Khanty Mansiysk, (Russia):
Indian challenge in the World Chess Cup ended abruptly after three of their Grandmasters wilted under pressure and lost their must-win games here.
Grandmasters Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Krishnan Sasikiran and Sandipan Chanda lost their return games with identical 0-2 margins against their respective opponents to bow out of the prestigious event.
All the three Indians out of the seven that started the tournament had lost the first game and needed victories in their return games to remain in the fray.
Sandipan Chanda went for the King's Indian defense but it did not turn out be a good tactic against Russian Dmitry Jakovenko who seized the initiative early in the middle game.
Chanda tried in vain for counterplay by sacrificing a pawn but ended up losing another in quick time. The Russian gave no chance to the Indian thereafter and wrapped up the game.
Asian champion Ganguly faced the Chabonenko Slav against Wang Hao of China who played black. The opening saw the Indian relishing a little advantage that was quickly neutralized by Hao through the exchange of queens in the middle game.
An error forced Ganguly to part with a pawn and his Chinese opponent seized the opportunity to get the upper hand.
The final endgame was with two Bishops and pawns in which Ganguly's lack of material had the decisive say.