Deep Sengupta shocked top seed Berkes

Kochi: Grandmaster P. Harikrishna maintained his lead in the world junior chess championship on Thursday. The Indian has 7.5 points after nine rounds.

Zhao Jun of China (7) was in second spot, followed by a group of five ? GM Evgeny Alekseev of Russia, GM Tigran Petrosian of Armenia, IM Quezada Perez Yunieski (Cuba), Yuri Drozdovsky (Ukraine) and India?s Deep Sengupta ?with 6.5 points apiece.

Sixteen-year-old Sengupta shocked top seed GM Ferenc Berkes of Hungary in a Sicilian Pelican in 43 moves.

Harikrishna was held to a draw by Erwin L?ami of The Netherlands in an English opening in 44 moves. Alekseev had to be content with a 35-move draw against Zhao Jun in a Catalan defence game.

Petrosian lost to IM Yunieski in a close Sicilian game in 71 moves while Drozdovsky defeated Koneru Humpy in Queens Indian defence in 32 moves.

In the girls? under-20 world championship, being played simultaneously, top seed Ekaterina Korbut (Russia), Elisabeth Paehtz (Germany) and Anna Ushenina (Ukraine) were in joint lead with seven points.

GM Korbut crushed J.E. Kavitha and WGM Paehtz defeated Vinuthna in a closed Sicilian game in 51 moves.

WGM Anna Ushenina defeated Saheli Nath in a Kings Indian defence and Alina Motoc lost to Eesha Karavade in Grunfeld defence in 52 moves.

Tania Sachdev did well to split point with China?s Zhang Jilin.