By Mr.Raghunandan Gokhale

Goa's Bhakti Kulkarni drew with R. Preethi of Tamil Nadu to finish unbeaten and win the National Junior Girls Chess Championship which concluded here at Nagpur today. This was the first National Champion from Goa incidentally and 15 year old Bhakti is also the first girl after
superstar Koneru Humpy who won the Junior title while still being eligible for the Subjunior category.

 

Asian Junior Champion Mary Ann Gomes of West Bengal fought back from a losing position to draw with P. Lakshmi Sahiti of Andhra Pradesh to finish second. R. Preethi, who is also the reigning Under 17 Girls Champion finished third. All the top three will represent India in the World and Asian Junior Chess Championships to be played next year.

It is rare that a player in lower age category wins the National Chess Championship in higher group with such a domination. Bhakti won the Nationals ahead of 5 IWMs with a margin of 2 points. Bhakti gave the credit to her parents,Sameer Salgaocar and her coach and Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale for her win. Justice Mrs.Vasanti Naik inaugurated the event in the presence of Mr.Sunil Raisoni-the sponsor.Mr.D.V.Sundar-Hon.Secretary ,AICF presided over the function. Prof.A.B.Deshmukh was the Chief Guest for the Valedictory function attended by large gathering. Adv. Arvind Bade was the Co-ordinator while IA T.N.Bahadure was the Chief Arbiter.82 Girls participated.

 

Main results (final round) - 1. R. Preethi drew with Bhakti Kulkarni 2. Mary Ann Gomes drew with P. Lakshmi Sahiti 3. Pon. N. Krithika beat Kiran Manisha Mohanty 4. Kruttika Nadig beat Padmini Rout 5. Sitalatchumi lost to Soumya Swaminathan 6. S. Harini lost to P. Uthra 7. Mohana Sengupta lost to P. Sivasankari 8. N. Raghavi drew with Shrushti Shetty 9. Ch. Divyasri lost to P. Anusha 10. Priyanka Kumari drew with Ketaki Kulkarni

Final standings : 1. Bhakti Kulkarni (10 points), 2-6. Mary Ann Gomes, R. Preethi, Soumya Swaminathan, Pon. N. Krithika, Kruttika Nadig (8 points), 7-8. P. Lakshmi Sahiti, P. Uthra (7.5 points) 9-10. Padmini Rout, P. Sivasankari (7 points).