Nisha shocks Bhagyashree

MUMBAI, June 1: The heat was on in more than one ways in the opening round of the National Women's quot;Aquot; Chess Championships at the ...

MUMBAI, June 1: The heat was on in more than one ways in the opening round of the National Women8217;s quot;Aquot; Chess Championships at the Sachivalaya Gymkhana here today.

Nisha Mohota, the 17-year-old from West Bengal, delivered a sucker punch in defeating veteran and five times national champion, Bhagyashree Thipsay while the defending champion, Anupama Gokhale, who has also won five titles was trounced by Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi.

Three other matches also ended decisively while Pallavi Shah-Neha Singh and the Swati Mohota-Safira Shahnaz battle ended in draw.

Surprising was the defeat of Bhagyashree because she came under time trouble after being in a seemingly better position. Out of her Dutch Defence, Bhagyashree gained some advantage but with her 14th move Nc6 to d8, she squandered many moves for developement. Nisha8217;s pieces got into better squares and when she was winning a knight, Bhagyashree resigned after 36 moves.

Nisha was more surprised than Bhagyashree was shocked. quot;I have played her five timesand this is my first victory. I have never seen Bhagyashree lose on time,quot; Nisha said.

Anupama misplaced her pieces after playing the Benko gambit. She did not have any compensation for a pawn which she sacrificed and from another move weakened her knight. When she was losing the knight she had very little time on her clock and had 14 moves before the first time control.

Swati Ghate got full points against N Sarita Reddy from a position where the latter had two rooks to her opponent8217;s rook and knight. But a poor King move and then the passive rooks which was preventing Swati8217;s two pawns from queening, forced her to give up after 73 moves.

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Against Mrunalini Kunte8217;s Sicilian Paulsen variation, Saheli Dhar-Barua obtained a quot;Cquot; pawn passer which she followed with strong attack on the queen side. Mrunalini8217;s thwarted the attacks but her pieces were scattered all over her board, leaving her King vulnerable.

Saheli blitzed her King and won after 33 moves.

Another victor today was M Sai Meera who defeateddebutante Purabhi Singha in 32 moves of a Ruy Lopez game.

In the two draws, Neha Singh and Pallavi Singh achieved equality after early exchange of pieces and signed the accord after 25 moves while youngster Safira Shahnaz missed a winning position against Swati Mohoto in a game arising out of the Queen8217;s Gambit declined.

The 2nd round pairings

1. Bhagyashree Thipsay vs Mrunalini Kunte
2. N Sarita Reddy vs Saheli Dhar Barua
3. Anupama Gokhale vs Swati Ghate
4. Neha Singh vs S Vijayalakshmi
5. Purabhi Singha vs Pallavi Shah
6. Safira Shahnaz vs M Sai Meera
7. Nisha Mohota vs Swati Mohota.

RESULTS

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1. Nisha Mohota West Bengal, 2105 1 point bt Bhagyashree Thipsay IDBI, 2205 0; Swati Mohota West Bengal, 2125 0.5 drew with Safira Shahnaz TN, 2135 0.5; M Sai Meera Indian Bank, 2105 1 bt Purabhi Singha Assam 0; Pallavi Shah Maharashtra, 2105 0.5 drew with Neha Singh Bihar, 2040 0.5; S Vijayalakshmi Indian Airlines, 2325 1 bt Anupama Gokhale Bharat Petroleum,2205 0; Swati Ghate Maharashtra, 2210 1 bt N Sarita Reddy TN 0; Saheli Dhar Barua Railways, 2240 1 bt Mrunalini Kunte IDBI, 2170 0.