Two other Indian players R Ashwath and young talent SL Narayanan also hogged the limelight holding their respective Grand Master rivals to draws. Rajesh, playing white, faced the Grunfeld defence offered by the Russian Grandmaster Matlakov and enjoyed a slight edge throughout the match. Though Rajesh took a lot of time to enter the Middle game phase, he handled the position impeccably.
Matlakov, could not find any leeway and realising that he could not force his opponent into making any mistakes, even in time of trouble, offered truce on the 40th move.
On an adjacent table, Ashwath split points with Armenian rival GM Robert Hovhanningan. The second seed Russian Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov, however, started on a victorious note putting it across FM Julian Antonio Rojas Alarcon of Mexico. In the girls championship, India's main hope WGM Padmini Rout scored a smooth win over Roberta Brunello of Italy.
Important first round results: Rajesh VAV (Ind, 0.5) drew Maxim Matlakov (Russia, 0.5); Sanan Sjugirov (Rus, 1) bt Rojas Alarcon Julian Antonio (Mex); Deepak Aaron (USA) lt to Salgado Lopez Ivan (Esp , 1); Kozganbayev Erken (Kaz) lt to Tamir Nabaty (Isr, 1); Ter Sahakhyan Samvel (Arm, 1) bt Botta Gabriele (Sui); R Ashwath (Ind, 0.5) drew Hovhannisyan Robert (Arm, 0.5); SP Sethuraman (Ind, 0.5) drew SL Narayanan (Ind, 0.5). Girls: Nazi Paikidze (Geo, 1) bt Maria (Arm); Cori T Deysi (Per, 1) bt Pratyusha Bodda (Ind); Guo Emma (Aus, 0.5) drew Bhakti Kulkarni (Ind, 0.5).