By IANS
Wijk Aan Zee, (Netherlands) : Even as the world champion Viswanathan Anand was shocked in his first round, things did not pan out too well for Koneru Humpy and Parimarjan Negi, who lost their respective games in Group B and C of the annual Corus Grandmasters chess tournament.
Pentala Harikrishna was the lone Indian to snatch a draw from Nigel Short in Group B.
Humpy (rated 2612) came a cropper in a Scotch game lasting 54 moves against Jan Smeets (2573) of the Netherlands. She will now meet Ian Nepomniachtchi (2600) in the second round and have white pieces.
Harikrishna (2668), who has trained with Short (2645), a former challenger to Garry Kasparov for the world title, played a good draw in 51 moves in the French Advance. He will now meet Hou Yifan (2527) of China in second round.
In Group C, Negi lost to Carlsson in 36 moves in the Sicilian Modern Dragon. It was surprise result for the Indian who was rated higher at 2526 as against his rival’s 2501. Negi will now meet Arik Braun (2536) in the second round.