Tata National Premier Chess Championship: Akash upsets Neelotpal

KOLKATA: Overnight leaders, Grandmaster GN Gopal, IM Swapnil Dhopade and MR Venkatesh were content to retain their positions at the top with draws to lead the table with 4.5 points each at the conclusion of the 6th round of the Tata National Premier Chess Championship at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra here on Saturday. Breathing down their neck are a bunch of seven players, with four points apiece.
The uspet of the day was GM Neelotpal Das losing to 16-year-old G Akash of Tamil Nadu in an Anti-Marshall variation of the Ruy Lopez opening.Akash, clinically converted his extra pawn to a queen in a rook and pawn ending, to hand Neelotpal his second defeat of the meet.