India's Negi is Asian chess champion

Ho Chi Minh City, May 14 (IANS) Indian Grand Master Parimarjan Negi and Irene Sukandar of Indonesia emerged champions of the Asian Continental Open and Women's championships respectively here Sunday.

Negi was assured of the title when second running Chinese Grand Master Yu Yangyi drew with top seed Grand Master Le Quang Liem of Vietnam after three hours of play. This was despite the last round loss of Negi to Grand Master Saleh Salem of the United Arab Emirates.

Negi and Yu finished in a tie with seven points each but the Indian won by tie-break over Yu Yangyi whom he had beaten in their individual encounter.

In the women's division, Irene beat Eesha Karavade of India to finish alone with seven points for the title. Erstwhile leader Mary Ann Gomes of India was beaten by Tan Zhongyi of China in the last round.

Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan and secretary general Hisham Al Taher gave away the awards.