Chess World Cup: Leon bows out in first round

Panaji: Goa's youngest grandmaster, Leon Mendonca, bowed out of the FIDE World Cup after his loss against Chinese GM Shixu B Wang in the first round at Arpora on Sunday. The 24-year-old Chinese, playing with white pieces, stunned the 19-year-old Goan after 57 moves in the second game.

Shixu registered a 1.5-0.5 victory over Leon at the end of two-match first round.Leon's aggression put pressure on Shixu, who absorbed it and dominated midgame, even though he sacrificed his queen.Both players opted for aggressive moves. Shixu started with the Queen’s pawn opening, while Leon adopted the Indian defense. The players developed their pieces well and contested the center, demonstrating solid opening theory and creating a balanced, strategic position.Players were even until 21 moves as Leon's pawn created complexity, but his pawn exchange and queen's movement on the 28th move opened the game for Shixu. As pressure mounted, the players erred. Shixu blundered on the 42nd move. Leon chose safety of his queen and tried to take Shixu's queen, which he managed, but at the cost of his two rooks.With Shixu's pawn advancing to sixth position and two places away from becoming another queen, pressure started mounting on Leon.Shixu protected his king with a rook and black bishop, while he supported his pawn with the second rook. The Chinese grew in strength and gave no chance to Leon.