Vijayalakshmi inches closer to title

Vijayalakshmi inches closer to title
By RR Vasudevan

International Master Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman (Air India) kept a slender half a point lead at 8.5 points after the tenth and penultimate round of the 43rd National Women Challengers Chess Championship 2016 at Nehru Stadium, Chennai here today. Vijayalakshmi scored over Varshini V in 56 moves. Earlier, WIM Michelle Catherina P (Air India) stunned overnight joint leader WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) moving into clear second spot at 8.0 points.

Further half a point behind at 7.5 points were WGMs Swati Ghate (LIC), Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) and WIM Vaishali R (TN) respectively.

In crucial final round pairings, former National Women Champion Mary Ann Gomes (7) faces leader Vijayalakshmi (8,5), while Michelle Catherina P (8) takes on Vaishali R (7.5). In the third board,Soumya Swaminathan (7.5) crosses swords against Swati Ghate (7,5) in an all-Pune clash. The top eight finishers qualify for the National Women Premier Chess Championship to be held later this year.

Important Results (Round 10) Swati Ghate (7.5) lost to Michelle Catherina P (8), Vijayalakshmi S (8.5) bt Varshini V (6.5), Kiran Manisha Mohanty (7) drew with Vaishali R (7), Bala Kannamma P (6.5) lost to Soumya (7.5), Lasya G (7) drew with Arpita Mukherjee (7), Srija Seshadri (6) lost to Karavade Eesha (7), Cholleti Sahajasri (6.5) drew with Pratyusha Bodda (6.5), Tarini Goyal (6) lost to Gomes Mary Ann (7), Mohota Nisha (6.5) drew with Chitlange Sakshi (6.5), Mahalakshmi M (7) bt Jain Nityata (6)