Vaishali jumps to sole lead again at chess meet

After sharing the lead overnight with top seed, IM Tania Sachdev, WFM R Vaishali took the sole lead again by defeating her Tamil Nadu state mate, WIM Michelle Catherina, in the ninth round of the Ram Ratna 42nd National Women Challengers Chess Championship here today.
The victory over Michelle gave Vaishali her eighth point out of a possible nine in the tournament organised by Diaspora Times and conducted by Thane district Chess Association under the ageis of All India Chess Federation and Maharashtra Chess Association.
Tania, the India no. 4 from Air India, fell half a point adrift of Vaishali as she drew her game against WGM Bhakti Kukkarni of Goa in a top board contest.

When the peace treaty was signed, Tania was left with her bishop and three pawns while her rival had a knight and three pawns to play with.
On board 3, WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) went down to WGM Soumya Swaminathan of Maharashtra with white pieces after a prolonged battle lasting more than five hours.
On board no.4, WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) and IM Nisha Mohota(Petroleum Sports Promotion Board) signed their peace treaty after 22 moves.

The top eight finishers would qualify for the National Women's Premier Chess Championship (National A) which is to be held in the mid-October.
Standings after round 9: 1. WFM Vaishali R (TN) 8 points; 2. IM Tania Sachdev (Air India) 7.5; 3. WGM Bhakthi Kulkarni(Goa) and WGM Soumya Swaminathan(Mah) 7; 5. WIM Michelle Catherina (TN), WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty(LIC), WFM Rucha Pujari(MAH) and WIM Ivana Maria Furtado(Goa) 6.5.

Results (Top 10 boards): WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (Goa) 7 points drew with IM Tania Sachdev (AI) 7.5; WFM Vaishali R (TN) 8 points beat WIM Michelle Catherina P (TN) 6.5; WGM Swati Ghate (LIC) 6 points lost to WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB) 7; WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty (LIC) 6.5 drew with IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB) 6; WIM Pratyusha Bodda (AP) 6 drew with WFM Mahalakshmi M (PSPB) 6; WIM Ivana Maria Furtado (Goa) 6.5 beat WFM Saranya J (TN) 5.5; WFM Rucha Pujari (Mah) 6.5 beat WCM Tejaswini Sagar (Mah) 5.5; WFM Varshini V (TN) 6 points drew with WFM Monnisha GK (TN) 5.5 points.