Kateryna Lahno annexes Amity Grandmaster Challenge title

New Delhi, Dec 25 (UNI) It was Merry Christmas for Kateryna Lahno as the Ukarainian teen, who turns 17 on Wednesday, earned herself an advance birthday gift when she annexed the Amity Grandmaster Challenge title, defeating local favourite Parimarjan Negi 11-7 here today.

Kateryna won Rs three lakh, while Parimarjan got Rs two lakh from their 18-round battle of wits.

Trailing 4.5-7.5, the dice was heavily loaded against Parimarjan and the Indian Grandmaster, could win just one of the six blitz games, while his opponent won two and three were drawn.

The Ukrainian beauty with brain kicked off with an emphatic win before being held in the second game. An admirer of illustrious compatriot Vassily Ivanchuk, Kateryna sealed the issue by winning the third game. The fourth and sixth games were drawn matches, while Parimarjan's sole win came in the fifth.

Resplendent in a white-orange lehenga, a beaming Kateryna told UNI that the scoreline may suggest otherwise but it was a tough, marathon battle.

''I guess it gets a bit tiring when you play the same player over nine days. That must have made both of us predictable to each other.

Anyway, I'm happy to end on the right side of the battle,'' she said.

Parimarjan, on the other hand, doffeed his hat at his rival and said Kateryna deserved to win.

''I guess I was disappointed after losing the classic part. She was clearly more resourceful and exploited her opportunities. In my case, I took lot of time to build up my middle game only to find myself under time pressure just before going for the kill,'' he told UNI.

''I don't hide the fact that rapid or blitz is not exactly my forte and that's why I was desperate after Kateryna won the second game in classical chess. I came hard at her after that but she was very resilient and despite the mounting pressure, she didn't crumble. Full credit to her,'' Parimarjan added.

''After playing nine days non-stop, I need little break now and would analyse my games. It was a different experience for me,'' he added.

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