Mary Ann Gomes Completes Hat-trick

AICF Admin 12 years ago

Mary Ann Gomes completes Hat-trick
By Arvind Aaron

An unusual three-way tie for the first place occurred in the concluding day of the Union Bank of India 40th National Women’s Premier Chess Championship that concluded in Kolkata on September 5, 2013.

The final round was dramatic. Former world junior girls’ champion, Soumya Swaminathan who was leading by half a point after the penultimate round, lost the final round to Padmini Rout. This allowed former two-time champion Tania Sachdev of Air India to win and catch up.

Mary Ann Gomes of Airports Authority of India, Kolkata drew Ivana Furtado in the final round to tie with Soumya and Tania on 7.5 points. Mary Ann had the better tie-break and was declared champion. Mary Ann Gomes won the title for the third time in a row.

For the records, Mary Ann becomes the third player after Rohini Khadilkar and S Vijayalakshmi to win this premier contest three times in a row. Despite this great feat, Mary Ann is losing about four Elo.

Mary Ann won four games and drew seven to become the only undefeated player in this new 12-play all-play-all format. Of her four wins, three were against former champions, Tania, Swati and Nisha. The fourth win was again Monnisha, the upcoming Sub-Junior champion.

The older players find it difficult in the second half and it was seen in the previous event at Jalgaon. Swati Ghate who started well with 4.5/6 made only 1.5 from the last five games.

The biggest rating gainer was Ivana Furtado and the biggest loser was Bhakti Kulkarni. Both come from Goa.

+ Rating gainers: Ivana Furtado 24.1, Soumya 15.9, Swati Ghate 14.6, Monnisha 13.6, Pratyusha 5.3, Padmini Rout 5.1.

– Rating losers: Bhakti Kulkarni 25.5, Mohanty Kiran Mohanty 18.6, Michelle 13.6, Mary Ann Gomes 4.1, Tania Sachdev 5.4, Nisha Mohota 5.8.

The event was organised by the Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy and All Sports Management. It was sponsored by United Bank of India.

Final placings: 1-3. WGM Mary Ann Gomes (WB), IM Tania Sachdev (AI), WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) 7.5/11 each; 4 WGM Padmini Rout (Odi) 7; 5 WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) 6; 6 IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB) 5.5; 7 WIM Ivana Furtado (Goa) 5; 8-10. WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa), WGM Kiran Mohanty (Odi), Bodda Pratyusha (AP) 4.5 each; 11 WFM G.K. Monnisha (TN) 3.5; 12 Michelle Catherina (TN) 3.