15th May, 2003

SINCE the demise of the legendary Soviet Chess School following the
break-up of the USSR, Russia, with superstars such as Garry Kasparov and
Vladimir Kramnik, took over the mantle of the world's leading chess
superpower.

However, the balance of power could well shift full circle to Asia, the
original birthplace of the game. China and India both lay claims to the
origins of chess, and the governments of both countries are now
investing heavily with state funding for chess in much the same way as
the Soviets did after World War II.

The recent addition of chess to the 2006 Doha Asian Games will come down
to a battle for gold between the two rival countries. Both teams
recently went head to head for the medals at the Asian Team Chess
Championships in Jodhpur, India. Despite the Indians picking up 10 of
the 27 individual medals on offer, it wasn't the coveted team ones they
so desired as China swept the Asian team titles in both the men's and
women's sections.

In the men's section, China took gold with 25 points from India 'A' on
23.5, with India 'C', on 23 points, holding off Kazakhstan for the
bronze. The board one individual performance went to little-known Dao
Thein Hai of Vietnam, who top-scored on 7/9 to take gold ahead of
China's Ye Jiang Chuan on 5.5, with India's Krishnan Sasikiran picking
up the bronze.

In the women's section, China, with World Champion Zhu Chen taking the
individual gold for her performance of 5.5/7 on top board, took the team
gold on 20 points ahead of Vietnam on 19, with India 'A' the bronze on
18.5.

K Sasikiran - Dao Thien Hai
Asian Team Ch., (5)
Queen's Gambit Accepted
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 dxc4 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc4 a6 6 0-0 c5 7 Bb3 b5 8 a4 b4
9 Nbd2 Bb7 10 e4 cxd4 11 e5 Nd5 12 Nc4 Be7 13 Nxd4 0-0 14 Qg4 Kh8 15 Bc2
Nd7 16 Qh3 g6 17 Bh6 Rg8 18 Nf3 Rc8 19 Bb3 g5 20 Nxg5 Bxg5 21 Nd6 Nxe5
22 Nxb7 Nf4 23 Qe3 Qf6 24 Nd6 Ng4 25 Bxg5 Rxg5 26 Qa7 Ne5 27 Rfc1 Rxg2+
28 Kf1 Rcg8 29 Ke1 0-1

JOHN B HENDERSON