International Master Aravindh Chithambaram emerged as the sole leader after six rounds in the National junior chess championship at Pune on Sunday.
Leader Pratik Patil sacrificed two rooks for Aravindh’s queen but realised that a draw was not there after 44 moves.
Aravindh tacitly won a pawn and set up a mating net to lead the table with 5.5 points.
IMs Shardul Gagare, Akash, Karthikeyan Murali are in the second spot with five points, along with three others.
Shardul held to a drawShardul was held to a draw by Harsha while Karthikeyan Murali promoted an extra queen to defeat Aradhya.
Former National Premier champion Akash crushed Mohammad Ashraf in a brief 16-move encounter sacrificing a queen for a snap mate.
Saranya stays on topJ. Saranya maintained her lead in the girls section with a lucky 38-move draw with the black pieces against Tarini Goyal.
Tarini repeated the position while enjoying an upper hand.
In the morning session, Saranya had shocked top seed Nandhidhaa and Tarini got the better of Michelle Catherina. Saranya leads with 5.5 points.
Placed in the second spot on five points are Nandhidhaa, Madhurima and Tarini among others.
Important results (round six):
Open: Aravindh Chithambaram (TN) 5.5 bt Pratik Patil (Mah) 5; Harsha Bharathakoti (Tel) 5 drew with Shardul Gagare (Mah) 5; Aradhya Garg (Del) 4 lost to Karthikeyan Murali (TN) 5; G Akash (TN) 5 bt Mohammad Ashraf (Odi) 4; B Kumaran (TN) 4 lost to Shantanu Bhambure (Mah) 5.
Girls: Tarini Goyal (Chd) 5 drew with J Saranya (TN) 5.5; P.V. Nandhidhaa (TN) 5 bt Y Saranya (TN) 4; Madhurima Shekhar (Del) 5 bt B Pratyusha (Tel) 4.
R Vaishali (TN) 4.5 drew with Parnali Dharia (Mah) 4.5; V Varshini (TN) 4.5 drew with Srija Seshadri (TN) 4.5.
