Harikrishna finishes a commendable 4th at Ordix Open

Mainz, Germany, Aug 21 (UNI) World Junior Rapid Chess champion Pentala Harikrishna won two games and drew four to finish a commendable fourth in the Ordix Open here.

The young Indian Grandmaster, who scored a superb five from five games on the first day, played cautiously and drew the sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th games and won two games to score nine points from 11 games to finish a half point behind winner Rustam Kasimdzhanov and second-placed S Mamedyarov in the 11-game tournament.

Though Harikrishna scored nine points, yet on better average Alexander Morozevich, who also finished on nine points, superseded him in the final standing at number three and the Indian has to satisfy himself with the fourth place.

This was a commendable performance by the young Grandmaster, who first won the Chess 960 Rapid World Junior title, then was amongst the Top 10 in the FiNet Open and finally captured the fourth place in a 650 strong Ordix Open.

Speaking to UNI after the prize distribution ceremony, Harikrishna said, ''First of all I am very happy with my performance here at Chess Classic. I never expected to win Chess 960 Rapid World Junior against the home favourite Arkadij Naiditsch after a disastrous first round.'' ''However, I played much better on the second day winning all the four rounds. This was really a remarkable feat and I will never forget it. My performance in the FiNet Open and Ordix open could have been better.'' UNI XC PDS VC1007