Haritha gifts Nisha match

KOZHIKODE, FEBRUARY 16: Defending champion and second seed Nisha Mohota of West Bengal got a gift from her room-mate and joint leader Sasi...

KOZHIKODE, FEBRUARY 16: Defending champion and second seed Nisha Mohota of West Bengal got a gift from her room-mate and joint leader Sasinas Haritha of Kerala in the opening of the sixth round of the National Junior Girls Chess Championship at the indoor stadium on Wednesday.

In a Queenside skirmish, Haritha, with white, moved her bishop to a square where it had protection from only a knight which was, however, pinned. The bishop was gone though Haritha continued for another 20 moves. 8220;I had touched the bishop and so mechanically moved to that square,8221; the loser said of her oversight. The pity was that she had another square to put the bishop on the way but it was not just her day.

Third seed Meenakshi Subbaraman of Capa Academy overcame MR Sangeetha of TN in anti-Marshall in 32 moves to take the second position with five points. Meenakshi got strong Kingside attack and offered a bishop on move 27. Though Sangeetha did not take the piece, she had to give an exchange soon. Later, Sangeetha was also to lose more material through mating attacks.

Baisakhi Das of West Bengal held Pazha Sivakami of TN in 41 moves of Philidor Defence. Sivakami got a promising position and could have won an exchange in the middle game. Instead, she made a Queen move that simplified the position and allowed Baisakhi to come up with perpetual checks.

Top seed Swati Ghate woke up from her slumber and defeated Nazia Nona of Kerala in 36 moves of Sicilian Kings Indian attack. Nazia played a dubious King-pawn push on move 11 and allowed black to get a strong attack. Swati got the point she badly wanted after 36 moves when Nazia faced multiple threats and had to give material.

Topboard results sixth round: Sasinas Haritha Kerala 4.5 lost to Nisha Mohota WB 5.5; MR Sangeetha TN 4 lost to Meenakshi Capa 5; Baisakhi Das WB 3.5 drew with Sivakami TN 4.5; Nazia Nona Kerala 3 lost to Swati Ghate LIC 4; Monalisa Malakar WB 3.5 drew with CV Rajalakshmi Chrompet 3.5; JE Kavitha AICF 3.5 drew with J Megha Karnataka 3.5; Nilavoli Capa 3.5 drew with Eesha Karvade Mah 3.5; Anuradha Beniwal Har 4 bt Prajeesha K Kerala 3; Lakshmi Priya TN 2.5 lost to Manjula James Kerala 3.5; Madhonna Fullmoon TN 3 drew with M Kasturi TN 3; Anuri Shah Guj 2 lost to Isai Amudhu Chrompet 3.