Harikrishna beats Yge

Grandmaster-norm holder IM P Harikrishna of India improved his chances for a second norm with an easy victory over Visser Yge of The Netherlands in the seventh round of the Corus Grandmaster's Group B tournament.

Harikrishna shares lead with GM Mikhail Gurevich of Belgium with five points.

Playing white, Harikrishna sprang a major surprise by opting to open with the king pawn and faced the French defence.

In the middlegame complications arising out of Tarrasch variation, Harikrishna managed to gain a miniscule lead in development.

Yge sacrifced a piece for an illusory attack against the king and was left to suffer after Harikrishna returned the extra material. The rook and pawns endgame was played to perfection by the 14-year-old Indian prodigy.

Results of round 7:

P Harikrishna 5 beat Visser Yge 2.5;

T Luther 4.5 drew Van der Weide, Karel 4;

T Radjabov 4.5 beat Bosboom, Manuel 3.5;

F Nijboer 4.5 drew De Vreugt, Dennis 3.5;

Vink Nico 1 lost to M Gurevich 5;

E Hoeksema 1 lost to B Gulko 4.