Draws Dominate Round Three

By Arvind Aaron


The five round two leaders moved forward after draws dominated the top  few boards in the 36th St Joseph's National Premier Women Chess Championship being played at Chennai on December 4.

The five leaders include: D. Harika (AP), Tania Sachdev (Del), Kruttika  Nadig (Mah), Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) and S. Meenakshi of Air India, Chennai. All of them have 2.5 points from three games. Eight rounds are  still left to be played. The chief arbiter is International Arbiter K. Muralimohan.

The longest fighting draw happened in the Meenakshi Subbaraman versus  Dronavalli Harika encounter. Harika won a pawn in the fag end of the game and Meenakshi was able to draw without much sweat in the knight ending after 72 moves.

Bhakti Kulkarni did not get much from the white side and drew former  two-time champion Tania Sachdev in a queen and rook ending. Defending champion Kruttika Nadig offered and got a draw from Kiran Manisha Mohanty after the position turning very unclear.

Tamil Nadu players, Pon N. Krithikha and P. Priya wrecked havoc for the  Mohota sisters of Kolkata - Nisha and Swati - beating them in this round.

The results (round three): S. Meenakshi (AI) 2.5 drew with D. Harika  (AP) 2.5, Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) 2.5 drew with Tania Sachdev (Del) 2.5, Kiran Mohanty (Ori) 2 drew with Kruttika Nadig (Mah) 2.5, Eesha Karavade (Mah) 1.5 drew with C.H. Savetha (TN) 1.5, Mary Ann Gomes (WB) 2 bt Bindu Saritha (LIC) 1, Pon N. Krithikha (TN) 2 bt Nisha Mohota (PSPB) 1, C. Sahajasri (AP) 1 lost to Soumya Swaminathan (Mah) 2, Aarthie Ramswamy (AI) 2 bt A. Akshaya (TN) 1, A. Sithalatchumi (TN) 1.5 drew with Sai Meera (IB) 1.5, Swati Mohota (WB) 1 lost to P. Priya (TN) 1.5, Supriya  Maji (WB) 0.5 lost to Pallabi Roy (WB) 1.5, R. Bharathi (TN) 1 bt J.  Saranya (TN) 0, Amruta Mokal (Mah) 1 - bye.


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