Ivana Furtado

Ivana Wins, Keeps Lead
By Arvind Aaron

Ivana Furtado of Goa the defending World Under-8 Girls Champion won the penultimate round and leads the tournament by half a point. She will need a win or draw in the final round on Wednesday to retain her title.

We have title chance in Girls U-8, outside title chance in Girls U-18, and medal chances in Girls U-14, Girls U-12 and Boys U-10.

In the Girls U-14, both Shalmali Gagare and Mohana Priya won while Anusha lost. Shalmali and Mohana Priya are on 7.5/10 and are tied for the third place. Mohana Priya has a tough opponent in the form of Padmini Rout (second seed from India playing on 7/10 and no medal chance). Shalmali has an easier, yet higher rated opponent.

Priyanka Kumari of Jharkhand has an outside chance of winning a medal in the Girls Under-12 section. She is on 7.5/10 and is tied for the fifth-sixth places. A win is necessary to keep her in the medal race. If there is a low-scoring final round, she could return with a medal on her maiden visit. She had won the National U-11 at Chennai i 2006.

Prince Bajaj scored a round ten win and is in clear third place in the Boys Under-10 section with 8/10. Chinese Wang Tong Sen has locked on the title with 9.5 already. Prince can hope to race the Russian who is on 8.5 for the silver medal. Shardul Gagare is on 7.5 and tied for the fourth place.

There are two leaders in the Girls Under-18 section on 8/10. Three players are tied for the third place on 7.5 and it includes Mary Ann Gomes. She has a tiny chance of even finishing first. All Mary requires is a good nerve for the final round. She was in the same situation last year when Harika won the title. Preethi is on 7 but might have lost that medal chance already.

Another section where we started well, were in joint and even sole lead and then lost the chances is the Boys U-14 section with Vidit Gujrathi crashing to defeat yet again

Photo gallery

Ivana Furtado Moves Into Lead

Vidit Gujrathi Wrests Slender Lead

Vidit Joins Lead In Boys Under-14

Mary Ann Gomes In Sole Lead 

Four Indians Among Leaders

Indians Share Lead In Seven Sections

Indians Among Leaders In Ten Sections

More news - WYCC

Home                                             Published: 27^th  November, 2007