Akash, Niharika share lead

MUMBAI, SEPT 11: Akash Khalwadekar of St Stanislaus, Bandra and Niharika Thakkar Vissanji Academy lead the boys under-14 and girls sect...

MUMBAI, SEPT 11: Akash Khalwadekar of St Stanislaus, Bandra and Niharika Thakkar Vissanji Academy lead the boys under-14 and girls section with six points from six rounds in the Colgate Palmolive Inter-Schools Chess Tournament at the University Pavilion here today.

Akash defeated 1997 British Under-10 runners-up Varun Dattani in the sixth round.

In the boys under-16 section, last year8217;s runner-up Vispy Pardiwala of Bombay Scottish and Amey Karandikar of Parle Tilak Vidyalaya are the joint leaders with five points from as many points.

On the top board in the under-14 section, Akash used the Sicilian Defence against Varun Dattani. Both the players castled on opposite sides and Akash brought his queen and rook to attack white King after sacrificing his rook for two minor pieces. He moved his King to g4 and mated the white King on the 27th move.

Niharika, with white pieces, played the Guico Piano against Priyanka Vora. Niharika captured the black queen for a rook on the 15th move and increased hermaterial advantage. Priyanka resigned on the 24th move in a helpless situation.

RESULTS

Boys under-14 sixth round: Varun Dattani 4.5 lost to Akash Khalwadekar 6; Mahesh Revaskar 5.5 bt Kabir Malhotra 4.5; Niral Sanghvi 4 lost to Sameer Thakkar 5; Jatin Ramanathan 5 bt Akshay Bhor 4; Vishal Shah 5 bt A Ramachandran 4; Aditya Vora 4.5 bt Shishir Govindan 4; Ali Khan 4.5 bt Yashodhan Gogte 3.5.

Girls 6th round: Niharika Thakkar 6 bt Priyanka Vora 5; Prajakta Yevle 4 lost to Yogita Yevle 5; Saloni Balgi 4 lost to Michelle Fizardo 5; Swarali Thipsay 4 lost to Priyanka Khalwadekar 5; L Bernadette 4 lost to Purva Warrier 5; Leanne Almeida 4 lost to Chandani Mehta 5; Nashaita Deboo 4.5 bt Ruchita Lalmani 3.5.

Madan Bagayatkar tops

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Madan Bagayatkar won the fifth State Chess Championships for the blind with seven points from eight rounds. Swapnil Shah, who was the only unbeaten player in the tournament, also finished with sevenpoints but was edged out on Bagayatkar8217;s better progressive score.

In the final round today, Bagayatkar won against third seed Sirish Patil. He sacrificed a bishop and knight for a rook to get a strong attack with the help of a passed pawn and won after 42 moves.

On the second board, Swapnil Shah was a pawn up but could not force a win against Sunil Sasane.

Final Position

1. Madan Bagayatkar 7 points; 2. Swapnil Shah 7; 3. Sirish Patil 6.5; 4. Sarita Kharde 6.5; 5. Pramod Mistry 6.5.