AHMEDABAD, DECEMBER 23: Top-seeded Indian K Humpy's (6) chances of winning the under-12 boys title in the Asian Youth Chess Championship received a jolt when she was beaten by fellow Indian Deepan Chakraborthy (5) in the penultimate round today. Humpy continues to lead the field.Sixth-seeded Krutika Nadig did third seed Eesha Karwade a good turn by while beating overnight under-12 girls leader Atousa Pour of Iran (5.5). Atousa was pushed down to second spot, as Eesha (6) shot into the lead.In under-14 boys, top seed P Harikrishna (6) surrendered his lead after he was held to a draw by lowly-ranked Annaberdyev (4) of Turkmenistan. Hari now shares the lead with third-seeded fellow countryman MR Vyenktesh.In U-14 girls, Giang Nguyen Thu of Vietnam has maintained her lead with six points.In U-10 boys and girls, top-ranked Indians Abhijit Gupta and Mary Ann Gomes continued their upward journey by leading their respective categories with 6 six points each. In U-14 boys, the game between Annaberdyev,playing white, and Harikrishna witnessed a Reti Opening. Both players opted for a quiet line and a peace treaty was signed after 38 moves.On the second table, Vyenkatesh opened the game with a dynamic e4 move against which fifth-seeded Ismagambetov Anour of Kazakjstan opted for Sicilian Defence. In the middle game, Anour lost three pawns and a piece.In u-14 girls, Giang Thu (6) of Vietnam defeated fourth seed Indian Shradha Samani (4) playing black in a Ruy Lopez Game in 51 moves. In the early middle game, the position was evenly poised, but, with 26..h6, black created weaknesses in her camp, that were nicely exploited by the Vietnamese to clinch the issue.Trailing Giang are two Indians - C Delphin and Tania Sachdev - with 5.5 points each. Delphin and Tania drew and beat T Dinara of Kazakhstan and Waxnoza Khamparakulo of Uzbekistan respectively.The seventh-seeded Deepan, playing white, stunned Humpy in a marathon 80 moves in Pirc Defence. In the middle game, Humpy had better position, but shemishandled the endgame and lost a pawn on the 52nd move. Later, under time pressure, Humpy made a horrible blunder and allowed Deepan to promote a pawn to a queen.The Atousa-Krutika game witnessed a rarely-employed Two-Knight Defence. The opening and early middle game were appropriately handled by both players, but with a brilliant 26.. Nf3, black won a pawn. This material advantage was exploited by the Indian to clinch the issue.On the second board, R Mahima, playing white, and Eesha Karwade began with an irregular variation of Sicilian Defence. In the middle game Mahima had plus position, but with 36 Rc1, white made a blunder and lost a pawn. Later, with 42.. Rb2, black tilted the game in her favour.
