Indian teams canter home

Grandmaster K Sasikiran showed the way as Indian men cruised to a 3-1 victory over Turkish 2016 team in the second round of the 40th Chess Olympiad here.

The Indian women also had an easy day against much lower ranked Australia and even as they dropped half a point, the victory on the top three boards was good enough for the eves as they remained in the leading pack on four points, matching the men in the other section.

Match points being the consideration here, the Indian men remained in joint lead with four points from two matches along with 32 other teams. In the next round the men will meet Slovenia while the women will be up against Armenia.

Important results (round II): Qatar (2) lt to Ukraine (4) 1-3; USA (4) bt Lithuania (2) 3.5-0.5; Azerbaijan (4) bt Ireland (2) 3.5-0.5; Peru (2) lt to France (4) 0.5-3.5; India (4) bt Turkey (2) 3-1; Cuba (4) bt ICSC (2) 3.5-0.5; Costa Rica (2) lt to Poland (4) 0-4; Greece (2) lt to Russia (4) 1-3; China (4) bt Italy (2) 3.5-0.5; England (4) bt Brazil (2) 2.5-1.5; Germany (4) bt Georgia (2) 2.5-1.5.

Women: Sweden (2) lt to China (4) 0-4; Russia (4) bt Brazil (2) 3.5-0.5; Belgium (2) lt to Georgia (4) 0-4; Estonia (2) lt to USA (4) 0.5-3.5; India (4) bt Australia (2) 3.5-0.5; Venezuela (2) lt to Poland (4) 0-4; Indonesia (3) drew with Bulgaria (3) 2-2; France (4) bt Chile (2) 4-0; ICSC (3) drew with Cuba (3) 2-2; Slovenia (4) bt Philippines (2) 2.5-1.5.