Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran started his campaign in style with a thumping win over GM Alexander Onischuk of United States in the first round of Aerosvit International chess tournament here.
Sasikiran was a class act with his white pieces as he won a one-sided affair in the Queen’s Indian defence game. Onischuk was the first to deviate from main variations on his 12th turn and his 16th move was a error-filled that gave Sasikiran an opportunity for a thematic exchange sacrifice lading to complexities favouring the Indian.
Sasikiran slowly increased his advantage in the ensuing middle game leaving Onischuk pieces less mobilised even though the position was open. Banking on his passed pawn on the 6th rank, Sasikiran clinched thee issue in just 35 moves.
It turned out to be an exciting day in general in the 12-players double round robin tournament. Apart from Sasikiran, Lenier Dominguezz of Cuba and Latvian-born Spaniard Alexei Shirov were the other winners while the remaining three games ended in draws.
With 10 rounds to come, Sasikiran, Dominiguez and Shirov emerged as early leaders in the event, while Svidler, Eljanov, Ivanchuk, Nisipeanu, Karjakin and Jakovenko remain in close pursuit just a half point behind. The three losers of the opening day are currently at the bottom of the tables.
Sergey Rublevsky was at the receiving end against Shirov in the most complicated game of the first round. Rublevsky used the same line of the Slav Defence that served him well recently but Shirov deviated early from topical variations to gradually obtain a better position.

Results (round 1): Krishnan Sasikiran (Ind) bt Alexander Onischuk (USA); Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu (Rom) drew with Dmitry Jakovenko (Rus); Sergey Karjakin (Ukr) drew with Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr); Lenir Dominiguez (Cub) bt Loek Van Wely (Ned); Alexei Shirov (Esp) bt Sergei Rublevsky (Rus); Peter Svidlr (Rus) drew with Paveel Eljanov (Ukr).