Delhi girl Madhurima Shekhar stunned eighth-seeded Tamil Nadu rival N. Raghavi to be part of the four-player leaders’ group on three points after the third round of the National women’s Challengers chess tournament here on Sunday.
Madhurima, ranked 23rd in the field of 100, scored a memorable victory with black in 56 moves of French Defence to complete her third victory.
Tamil Nadu’s duo of M. Mahalakshmi and Michelle Catherine along with Maharashtra’s Tejaswini Sagar also maintained their winning spree. Mahalashmi needed just 28 moves against Kerala’s C.H. Meghna to come out stronger.
Tejaswini upstaged her far more experienced Statemate Amruta Mokal in 53 moves and Michelle overpowered Kerala’s Anjana Krishna in 47 moves.
The day also saw 13-year-old Shiny Das, rated 1786, hold 51-year-old five-time National champion and seventh seed Bhagyashree Thipsay to reach two points.
Important results (third round): Rucha Pujari (Mah, 2.5) drew with S. Harini (TN, 2.5); K. Sai Nirupama (AP, 2.5) drew with J. Saranya (TN, 2.5); N. Raghavi (TN, 2) lost to Madhurima Shekhar (Del, 3); Pallabi Roy (Ben, 2.5) drew with R. Bharathi (TN, 2.5); Michelle Catherina (TN, 3) bt Anjana Krishna (Ker, 2); Tejaswini Sagar (Mah, 3) bt Amruta Mokal (Mah, 2); M. Mahalakshmi (TN, 3) bt C.H. Meghna (Ker, 2); Arunima Kalra (Del, 1.5) lost to Chandika Divyasree (AP, 2.5); V. Varshini (TN, 1.5) lost to Nimmy George (Ker, 2.5); P. Priya (TN, 2.5) bt Hinduja Reddy (AP, 1.5); Shiny Das (Tri, 2) drew with Bhagyashree Thipsay (Mah, 2); R. Salini (AP, 2) drew with C. Sahajasri (AP, 2); Aakasha (Bih, 1.5) lost to Swati Mohota (Ben, 2.5); A. Akshaya (TN, 1.5) lost to Smaraki Mohanty (Ori, 2.5): Sonakshi Rathore (Raj, 2) drew with G. Sandhya (AP, 1.5); Meenu Rajendran (Ker, 2.5) bt P. Jayashree Sankpal (LIC, 1.5); S. Jayaseeli (LIC, 1.5) lost to J. Rajasurya (TN, 2.5); Ramya Krishna (AP, 2) bt Sushmita Lama (Sik, 1); Shweta Priyadarshini (UP, 1) lost to Madhuri Patil (Mah, 2); Bala Kannamma (TN, 2) bt Meghna Upadhyay (MP, 1).
