Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran launched his campaign with an easy victory against GM Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez of Spain while top seed Alexei Shirov had to split points in the first round of the masters' section of Gibtele.com chess festival in Gibraltar.
Shirov's draw with International Master John Shaw of Scotland was the only upset on a day when most of the other seeded players coasted to victories in the masters' section.
The event, being played under FIDE's Swiss rules, has attracted 120 participants including 25 Grandmasters from across the globe and carries a total prize pool of over 15,000 Pounds Sterling (over Rs 12 lakh). The winner will take home 4,000 Pounds.
For Sasikiran, it turned out to be a smooth contest as Lopez was at sea soon after the opening. Playing white, the Indian was up against a Slav defence where Lopez, in his bid to get the position out of known theoretical lines, went haywire and allowed Sasikiran an absolute bind on the king side.
Nursing his advantage well, Sasikiran won a pawn and quickly traded pieces to reach a rook and pawns endgame. Lopez resigned on the 49th move.
Latvian-born Shirov went for his trademark attacking position but unfortunately for him, Shaw, who employed the Phillidor defence as black, proved a tough customer.
Shirov went for a pawn sacrifice early in the opening and won Shaw's queen. In return, the Scot had three pieces. After trying for some time in vain, Shirov finally had to share points.
Another impressive result was achieved by Braggi Thorfinnsson of Iceland who held fourth seed Israeli Emil Sutovsky to an easy draw.
From a Grunfeld defence game, Sutovsky failed to get any advantage and after subsequent exchanges allowed perpetual checks to sign peace.
In other important games of the day, second seed Alexei Dreev of Russia had it easy against Scotland's Colin Mcnab while third seed and former world junior champion Levon Aronian of Armenia outplayed Stefan Kristjannsson of Iceland.
Important Results Round 1: Alexei Shirov (Esp) drew with John Shaw (Sco); Colin Mcnab (Sco) lost to Alexei Dreev (Rus); Levon Aronian (Arm) beat Stefan Kristjansson (Isl); Braggi Thorfinnsson (Isl) drew with Emil Sutovsky (Isr); Krishnan Sasikiran (Ind) beat Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez (Esp); Tissir Mohamed (Mar) lost to Kiril Georgiev (Bul); Boris Avrukh (Isr) beat Watu Kobese (Rsa); Richard Pert (Eng) drew with Pavel Tregubov (Rus); Hikaru Nakamura (US) beat Michael Hennigan (Eng); Sasha Belezky (Ukr) lost to Gabriel Sargissian (Arm); Zahar Efimenko (Ukr) beat Joanna Dworakowska (Pol); Sergio Estremera (Esp) drew with Ian Rogers (Aus); Kevin Spraggett (Can) beat Ali Mortazavi (Eng); Thomas Rendle (Eng) lost to Vasilios Kotronias (Gre); Alexander Areshchenko (Ukr) beat Gerard Welling (Ned); David Howell (Eng) drew with Mark Hebden (Eng).
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