Bhagyashree surprises defending champion

Kuala Lumpur, April 11: Former national champion Bhagyashree Thipsay beat defending champion Upi Tamin (1.5) of Indonesia to lead the field jointly with Mekhri Ovezova of Turkmenistan on three points at the end of third round of the Asian women chess championship being played at Awana Resorts here.pBhagyashree, playing black held the advantage from the opening itself as Tamin failed to develop her pieces. She then made no mistakes to win the exchange and the game comfortably. National champion IWM Anupama Gokhale (2) drew with IWM Maria Sulistya of Indonesia in Queen’s Gambit Declined variation.