Catherina upsets Soumya in Challenger Chess

Second-seeded Woman Grand Master Soumya Swaminathan suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Woman International Master Michelle Catherina on the top board in the fourth round of the Ram Ratna 42nd National Women's Challenger Chess Championship here today.
In another big surprise, WGM Swati Ghate lost to WGM Bhakti Kulkarni.
Top-seeded IM Tania Sachdev of Air India, too, had an unremarkable day and was held to a draw by WIM Nandidhaa P in 22 moves.
Playing with white pieces Soumya, representing Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, opted for 'd4' opening against her rival, but on the 22nd move Catherina created an opening on the 'f' file.

The Tamil Nadu player then exerted pressure with her Queen and Rook and then coordinated her Bishop and Knight to generate a mating attack, forcing Soumya to resign in 38 moves.
On second table Swati Ghate of LIC, playing with black pieces, lost to Bhakti from Goa. The former lost valuable pieces by the 32nd move and immediately resigned.

IM Nisha Mohota of PSPB continued her winning streak by defeating WFM Rucha Pujari of Maharashtra. Nisha gave an exchange to sacrifice on move 30 and the got a well connected pass pawn to win in 33 moves.
At the end of 4th round four players - Bhakti, Nisha, Catharina and Woman Fide Master Vaishali R - are in the joint lead with four points apiece.

Results (round-3): IM Tania Sachdev (AI) drew with WFM WFM Saranya J (TN), WCM Tejaswani Sagar (Mah) lost to WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB), WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) beat WIM Pranali S. Dharia (Mah), Priyanka Nutakki (AP) lost to IM Nisha Mohta (PSPB), WFM Vaishali R. (TN) beat Priyanka K. (Mah), Neha Singh (2) lost to Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa), WIM Michelle Catherina P. (TN) beat Saloni Sapale (Mah).
Round 4: WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) lost to WIM Michelle Catherina P. (TN), WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) beat WGM Swati Ghate (LIC), IM Mohota Nisha (PSPB) beat WFM Pujari Rucha (Mah), WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) lost to WFM Vaishali R (TN), WIM Ivana Maria Furtado (Goa) drew with Harshita Guddanti (MP), WIM Nandhidhaa Pv drew with IM Tania Sachdev (AI), WFM Saranya J (TN) beat WGM Mary Ann Gomes (WB), Nimmy A.G. (Ker) beat WIM Pratyusha Bodda, WFM Mahalakshmi M (PSPB) lost to WFM Varshini V, WFM Srija Seshadri (TN) beat Toshali V.