Viji maintains lead

LUCKNOW: Better vision and defence helped Woman Grandmaster S Vijayalakshmi split point with double WGM norm holder R Aarthie and maintain her slender edge over the field in the women’s National A chess championship on Sunday. At the Picup Bhawan hall here, the five-time champion, who is seeking her fifth title in a row, took her points tally to 7.5 from 10 games. Viji now has two more games to play and hopefully gain maximum points from those games to fulfil her hopes of become the champion with the most National A titles.
In the 11th round game on Sunday, Aarthie took to the Nizmo-Indian Defence to counter Vijayalakshmi’s d4 opening. A series of exchange of pieces continued till the 26th move and the game petered to a rook-bishop vs rook-knight ending. Aarthie’s position looked better as she had a stronger bishop. But Viji had sensed the impending danger and opened the kingside by sacrificing a pawn on the 41st move and pushed her king forward. After 90 moves in the marathon game, both chose to share the point.
Before the start of the nationals, WIMs Bhagyashree Thipsay and Anupama Gokhale were tied with Viji at five titles apiece along with Rohini Khadilkar, who has quit the game now and a change of going ahead of the pack. Anupama’s challenge failed to come off as she struggled with her form while Bhagyashree had an opportunity, now even she seems to have slipped behind. Bhagyashree, who had a bye in the 11th round, has six points from 10 games while Anupama, beaten by 16-year-old statemate Eesha Karavade on Sunday, had just 2.5 points.
Following Vijayalakshmi was Swati Ghate at 7 points, who escaped with a draw against Meenakshi, who could not strike a potent continuation due to paucity of time in the Semi Slav defence game. The third place is shared by Asian U-12 champion Dronavalli Harika and Aarthie, both at 6.5 points. Harika drew with Saimeera Ravi of Indian Bank.
Results (11th round): Dolan Champa Bose lost to Saheli Dhar Barua, Dronvalli Harika drew with Sai Meera Ravi, S Vijayalakshmi drew with R Aarthie, Eesha Karavade bt Anupama Gokhale, Safira Shanaz lost to Tania Sachdev, S Meenakshi drew with Swati Ghate.
Points position: S Vijayalakshmi (IA) 7.5/10; Swati Ghate (LIC) 7/11, Dronavalli Harika (AP) 6.5/10, R Aarthie (Wipro) 6.5/10; Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI) 6/10, S Meenakshi (IA) 6/10, Saheli Dhar Barua (Rlys) 6/10, Saimeera Ravi (Indian Bank) 4.5/10, Eesha Karavade (Maha) 5/10, Tania Sachdev (Delhi) 4/10, Anupama Gokhale (BPCL) 2.5/10, Dolan Champa Bose (Jharkhand) 2.5/11, Safira Shanaz (TN) 2/10.