Parimarjan Negi, the world's youngest Grandmaster, was back in the reckoning for top honours after a clinical victory over International Master Safarli Eltaz of Azerbaijan in the eight round of the World Youth Stars chess tournament in Kirishi, Bulgaria.
On a day that witnessed five out of six games ending in draws, Negi was the lone winner.
It was a good turnaround by the 14-year old after being beaten in the previous game by tournament leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia.
The victory also helped Negi bridge the gap between him and the leader. The Indian took his tally to 5.5 points and is placed joint-second along with World junior champion Zaven Andriasian of Armenia. The two are half a point adrift of Nepomniachtchi.
With just three rounds remaining in the category-12 tournament according to FIDE charts, IM Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia and GM Yuriy Kuzubov are the only threat to lead positions with five points apiece.
Even though the race for the title will hot up, Nepomniachtchi holds the edge over the others with his half point cushion and only one GM -- Sergei Zhigalko of Belarus left to play. Parimarjan also has to meet Zhigalko besides Russians Eduard Gorovykh and Ivan Popov.
It was a Sicilian defense by Safarli Eltaz as black that gave Negi a tangible advantage in the opening despite as many as three pieces changing hands inside the first fifteen moves.
As the middle game arrived, Parimarjan was left with better piece co-ordination and he nurtured his position well to reach a better endgame.
Winning a pawn, Negi kept his opponent's pieces in check and when Safarli tried further complications, he lost another pawn and never recovered. The game lasted 52 moves.
Nepomniachtchi survived the day by the skin of his teeth as his adventurous opening almost cost him the game against compatriot Eduard Gorovykh.
The Italian opening saw some early fireworks as Gorovykh surprised with a relatively new plan and Nepomniachtchi was soon pushed to the wall and could salvage only with some miraculous counter active measures in this 30-mover.
Andriasian could not make desired progress against the Sicilian Sveshnikov of Zhigalko and subsequent exchanges led to a level middle game position where the peace was signed in 26 moves. In other important game of the day Grigoryan played solidly with his white pieces to hold Kuzubov.
Results round 8: Parimarjan Negi (Ind, 5.5) beat Safarli Eltaz (Aze, 2.5); Eduard Gorovykh (Rus, 3) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Rus, 6); Ivan Popov (Rus, 3) drew with Rauf Mamedov (Aze, 4.5); Avetik Grigoryan (Arm, 5) drew with Yuriy Kuzubov (Ukr, 5); Falko Bindrich (Ger, 2) drew with Daniil Lintchevsky (Rus, 3); Zaven Andriasian (Arm, 5.5) drew with Sergei Zhigalko (Blr, 3).
