The Hindu : Sport / Chess : Padmini Rout draws with two-time champion Tania

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Padmini Rout draws with two-time champion Tania

Kamesh Srinivasan

CHESS / Kruttika beats Mary, increases her lead

NEW DELHI: Padmini Rout accounted for the only draw of the day, but it put a spoke in the aspirations of two-time champion Tania Sachdev in defending her title in the Parsvnath National ‘A’ women’s chess championship at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture here on Thursday.

The World under-14 champion Padmini escaped the clutches of Tania in a gripping climax as the latter, apparently missed a winning line as she failed to drive home the advantage of two extra pawns.

To her credit, Padmini nursed her passed pawn so well, threatening to queen it with the protection of a rook and bishop, that Tania was forced to resort to perpetual checks to bring the curtains down.

“She had the initiative, but I could get back into the game, once my knight got activated. She had the edge in the end game, and I am happy to have won half-a-point from her”, said Padmini, even as she reiterated that her victory against Mary Ann Gomes the previous day had given her a lot of satisfaction.

Kruttika increases lead

The Asian junior champion, Mary was caught napping against Kruttika Nadig, who enlarged her lead to one point against Tania.

It was her fourth win with black pieces for the 20-year-old Kruttika, who took her tally to 6.5 points and she impressed with a series of sacrifices that eventually overwhelmed Mary.

It was Mary who was lining up the attack initially, but Kruttika soon realised that her king was safe and aligned the counter attack so well that Mary was caught napping.

Kruttika first gave up a bishop on the 37th move for two key pawns and a fine position for her rook on the seventh row.

Later, Kruttika gave up her last piece on the board, a rook on the 44th move. Two moves later, her ‘a’ pawn matured into a queen unchallenged, despite Mary having a rook and knight, and the latter resigned after the 48th move.

“I was defending initially, but was not afraid as I felt that the attack was illogical. I got into a strong position, and was sure that I would not lose. I was pleased to outplay her in the end game”, said Kruttika, who would be playing Tania on the morrow.

“I have lost to her in 2006, and beaten her also, long back in 2003. I hope to be well prepared,” said Kruttika.

In other games, Pon N. Krithika, a 12th standard student from Chennai, was happy to win her second successive game, against last year’s runner-up Kiran Manisha Mohanty, in Alekine defence.

“The position was equal, and she sacrificed a piece, but failed to get the expected advantage,” said Krithika.

Soumya struggles

Soumya Swaminathan continued to struggle, but provided some relief for former champion Swati Ghate, as she failed to hang on to the white advantage in Ruy Lopez.

After winning just half-a-point from her previous four games, Swati was happy to take her tally to 3.5 points, half-a-point behind Soumya.

Eesha Karavade beat Bhakti Kulkarni to follow the footsteps of Kruttika and Tania, with 4.5 points.

Nisha Mohota was equally impressive in her 28-move victory over Amrutha Mokal to reach 4 points.

The results (eighth round): Amrutha Mokal 3.5 lost to Nisha Mohoa 4; Mary Ann Gomes 3 lost to Kruttika Nadig 6.5; Tania Sachdev 5.5 drew with Padmini Rout 3.5; Soumya Swaminathan 4 lost to Swati Ghate 3.5; Eesha Karavade 4.5 bt Bhakti Kulkarni 3.5; Kiran Manisha Mohanty 2.5 lost to Pon N. Krithika 3.5.

Ninth round pairings: Krithika-Amrutha; Bhakti-Kiran; Swati-Eesha; Padmini-Soumya; Kruttika-Tania; Nisha-Mary.

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