AICF-KIIT Cup International Category Women Chess Championship

Girya Olga of Russia is inching closer to the title by scoring 7 points from 9 rounds , followed by Lilit and Elizabeth Paehtz on the 2nd and third position with 6 and 5 points respectively. Guo Qi and Padmini Rout are also in the joint 3rd position with 5 points a piece.

A crucial encounter between the Armenian GM Elina and the tournament leader WGM Girya Olga started with the exchange variation of Slav defense. Girya’s 24.Ke8 gave white an alarming advantage, which was thrown away by Elina by exchange of queens on the 28th move. An active endgame play by Girya saved the day and both played till the King’s were left alone in 70 moves.

2nd placed IM Lilit Mkrtchian claimed a draw on 27th move by repeating the moves against Indian IM Eesha Karavade. Accepting the gambit pawn of the Queen bishop was quite uncomfortable with her position. I tried a new opening and did not work out well, but anyway I played it safe opined Lilit , later in an interview.

IM Paehtz had a comfortable win with the light pieces against WGM Mary Ann Gomes. In a french defense game Paehtz won pawns on 18th move and 24th move. Mary, searching for counter measures got one of her rook bottled up and resigned on the 33rd move.

Indian challenge, WGM Padmini Rout sustained a self inflicted defeat at the hands of WGM Guo Qi,who enjoys her second consecutive victory of the event. Fresh from her victory against GM Elina, Qi’s Caro kan did not bother Padmini much, who gained a decisive advantage and maintained throughout. Padmini wilting under time pressure, played out the double rook endgame badly and got checkmated in the 50th move.

The closed Italian game by Kiran was a dull affair and it was Cristina who made some attempt to win. Knight ending with few pawns for each was quite safe to play for Kiran, but a slight error put her position into trouble . A determined effort saw her through and draw happened on the 67th move.

The Classical Alekhine between Swathi Ghate and Nisha Mohota passed thro a phase of active bishops for Swathi and defensive knights for Nisha. Swathi was successful in creating weakness in black’s camp and entered the Queen ending with a pawn up. The game went on and on for 108 moves and Nisha was able to push the pawn up c2 square.

Results and Ranking of Round 9

V Vijayaraghavan,
International Arbiter