradually wore her opponent down. When we contacted Bhakti, she
expressed satisfaction with the conditions in the tournament and was happy
with the overall facilities provided by the organisers. Bhakti had a slice
of good luck as well when top seeded Russian WFM Olga Giriya (ELO 2338) was
held to a draw and 2nd seeded WFM Sopiko Guramishvili (ELO 2305) of Georgia
lost to an unfancied opponent.
Ivana, Goa's other medal hope, also won her game against Helin Melek Saim of
Turkey. Ivana is trying to defend the crown that she won in Batumi, Georgia
last year and in the process she stands to become India's youngest double
World Champion!
One other defending champion, FIDE Master Girish Kaushik (ELO 2086) was not
so lucky when he lost to unrated Ayan Akhmetov of Kazhakastan in the Boys
Under 10 Section. Playing his favourite Dragon Variation of the Sicilian
Defence, Girish faced a blistering attack on his castled King. Although he
survived that, the
price he paid was too high in terms of material, and he eventually succumbed
on the 71st move. Indian hopes were kept alive in the same section, when
Asian Champion Shardul Gagare (ELO 2080) mated his opponent Aksel Sena Bicer
of Turkey in just 31 moves of an English Opening game.
No prizes for guessing the coach of all the three winners - Ivana, Bhakti
and Shardul. He is none other than Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale
who will be trying to make it a Golden tournament for his students in
Antalya!!
SOURCE: Sameer Salgaocar - President - GSCA
