Humpy jointly tops individual performance list at Chess Olympiad

Turin, May 27 (UNI) Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy shares the top slot with WIM Zsiltzova-Lisenko Lubov, IM Kosintseva Tatiana and IM Kachiani-Gersinska Ketino in the individual performance list of the 37th Chess Olympiad with 4.5 points after fifth round.

GM Sargissian Gabriel (2612) of Armenia, with a score of four points from five rounds, tops the men's individual performances list along with 14 others, including India's Surya Shekhar Ganguly who also scored four points from five outings.

Indian men, despite having good positions, could not win a single game in the fifth round and ended 2-2 against China who were thrashed by Russia in the the fourth round.

However, the Indian Women, led by Humpy defeated Turkey 2.5-0.5.

Humpy and Swati Ghate won their games while Dronavalli Harika drew her match.

The Russian and Ukrainian men jointly lead the Olympiad with 15.5 points each, while the Russian women team, with 12.5 points, are well placed on the first spot -- half a point ahead of Ukraine.

Indian men team, seeded second in the Olympiad, slipped to 16th place while Indian women jumped to the sixth spot.

Indian men will be meeting Germany in the sixth round and will have to play exceedingly well in the remaining rounds to be in run for a medal.

Indian women too will face a strong Slovenian team but considering their earlier performance, they are expected to give a better result.

Standings After Round 5: Men: 1. Russia and Armenia (15.5) 3. Netherlands (15) 4. Uzbekistan (14.5) 5-11. Bulgaria, Ukraine, Spain, Belarus, USA, Iran, Sweden (14) 12-16. China, Greece, Germany, Brazil, India (13.5) Women: 1. Russia 12.5 2. Ukraine 12.0 3. Hungary 11.5 4-11. USA, Romania, India, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Armenia, Spain, Mongolia (11) Pairing Round 6: Men: Netherlands vs Russia Armenia vs Uzbekistan Sweden vs Bulgaria Ukraine vs Iran Belarus vs Spain China vs USA Lithuania vs ITA- Greece vs Brazil Germany vs India Scotland vs Georgia Women: Russia vs Hungary Spain vs Ukraine Mongolia vs USA Romania vs Armenia India vs Slovenia Kazakhstan vs Bulgaria Italy A Ivs Cuba Slovakia vs Lithuania China vs Poland Georgia vs France UNI XC AY PG SSC1600