Swapnil Dhopade of Railways looks all set to annex the ninth edition of Siddha Chess For Youth Championship after the conclusion of the sixth and penultimate round at the Indian Council For Cultural Relations here today.
Dhopade has won all his games and needs only a draw in the final round tomorrow to seal the title.
In the fifth round, Dhopade got the better of National women's champion Mary Ann Gomes in 30 moves in a queen's Indian defence.
Dhopade won a rook for bishop on the 22nd move by promoting his pawn and had little difficulty thereafter in converting his material advantage into a win.
In the sixth round too, Dhopade won with ease against Bhakti Kulkarni of Maharashtra with black, as he had two extra pawns and a bishop pair against Bhakti's bishop and knight.
Top seed GM Debashis Das of Odisha and Sayan Bose of Bengal jointly share the second spot with five points each.
