Vijayalakshmi in sole lead

Vijayalakshmi in sole lead
By RR Vasudevan

India’s first Woman Grandmaster Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman (Air India) maintained the lead with 6.0 points after the seventh round of the 43rd National Women Challengers Chess Championship 2016 at Nehru Stadium, Chennai here today. In a hard fought top board 59 move encounter Vijayalakshmi was held to a draw by Woman FIDE Master Saranya J of Tamil Nadu.

Following Vijayalakshmi at 5,5 points were six players viz., WGMs Swati Ghate, Kiran Manisha Mohanty (both LIC), WIMs Vaishali R (TN), Michelle Catherina P (Air India), WFM Saranya J and Divya Lakshmi R (both TN) respectively.

Peace appeared to be watchword today, as six of the top seven boards ended in draws. Those series of draws helped Chennai girls Michelle and Divya Lakshmi cut down the lead deficit with crucial wins. Four more rounds remain to played in this 118 player event, that concludes on Saturday 25th June, 2016.

Important Results (Round 7) Saranya J (5.5) drew with Vijayalakshmi S (6), Swati Ghate (5.5) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty (5.5), Gomes Mary Ann (5) drew with Vaishali R (5.5), Soumya Swaminathan (5) drew with Priyanka K (5), Mahalakshmi M (5) drew with Tarini Goyal (5), Michelle Catherina P (5.5) bt Patil Mitali Madhukar (4.5), Aparajitha Gochhikar (5) drew with Lasya G (5), Divya Lakshmi R (5.5) bt Pon N Krithika (4.5), Karavade Eesha (5) bt Kotepalli Sai Nirupama (4), Jennitha Anto K (4) lost to Pratyusha Bodda (5).