Top seeded Grandmaster K Sasikiran warded off some initial resistance from Australian Vladimir Feldman to open with a comfortable win in the 13th Dubai International Open Chess Tournament. Playing white against Feldman, the Indian went for a Queen pawn opening and won the game with 72 moves. It is for the first time that an Indian has been given top billing in the event. With a total of 41 Grandmasters in fray, including six Indians, this year's Dubai Open is the strongest ever.