Vijayalakshmi keeps lead with draw

Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman, India's first woman Grandmaster maintained, played out a draw with Woman FIDE Master Saranya to maintain her lead in the 43rd National Women Challengers Chess Championship, here today
Vijayalakshmi (Air India) now has six points and following her at 5.5 points were six players -- WGMs Swati Ghate, Kiran Manisha Mohanty (both LIC), WIMs Vaishali R (TN), Michelle Catherina P (Air India), WFM Saranya J and Divya Lakshmi R (both TN) respectively.
Peace appeared to be watchword today, as six of the top seven boards ended in draws. It helped Chennai girls Michelle and Divya Lakshmi cut down the lead deficit with crucial wins.

Four more rounds remain to be played in this 118 player event, that concludes on Saturday.
Important Results (Round 7) Saranya J (5.5) drew with Vijayalakshmi S (6), Swati Ghate (5.5) drew with Kiran Manisha Mohanty (5.5), Gomes Mary Ann (5) drew with Vaishali R (5.5), Soumya Swaminathan (5) drew with Priyanka K (5), Mahalakshmi M (5) drew with Tarini Goyal (5), Michelle Catherina P (5.5) bt Patil Mitali Madhukar (4.5), Aparajitha Gochhikar (5) drew with Lasya G (5), Divya Lakshmi R (5.5) bt Pon N Krithika (4.5), Karavade Eesha (5) bt Kotepalli Sai Nirupama (4), Jennitha Anto K (4) lost to Pratyusha Bodda (5).