Kocaeli (Turkey), Sep 27 (IANS) Vidit Gujarathi became the first player from Maharashtra to win a World Junior Chess Championship medal when he held eventual champion Yu Yangyi of China to a draw in the 13th and penultimate round to finish third.
The country’s 30th Grandmaster who had to overcome an indifferent start to the tournament was tied with GM Cori Jorge of Peru at 9.5 points but clinched the bronze medal thanks to a better tie-break score.
Gujarathi has now joined the elite list of Indians winning medals at the junior Worlds. V. Anand won the gold in 1987 followed by gold by Harikrishna in 2004, the gold by Abhijeet Gupta in 2008 and bronze by Sahaj Grover in 2011.
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The silver went to Alexander Ipatov of Turkey, who finished with 10.5 points.
The Nashik boy, who earlier held the World U-14 title in 2008, was looking down and out after six rounds, having managed just four points after suffering a loss against compatriot Sahaj Grover.
However, the youngster rose to the occasion by winning five of his last seven rounds and then managing a quick draw against Yangyi with black in the final round to seal the bronze.
“I am extremely happy with the way I fought back in the tournament,” Vidit said from Turkey.
Among other Indians, GM S.P. Sethuraman lost the final round against Ipatov to finish fifth with nine points while among girls, Padmini Rout was the best Indian performer, finishing eighth.
