Kateryna holds Parimarjan, maintains lead

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Local favourite Parimarjan Negi, despite having his moments, could not outplay Kateryna Lahno and settled for a draw as the Ukarinian maintained her lead after third round of the Amity Grandmasters Challenge here today.

Kateryna, the 2005 European Women Champion, maintains a 2-1 lead over Parimarjan with 15 games still to come in the 18 games match being played under Fide time control, rapid and blitz.

After splitting point with the Indian, Kateryna won the second game with black pieces.

The event carries a total prize pool of Rs 500,000 out of which Rs 300,000 is reserved for the winner.

The fourth game will be played on Wednesday with Parimarjan having the advantage of white pieces.

Parimarjan looked more at ease with himself and he stuck to the Sicilian Nazdorf, despite struggling with the variation in the first round.

Kateryna also showed that she had prepared well and her brisk moves put Parimarjan under time pressure.

''It was quite an interesting position that we got in the middle game but my problem was I had used up more time than her,'' rued Parimarjan.

Kateryna never allowed his rival any leeway and sensing danger, she went for exchanges leading to an opposite coloured Bishop position.

Realising the game was heading nowhere, both the players signed truce after 43 moves.

Parimarjan, however, drew praise from Kateryna's trainer Ruslan Scherbakov.

''I think Parimarjan played quite well today, I thought Kateryna was slightly worse at some point but then under time pressure he made some mistakes,'' Scherbakov said.

UNI AY VD KP1937