UKCA Cup: Kunal M from Tamil Nadu in sole lead after five rounds

MANGALORE:Kunal M from Tamil Nadu maintained an all win record after five rounds on the third day of the 2 ndUKCA All India Fide Rated tournament for the UKCA Cup here on Friday. Kunal's experience proved a tad too much for Murali Karthikeyan (4), the World Under-10 Champion from Bloom Chess Academy, Chennai in an interesting end game that the former wrapped up in the 70 thmove.
On the second board, Ram S Krishnan (4.5) of BSNL drew with B Sekar (4.5) of Bloom Chess Academy (BCA). On the third board, local player MG Gahan was in his elements to garner a full point against Surendran N of BCA. IM DP Singh (4.5) of Southern Railway kept in touch with the leaders with a win over Lokesh N of Tamil Nadu. Overnight third round leader Balkishan A of Bangalore dropped a point against Surendran N of TN in the fourth round.
Important results: Round 5: Murali Karthikeyan (TN) 4 lost to M Kunal (TN) 5, Ram S Krishnan 4.5 (BSNL) drew with B Sekar (TN) 4.5, Surendran N (TN) 4 lost to MG Gahan (Kar) 4.5, IM DP Singh (SR) 4.5 bt Lokesh N (TN) 3.5, Pradeep Kumar RA (TN) 4.5 bt SC Subramanian (SR) 3.5, Vinoth Kumar M (TN) 4.5 bt Vinayak Kulkarni (Kar) 3.5, Anand Raj S (TN) 4 drew with Arul Mari (SR) 4; TS Ravi (TN) 4 bt Arjun K (Ker) 3; Bosco Dangmei (Man) 3 lost to OT Anil Kumar (Ker) 4; and K Athish (Ker) 3 lost to A Shankar (SR) 4.
Round 4: Anil Kumar 3 lost to Murali Karthikeyan 4, A Shankar 3 lost to Ram S Krishnan 4, Arul Mari 3.5 drew with DP Singh 3.5, M Kunal 4 bt Vijendra (Kar) 3, Lokesh N 3.5 drew with Pradeep Kumar 3.5, A Balkishan A (Kar) lost to Surendran N (TN) 4, MG Gahan 3.5 drew with Anand Raj S (TN) 3.5, and B Sekar (TN) 4 bt Madhusoodanan (Ker) 3.