Swati Ghate back in hunt for title

KOZHIKODE, JULY 2: Swati Ghate (Maharashtra) bounced back into contention with a neat positional victory over Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) in t...

KOZHIKODE, JULY 2: Swati Ghate (Maharashtra) bounced back into contention with a neat positional victory over Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) in the 10th round of the National Women A Chess Championship here today.

Swati logged seven points and trailed defending champion Vijayalakshmi Subburaman (Indian Airlines) by half a point.

Vijayalakshmi and five-time champion Anupama Gokhale (PSCB) played an interesting draw in Queen’s Gambit in a rook and pawn ending. With three rounds to go, Swati is the only player left with any chance to catch up with Viji.

Safira Shanaz (TN) and Bhagyashree Thipsay (IDBI), who enjoyed a bye today, shared the third position with 6.5 points each.

From the black side, Swati preferred to play positional chess and came out of the Taimanov variation with better options. She gave her central pawn to snatch one on the Queenside; saddled white with an isolated pawn in the centre; and created a passed pawn on the Queenside.

With a strong knight, Swati waited for the right time to sacrificethis passed pawn for the King-rook pawn and exchanged rooks to get into a typically technical King and pawn finish. Though both of them had identical pawns on the Kingside, Swati’s King was better placed and probably Aarthie’s King was a move behind, which made the difference between draw and defeat for her.

Anupama won an exchange on the 20th move but she had to give back the exchange 10 moves later as Viji had a strong knight. The game was drawn in 42 moves in a rook and pawn ending.

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Swati Mohota (West Bengal) held Safira Shanaz (TN) to a draw in 47 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defence in a rook and pawn ending. Safira, who needs eight points for her IWM norm, has to earn two points from three games.

Koneru Humpy (AP) and Pallavi Shah (Maharashtra) reached five points after recording 10th round victories. Bindu Saritha (Kerala) blundered a piece in Queens Indian Defence and lost to Humpy in 34 moves while Pallavi Shah trounced Dolan Champa Bose (Bihar) in 19 moves of Bishop’s opening after getting a strongKingside attack.

Meenakshi (TN) defeated Sheena (Kerala) in 60 moves of Slav Defence after winning a piece in time pressure.

Results (10th round): Anupama Gokhale (PSCB) 5.5 drew with Vijayalakshmi (IA) 7.5; Bindu Saritha (Kerala) 1.5 lost to Koneru Humpy (AP) 5; Pallavi Shah (Mah) 5 bt Dolan Champa Bose (Bihar) 2; Meenakshi (TN) 3.5 bt Sheena (Kerala) 1.5; Aarthie Ramaswamy (TN) 4.5 lost to Swati Ghate (Mah) 7; Swati Mohota (W Ben) 4.5 drew with Safira Shanaz (TN) 6. Bhagyashree Thipsay (6.5) bye.