Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy drew her fifth round match against GM Maxim Sorkin of Russia in the eight-match series of the Irlapuram Grandmasters tournament in Vijaywada on Monday.
Sorokin started the game with the queen's pawn for which Humpy replied with Catalon defence. In the middle game, Humpy gave up the bishop to get control of the board. But that did not happen and the game ended in a draw in 53 moves.
Meanwhile, D Sai Srinivas defeated Lalitha Babu in the fifth round to become the sole leader in the International Round Robin FIDE-rating tournament being held simultaneously.
Babu and M L A Reddy, who beat S Bhanupriya (0), are in joint second spot with 3.5 points apiece.
Fifth round results: S K Khasim (2.5) bt Y Sandeep (2), J Malleswara Rao (3) lost to Natalio Sorokina (2), G Murali Krishna (1.5) drew with D Lashmana Rao (2.5), K V K Karthik (2) lost to K Chandrahawasa (3), D Sai Srinivas (4.5) bt M R Lalitha Babu (3.5), M L A Reddy (3.5) bt S Bhanupriya (0).
