Soumya & Vaishali share lead

Soumya & Vaishali share lead
By RR Vasudevan

Woman Grandmaster Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) & Woman International Master Vaishali R shared the lead with 4.0 points after the fourth round of the 43rd National Women Challengers Chess Championship 2016 at Nehru Stadium, Chennai here today.

Following the leaders half a point behind at 3.5 points were six players viz., IMs Karavade Eesha, Vijayalakshmi S, WGMs Swati Ghate, Gomes Mary Ann, Kiran Manisha Mohanty and WIM Michelle Catherina P respectively.

Former World Junior Champion Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) excelled in middle game piece play as she overcame WFM Srija Seshadri of Delhi in 54 moves.

In another interesting top board game, defending Champion WIM Vaishali (TN) faced the French defence of fellow WIM Mahalakshmi. Going for a combination that fetched her two pieces for a rook, Vaishali converted the resulting position with great skill moving into joint lead at 4.0 points. Vaishali takes on Sowmya in a crucial battle for lead in the top board fifth round game tomorrow.

Important Results (Round 4) Vijayalakshmi S (3.5) drew with Swati Ghate (3.5), Srija Seshadri (3) lost to Soumya Swaminathan (4), Vaishali R (4) bt Mahalakshmi M (3), Karavade Eesha (3.5) bt Nandhidhaa P V (3), Chandreyee Hajra (2.5) lost to Gomes Mary Ann (3.5), Mohota Nisha (3) drew with Priyanka Kumari (3), Michelle Catherina P (3.5) bt Singh Neha (2.5), Kiran Manisha Mohanty (3.5) bt Vantika Agrawal (2.5), Lasya G (3) bt Potluri Saye Srreezza (2.5).