World Top 100 Players

WGM Nisha Mohota, the top seed from Bengal moved into sole lead by creating a passed queen pawn in her victory over M.R.Sangeetha of Tamil Nadu in the eleventh round of the National Women A being played at Hotel Goldfinch in Bangalore on May 4.

Overnight joint leader Mary Ann Gomes of Bengal failed to catch up as she was held to a draw by Bhagyashree Thipsay. Mary Ann had a queen for rook and pawn but could not win the technical ending. "I think she could have won," said GM R.B.Ramesh. This result gave Nisha Mohota sole lead with eight points from eleven games. Two rounds remain to be played in this 14-player event which has a prize fund of Rs.1.32 lakhs.

Mary Ann was joined in the second-third places by Anupama Gokhale of Bharat Petroleum with 7.5 points. Aarthie Ramesh moved to fourth place with seven points. "Aarthie was winning against Nisha and Swati Mohota and refused a draw offer from Sangeetha in the games she lost," said her trainer and husband GM R.B.Ramesh.

Aarthie scored an attacking 29-move victory with the black pieces over WGM Swati Ghate. Swati played the Rossolimo attack with the white pieces against the Sicilian defence of Aarthie. Swati played passively and had to cede with a piece and also get mated.

Mary Ann Gomes gets white in the crucial round twelve game against Nisha Mohota and needs a victory to be in the title race. Nisha Mohota has not lost a single game so far and has remained solid. Either way, Anupama Gokhale has a favourable pairing in the end to win the title for the sixth time.

The results for the eleventh round:

The pairing for Thursday's twelfth round:

The pairing for Friday's final round:

C o n t a c t