Savitha’s seventh win levels India women; Indian men held 2-2 by Azerbaijan

B Savitha Shri recovered from an equal position to claim her seventh victory and salvage a 2-2 draw for the India women against Kazakhstan at the Chess Olympiad here on Thursday, while the Indian men were held to a 2-2 draw by Azerbaijan.

Germany beat Uzbekistan 2.5-1.5, joining Uzbekistan at the top of the open standings on 14 points, with India and Holland on 13 points apiece; in the women’s section China and Kazakhstan sit on 13 points and India is a half point adrift, with three rounds still to be played in the biggest biennial chess event.

In the open match against Azerbaijan, world champion D Gukesh drew his game with Muhammad Muradli and R Praggnanandhaa shared the top-board point with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov; the two remaining boards also finished level, producing a 2-2 team score.

The India women’s match was precarious earlier as Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy produced early draws before R Vaishali lost her game to Alua Nurman, leaving India behind on the scoreboard.

From an equal position later on the board, B Savitha Shri mounted a late offensive to win her game — her seventh of the event — which brought India back to 2-2 and secured the match draw against Kazakhstan.

Three rounds remain in the Chess Olympiad, with the open leaders Germany and Uzbekistan on 14 points and the women’s leaders China and Kazakhstan on 13 points as the tournament moves toward its final stages.