Tamil Nadu trio joins Nimmy at top

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Nimmy A.G. ponders over her next move against Saranya J. in the ninth round of the women’s national challenger chess championshi

With two rounds remaining, the Amity 39th national women’s challengers chess championship headed for an exciting finish as Tamil Nadu trio Mahalakshmi, Michelle Catherina and R. Bharthi joined overnight sole leader Nimmy A.G. of Kerala at the top of the table with seven points after registering resounding victories in the ninth round here at Naurang House in the capital.

Mahalakshmi was a class act on Friday with her white pieces against Chandika Divaysree of Andhra Pradesh in a Modern Benoni game as she put enormous pressure on the king side of her top seeded rival in the middle game to post an emphatic victory in 42 moves, while Michelle shown her rook and pawn end game supremacy to overpower experienced Swati Mohota of West Bengal in 69 moves arrived out of a Scandinavian defence game.
Playing with black pieces in a Slav defence game, Bhrathi outwitted 2010 edition winner Rucha Pujari in 52 moves to join the leaders pack.
Meanwhile, overnight sole leader Nimmy played safe and signed the peace treaty with J. Saranya of Tamil Nadu in 28 moves to stay at the top. Saranya along with Cholleti Sahajasri, who beat Varshini V. of Tamil Nadu in the ninth round are occupying the second spot with six and half points.
In the penultimate round, Bharathi takes on Nimmy and Mahalakshmi is paired against Michelle while Sahajasri pitted against Saranya.
Key Results
Round 9: Nimmy A.G. of Kerala (7) drew with Saranya J. of Tamil Nadu (6.5); Mahalakshmi M. of Tamil Nadu (7) beat Chandika Divyasree of Andhra Pradesh (6); Michelle Catherina of Tamil Nadu (7) beat Swati Mohota of West Bengal (6); Rucha Pujari of Maharashtra (5.5) lost to Bharathi R. of Tamil Nadu (7); Priya P of Tamil Nadu (6) drew with Amruta Mokal of Maharashtra (6); Raghavi N of Tamil Nadu (6) drew with Rajasurya J of Tamil Nadu (6); Varshini V of Tamil Nadu (5.5) lost to Cholleti Sahajasri of Andhra Pradesh (6.5); Aparajita Gochhikar of Orissa (5.5) lost to Ramya Krishna of Andhra Pradesh (6); Bagyashree Thipsay of Maharashtra (6) beat Kotepalli Sai Nirupama of Andhra Pradesh (5); Pallabi Roy of West Bengal (5.5) drew with A Akshaya of Tamil Nadu (5.5); Madhuri Patil of Maharashtra (6) beat Anjana Krishna S. of Kerala (5); Lasya G of Andhra Pradesh (6) beat Smaraki Mohanty of Orissa (5); Shweta Gole of Maharashtra (5.5) drew with Sandhya G. of Andhra Pradesh (5.5); Meenu Rajendran of Kerala (5) lost to Salini R. of Andhra Pradesh (6); Priya V.S.S. of Andhra Pradesh (5) lost to Harini S. of Tamil Nadu (5.5)