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Calcutta: Grandmaster GN Gopal and Neelotpal Das and IM Swapnil Dhopade shared the lead with 2 points each after the conclusion of the 2nd round of the Tata National Premier Chess Championship being held at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
The 13 round Swiss League meet is being organised by Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy and All Sport Management. GN Gopal won an interesting game against Grandmaster Sundarajan Kidambi with the White pieces in a French Tarrasch.
Despite the complications in the middle game Gopal was in control of the position and won the game with precise moves to win the game in 28 moves.
Woman Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes went down tamely against Grandmaster Neelotpal Das in a Reti Opening.
Mary Ann’s weak opening play allowed Neelotpal to gradually build up his position and he had little difficulty in winning the game thereafter.
City-based Bitan Banerjee held veteran Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay to a draw in an advanced variation of the French defence. Bitan sacrificed the exchange to complicate in the middle game.
He mishandled the position thereafter allowing Praveen some chances in a difficult end-game. Praveen in turn missed the best line of play and the game petered out into a draw.
In other upsets IM Swayams Mishra held Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, Sagar Shah held Grandmaster Deepan Chakravarthy while Sasikant Kutwal of Railways held Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua to draws on the day.
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