Harikrishna outplays Dutch GM

India's teenage sensation Pendyala Harikrishna remained firmly on course to becoming the country's youngest Grandmaster after stunning Netherlands GM Dimitri Reinderman while G B Prakash held Igor Kausis to a draw in the third round of the 12th Goodricke international open chess tournament in Calcutta on Thursday.

The 14-year-old Harikrishna, who earned his second GM norm in the Corus Grandmasters 'B' chess tournament at Wijk Ann Zee late last month, now leads the table alongside nine others with 2.5 points, and has bright prospects of picking up his final norm from the tournament. Anand had achieved the feat at the age of 18.

The world under-14 title holder from Andhra Pradesh played with black pieces in a Pelican variation of the Sicilian defence and seized the initiative when Reinderman failed to exchange queens.

Harikrishna got a thrust in the middle-game and then won two pawns to checkmate his opponent.

The other GM aspirant G B Prakash, also on two norms, agreed to a draw with GM Igor Rausis of Latvia in just seven moves to take his points tally to 2.

Among other Indians, GM Dibyendu Barua (2.5) got the better of GM Normunds Miezis in a queen and pawn ending, and national champion GM Abhijit Kunte agreed to an 18-move draw with Swiss GM Joseph Gallagher.

IM Sandipan Chanda held Polish GM Tomasz Markowski to a draw, while Neelotpal Das won a thriller against Amon Simutowe of Zambia in mutual time scramble.