Salem Grand Master S. Arun Prasad defeated Grand Master S. Halkias to help India score a round one victory over Greece in the World Team Chess Championship at Bursa in Turkey on January 5.
India won this fourth board encounter to win the match 2.5-1.5 and take two match points from this opening match. India is making a debut in this World Team Chess Championship.
India was lucky in the end as G.N. Gopal who was down by two pawns pulled ahead and made a draw with H. Banikas with the white pieces.
Earlier, K. Sasikiran had drawn the experienced V. Kotronias on the top table from a Tarrasch defence. Sasikiran recovered from the opening to fight and make a draw in 33 moves with the white pieces.
On board two, Ganguly drew Papaioannou with comfort with the black pieces in 37 moves after he accepted the queen's gambit.
P. Harikrishna (second board) who joined the team a day late was rested in the opening match. National champion B.Adhiban (sixth board) was also rested in round one.
The results (round one): Azerbaijan bt Armenia 2.5-1.5, Turkey lost to USA 1-3, India bt Greece 2.5-1.5, Russia bt Brazil 2.5-1.5, Egypt lost to Israel 1-3.
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