3rd Global Trust Bank Tournament - Press release for Round 8

                       PRESS RELEASE  22-12-1998
                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        3rd Global Trust Bank All India-FIDE Rated open Chess Tournament
                      Co-sponsor-Satyam Group of Companies.
                                VIII Round
                                ~~~~~~~~
        J Ramakrishna of AndhraPradesh continued to maintain the lead        
        with 7.5 points at the end of the 8th round of the 3rd Global 
        Trust Bank FIDE Rated All India Open Chess Tournament , with a 
        creditable draw over IM Neeraj Kumar Mishra of Tata Steel.He is
        followed by IM N K Mishra and  C.S Gokhale of Indian  Airlines 
        both on 7 points.

        On the top Board J Ramakrishna with white pieces  opted for the 
        Grand Prix Attack against Mishra's Sicilian Defence. Ramakrishna 
        faltered on the 13th move  with Ng1 and allowed Mishra to equalise.
        The players traded pieces at regular intervals and game was agreed 
        for a  draw after 36 moves in a Rook and Pawn ending.

        IM Lanka Ravi adopted the Petrosian variation to IWM Vijayalakshmi's
        Queen's Indian Defence.Ravi took control of the game by launching an 
        attack against the Black King.This fetched him a Pawn.However in Time 
        Pressure, Ravi missed his winning chances to settle for a draw  at 
        the 47th move.
        
        IM Norm Holder C S Gokhale scored a convincing victory over 
        IM P Mithrakanth of NLC. Facing the Nimzo Indian Defence, CS Gokhale
        won a vital pawn on the 21st move and costed to an easy win in 46 moves.

        Ravi Bhave of Mumbai with white pieces took on the Bogo Indian Defence
        of IM Elect Jayant Gokhale. All of White attempts for a win were easily 
        neutralised by Jayant and the game fissled out into a draw in just 23 moves.
       
        Last year's winner PDS Girinath of Railways could only manage a draw 
        against R K Mishra inspite of having the white pieces.IM Elect Girinath 
        played the Philidor defence with  colours reversed and like always got 
        himself into severe time trouble .This oppurtunity was well utilised by 
        Mishra to obtain a comfortable draw in 45 moves.