Lalith Babu stuns Rahman; Murali draws with top seed Liem
Rakesh Rao
On his 18th visit to India in just over a decade, Iranian Grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem Maghami is enjoying one of his best weeks in the Capital midway through the 8th Parsvnath International Open chess tournament at the Modern School hall here.
Seeded three, Maghami was lucky to open his account with a first-round victory after his opponent S. L. Narayanan displayed great sportsman spirit and chose to play even after the Iranian landed at the playing hall well after the ‘walkover time’. Since then, Maghami has maintained his triumphant run to emerge as the only leader with six straight wins.
On Sunday, Maghami outwitted Filipino International Master Dimakiling Oliver in 49 moves to reach six points, half a point ahead of Russian GM Maxim Turov, Filipino IM Richard Bitoon and young GM-norm holder M. R. Lalith Babu.
Lalith caused the biggest upset of the day by stunning eighth seeded Bangladeshi GM Ziaur Rahman in 62 moves. On Monday, Lalith faces Bitoon while Maghami faces Turov.
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