Asian under-8 champion Praggnanandhaa of Chennai registered a quick 16-move victory over S. Pranav of Andhra to be among the 15 leaders after three rounds in the National under-7 chess championship at Puducherry on Tuesday.
On board two, Sudhanshu blundered a rook for minor piece against Leon Mendonca and soon lost the battle. On board three, Priyansu prevailed when Aditya made an error on his queen early to lose.
Eight players — Natura (AP), Ayantika (WB), Aditi (Ori), Chinnam Vyshnavi (AP), Ahalya (TN), Kaamya (Del), Divya (Mah) and Ananya (Kar) — are leading the girls’ section with a maximum three points.
Eight rounds remain to be played.
Chinnam Vyshnavi of Andhra downed the Asian under-6 girls’ champion Sanskruti, with white pieces, to be among the leaders.
Important results (round three):Boys: R. Praggnanandhaa (TN) 3 bt S. Pranav (AP) 2; Sudhanshu Nikam (Mah) 2 lost to Leon Mendonca (Goa) 3; Priyansu Patra (Ori) 3 bt Aditya Mittal (Har) 2; N. Anirudh (TN) 2 lost to Pratyay Chowdhury (WB) 3; Arka Bhakta (WB) 3 bt Rishabh Anand (Ori) 2; Rakshith Kumar (Kar) 2 lost to Arya Bhakta (WB) 3; Siddhant Deore (Mah) 3 bt Atharv Gavade (Mah) 2; Dikshant Dash (Ori) 3 bt M. Shravanadash (Pon) 2.
Girls: Kriti Patel (Mah) 2 lost to Natura Bethi (AP) 3; Piya Saxena (Mah) 2 lost to Aditi Mohanty (Ori) 3; Samal Swagatika (Ori) 2 lost to A. Ahalya (TN) 3; Ananya Arumbakkam (Kar) 3 bt Mahi Doshi (Guj) 2; Ayantika Das (WB) 3 bt Mrittika Das (WB) 2; Chinnam Vyshnavi (AP) 3 bt Sanskruti Wankhade (Mah) 2; Shristi Dwivedi (UP) 2 lost to Divya Deshmukh (Mah) 3; Kaamya Negi (Del) 3 bt Soundhariya (Mah) 2; E.T. Swaroopa (Ker) 2 drew with Bhagyashree Patil (Mah) 2.
