Nisha stages a coup

Sarita8217;s three victories in the last three rounds have pushed her back into the picture. She had suffered crushing losses to Anupama and Purabhi before that.

Of the three in lead, Vijayalakshmi and Nisha have the best chance to finish on top. Vijayalakshmi, on the sheer strength of rating she is the highest rated player at 2325, 95 points ahead of next highest, Saheli has the best chance. Nisha, because she has to play two bottom placed players Neha Singh and Purabhi Singh and Safira Shanaz has been having a veryinconsistent tournament.

But Nisha is not counting on her chances. 8220;I can lose to anybody, for me all the three are strong players,8221; said Nisha.

Vijayalakshmi developed an advantage out of her English opening. She had an attack building on the queenside while Swati launched hers from the other side. In the middle game, Vijayalakshmi won a pawn and in a end game with time pressure, Swati lost two pieces and resigned after 29 moves.

Nisha scored her first victory over Anupama, who resigned after losing of a rook became inevitable. Nisha had made the initiative from a tight middle game by sacrificing a bishop for two pawns.

Pallavi and Saheli reached an endgame where the former misplaced her King and missed a probable favourable ending. Instead, she came under pressure and escaped to a draw by giving perpetual checks.

Swati Mohota made one mistake that spelled doom for her against Sarita. She pushed her bishop to g2 on move 21 which resulted in loss of an exchange and a bishop for a pawn on the 25th.Sarita won after 40 moves.

Sai Meera, who is having a horror run in the championships, won her first match after seven rounds when she defeated Mrunalini Kunte. So did Safira Shanaz, who has earned only one point through two draws in five rounds after her shock victory over Vijayalakshmi in the fourth round. She defeated Neha Singh. Bhagyashree moved to 5.5 points after her second victory in two rounds. She beat Purabhi Singh today.

RESULTS

10th round: Bhagyashree Thipsay IDBI, Elo 2205 5.5 points bt Purabhi Singha Assam 2.5; Safira Shanaz TN, 2135 4 bt Neha Singh Bihar, 2040 1.5; Nisha Mohota West Bengal, 2105 7 bt Anupama Gokhale Bharat Petroleum, 2205 6; Swati Mohota West Bengal, 2125 3.5 lost to Sarita Reddy TN, 2235 5.5; Sai Meera Indian Bank, 2105 3.5 bt Mrunalini Kunte IDBI, 2170 4.5; Pallavi Shah Maharashtra, 2105 6.5 drew with Saheli Dhar-Barua Indian Railways, 2240 6; S Vijayalakshmi Indian Airlines, 2325 7 bt Swati Ghate Maharashtra, 2210 7.

Pairings round 11: 1. Swati Ghate vs Bhagyashree; 2. Saheli vs Vijayalakshmi; 3. Mrunalini vs Pallavi; 4. Sarita vs Sai Meera; 5. Anupama vs Swati Mohota; 6. Neha vs Nisha; 7. Purabhi vs Safira.