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Sports Shorts: Gujrathi jumps to joint lead, Anand draws

September 27, 2017 19:47 IST

 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi

IMAGE: Vidit Santosh Gujrathi. Photograph: Vidit Gujrathi/Facebook

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand played out a draw against Latvian grandmaster Shirov Alexei but Vidit Gujrathi notched up a win over Benjamin Bok of The Netherlands to jump to joint lead after the fourth round of the Isle of Man International in Douglas, Isle of Man.

It took Gujrathi 40 moves to outwit Benjamin and now he shares the lead with six others. The fourth Indian to cross the 2700 ELO rating barrier, Gujrathi will face American Grandmaster Aleksandr Lenderman in the fifth round.

Playing with black pieces for the first time after three round against an opponent, 164 rating points below him, Anand settled for a draw after 30 moves to remain in joint second spot with three points. He will face Swedish grandmaster Nils Grandelius next.

 

World No. 10 Harika Dronavalli, however, suffered a loss against French Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet, while Sethuraman SP drew with American grandmaster Nakamura Hikaru after a 94-move long battle.

Among other Indians in fray, B Adibhan and Swapnil Dhopade joined Anand at three points for a share of second position alongwith 27 other chess players.

While Adibhan defeated compatriot Nihal Sarin in 64 moves, Swapnil Dhopade played out a draw in just 13 moves against Armenian grandmaster Sergei Movsesian.

Spartak Moscow charged by UEFA over banners, fireworks

Russian champions Spartak Moscow have been charged by UEFA after fans displayed illicit banners and set off fireworks during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Disciplinary proceedings also cover blocking of stairways and illicit chants at the Group E game in the Otkrytie Arena.

It is the second time this month that the club have been charged by European soccer's governing body.

During Spartak's 1-1 draw in their group opener at Slovenian champions NK Maribor on Sept 14 a flare fired from the visiting supporters' stand almost hit German referee Deniz Aytekin.

The club were fined 60,000 euros ($70,518.00) and banned from selling tickets to supporters for their next away match in Europe, at Sevilla on Nov. 1.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will deal with the latest case on October 19. 

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