World Team Chess: India settle for bronze

The Indian chess team spanked Brazil 3.5-0.5 in the final round to end the World Team Chess Championship with a bronze medal in Bursa, Turkey.

Going into the final round, needing an outright win to clinch a medal, the Krishanan-Sasikiran pair delivered the goods and only one draw was conceded out of the four boards possible, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Russia claimed top spot after they completed a 3-1 victory over Israel in the final round. The Russians only needed a marginal victory to clinch the gold but Israelis blew it up in the games they played black.

US won the deserving silver medal after they held Azerbaijan to an easy 2-2 draw following a peace result on all boards.

The Russians ended with a tally of 15 points in all, while US and India tied for the second spot tally 13 points overall.

It was simply a tremendous result by the Indians without Viswanathan Anand, the mainstay of team India and also the highest rated player.

India captain Sasikiran, who defeated the two best players in the event, Levon Aronian of Armenia and Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan, deserves all the praise for the stupendous result.

The charged up Indians under the training of Lev Psakhis went for the kill and were handsomely rewarded in the last round.

GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly yet again scored against Gilberto Milas and at the fag end of the event P Harikrishna found his touch to beat upcoming Alexander Fier.

Sasikiran drew his match playing with black pieces and on the fourth board Gopal won a tense battle against Andre Diamont as the Indians completed a much needed victory in the final round.