Safira engineers a coup

MUMBAI, June 4: Safira Shanaz, the 21-year-old third year engineering student from Anna University, Chennai created a big upset when she def...

MUMBAI, June 4: Safira Shanaz, the 21-year-old third year engineering student from Anna University, Chennai created a big upset when she defeated top-rated Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman in the fourth round of the National Women8217;s A Chess Championships at the Sachivalaya Gymkhana here today.

In fact, Safira had won against the same opponent in last year8217;s National championships at Calcutta. Vijayalakshmi, who held the lead, slipped up and now occupies the third position.

Nisha Mohota is the sole leader as the 17-year-old from Calcutta won her fourth consecutive match, defeating another teenager, Pallavi Shah. Nisha8217;s older sister, Swati also won, against M Sai Meera.

Swati Ghate is in the second spot with 3.5 points after she was held to a 47-move draw by Purabhi Singha, the debutante who broke her spell of three losses.

Vijayalakshmi, in fact, was guilty of missing a simple mating move. After opening her centre file, she captured a piece with a pawn and not with the knight that was supporting it resultingin a reprieve to Safira.

In the end game, Safira had two pawns on the g and h files which troubled Vijayalakshmi no end forcing her to resign after 39 moves. quot;I was playing well, I thought. But she was playing very well,quot; said Vijayalakshmi.

Anupama Gokhale scored a crushing victory over Mrunalini Kunte to notch her second successive win. It was a flourishing end to Anupama8217;s 31-move victory. From Mrunalini8217;s King8217;s Indian Defence, Anupama got some some space advantage. Mrunalini tried to neutralise by reaching an opposite coloured bishops position. Anupama had two rooks and a knight and her f6 pawn was gaining material as her opponent resigned after 31 moves.

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Pallavi Shah8217;s 25th move blunder of Kf8 instead of Kh8 positionally exposed her King against Nisha8217;s Saemisch Variation to the King Indian Defence of her opponent. Nisha had sacrificed a knight on the 23rd and two moves later Pallavi made the mistake. She tried to thwart the attack on the King but lost a lot of material 8212; a rook and two pawns 8211;before she gave up after 32 moves as Nisha was mating her King in the next.

Swati Mohota also played the Saemisch variation against Sai Meera and had a good attack developing. She made her position even stronger when Sai Meera sacrificed a bishop. Swati offered an exchange 8212; rook for bishop 8212; but Sai Meera refused. After surviving the time pressure, Swati, who had the material advantage, got her c8217; file pawn progressing rapidly towards queening which Sai Meera was not able to stop. She resigned after the 41st move, realising the futility of the situation.

Swati Ghate played the Queen8217;s Indian defence and drew with Purabhi Singh after 47 moves. Bhagyashree Thipsay delayed her attacking options by which time N Sarita Reddy developed her pieces in her Centre Counter defence game. They drew after 37 moves.

Saheli Dhar-Barua, who lost her two previous rounds, scored a 29-move victory Neha Singh.

RESULTS

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4th round: 1. Bhagyashree Thipsay IDBI, ELO 2205 2 points drew with N Sarita Reddy TN,2235 2; Anupama Gokhale Bharat Petroleum, 2205 bt Mrunalini Kunte IDBI, 2170 1; Neha Singh Bihar, 2040 lost to Saheli Dhar-Barua Railways, 2240 2; Purabhi Singha Asm 0.5 drew with Swati Ghate Mah, 2210 3.5; Safira Shanaz TN, 2135 2 bt S Vijayalakshmi Indian Airlines, 2325 3; Nisha Mohota West Bengal, 2105 4 bt Pallavi Shah Mah, 2105 2.5; Swati Mohota W Bengal, 2125 1.5 bt M Sai Meera Indian Bank, 2105 1.5.

Fifth round pairings

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