By Arvind Aaron

Lesser known Chennai player, Vishnu Prasanna scored over his city mate Shyam Sundar in an attacking round five encounter to join two world champions in the lead on 4.5/5. Vishnu Prasanna, World Under-16 champion Baskar Adhiban, World Under-14 champion Vidit Gujrathi are in lead in the Sri Sai Ram Engineering College Asian Junior Chess Championship being played at Hotel Vijay Park in Chennai on December 10, 2008.

In the girls section, Kruttika Nadig was a shade lucky to win an ending which Shalmali Gagare could have drawn if she had played the best moves. Bhakti Kulkarni overcame Divyasri to join Kruttika in the lead with 4.5 points. Bhakti won two rooks by giving up her queen and did not miss a tactic after overlooking a chance to win a pawn with Qa4. In clear third place on four points is Mary Ann Gomes who played well sacrificing exchange to win in style.

Upsets continue in the boys group. Top seed and IM S.P. Sethuraman suffered a defeat to Vidit after the little boy from Nasik played crafty moves creating weaknesses in castled position of the white king. Four rounds remain to be played and round six will showcase pairings which will decide the leader. Vidit v Adhiban is on the menu for boys and Bhakti v Kruttika is scheduled for girls.