Kolkata: Top seed Tania Sachdev faced stiff resistance before prevailing over Padmini Rout in the first round of the 40th National Premier Women's Chess Championship here today.Former world U-14 girls' champion WGM Padmini's enterprising play got her an excellent position from the opening, despite having the black pieces against WGM Tania in a King's Indian defence. But Padmini blocked the kingside which allowed Tania's pieces free run on the queenside as the top seed won a pawn and went on to win the game.
Young Michelle Catherina of Tamil Nadu had a slight advantage against second seed and two-time defending champion WGM Mary Ann in Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defence. In a see-saw battle Mary's spirited play in the end-game gave her enough chances to win but with both players in severe time pressure the game petered out into a draw in a rook ending.
In a battle between two former national champions, Soumya Swaminathan of PSPB and city based Nisha Mohta of Oil India, the former obtained a slight positional advantage from the opening, but failed to capitalise on it after which both agreed to split the point.
The youngest player of the meet, former world Under-8 champion Evana Furtado of Goa held former national champion Swathi Ghate of LIC in 36 moves in a Nimzo Indian defence. B Pratyusha of Andhra Pradesh prevailed over national sub-junior champion G K Monnisha of Tamil Nadu in a rook versus triple pawn ending in a long game.