Bhakti Kulkarni of Air India defended her title in style with one round to spare after beating K Priyanka of Tamil Nadu in the penultimate round of the 46th National Women Chess Championship at the Chettinad Public School here on Friday.
Chennai:
Meanwhile, Vantika (8 points) regained her sole second spot after outwitting Mary Ann Gomes in clinical fashion. Playing with white pieces in Modern Benoni game, Vantika sacrificed a pawn early to gain space advantage and made a firm grip to seal the game after forty three moves. During the process, the victor also secured Women Grandmaster Norm.
Continuing her splendid performance, Mrudul Dehankar of Maharashtra achieved Women International Norm after beating S Vijayalakshmi of Air India. Top seed Soumya Swaminathan suffered further setback in the event as she lost to Bala Kannamma of Tamil Nadu in the tenth round encounter.
PV Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu and Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh along with Maharashtra duo of Divya Deshmukh and Mrudul Dehankar occupy the third spot in the points table with seven and half points. In the final round, Bhakti is paired with Pratyusha while Vantika takes on Mrudul. Nandhidhaa will fight it out against third seed Divya Deshmukh.
Important results: Tenth round: Priyanka K of Tamil Nadu lost to Bhakti Kulkarni of Air India (9.5); Vantika Agrawal of Delhi (8) beat Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB (6.5); Divya Deshmukh of Maharashtra (7.5) beat Michelle Catherina of Tamilandu (6.5); V Varshini of Tamil Nadu (6.5) lost to Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh (7.5); PV Nadhidhaa of Tamil Nadu (7.5) beat S Meenakshi of Air India (6.5); S Vijayalakshmi of Air India (6) lost to Mrudul Dehankar of Maharashtra (7.5); Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (6) lost to P Bala Kannamma of Tamil Nadu (7).
Playing consistent chess throughout, Bhakti once again showed her tactical acumen to garner the full point in 69 moves. The victory enabled Bhakti to take her tally to an unassailable nine and half points out of a possible ten. She now enjoys a lead of one and half points over nearest contender Vantika Agrawal of Delhi before the final round on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Vantika (8 points) regained her sole second spot after outwitting Mary Ann Gomes in clinical fashion. Playing with white pieces in Modern Benoni game, Vantika sacrificed a pawn early to gain space advantage and made a firm grip to seal the game after forty three moves. During the process, the victor also secured Women Grandmaster Norm.
Continuing her splendid performance, Mrudul Dehankar of Maharashtra achieved Women International Norm after beating S Vijayalakshmi of Air India. Top seed Soumya Swaminathan suffered further setback in the event as she lost to Bala Kannamma of Tamil Nadu in the tenth round encounter.
PV Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu and Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh along with Maharashtra duo of Divya Deshmukh and Mrudul Dehankar occupy the third spot in the points table with seven and half points. In the final round, Bhakti is paired with Pratyusha while Vantika takes on Mrudul. Nandhidhaa will fight it out against third seed Divya Deshmukh.
Important results: Tenth round: Priyanka K of Tamil Nadu lost to Bhakti Kulkarni of Air India (9.5); Vantika Agrawal of Delhi (8) beat Mary Ann Gomes of PSPB (6.5); Divya Deshmukh of Maharashtra (7.5) beat Michelle Catherina of Tamilandu (6.5); V Varshini of Tamil Nadu (6.5) lost to Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh (7.5); PV Nadhidhaa of Tamil Nadu (7.5) beat S Meenakshi of Air India (6.5); S Vijayalakshmi of Air India (6) lost to Mrudul Dehankar of Maharashtra (7.5); Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB (6) lost to P Bala Kannamma of Tamil Nadu (7).